• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.183-193
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• 2008

Oncaea venusta Philippi, 1843 has been known as having some different size groups, but recent genetic study for cyt b and ITS 1 (Elvers et al. 2006) suggests that these size groups can be considered as different species. Of these size groups, the largest O. venusta Philippi and the smallest O. venella Farran, 1929 were first described in Korean waters. The latter is easily distinguishable from the former in the following characteristics in addition to its small size: (1) length to width ratio of genital double somite of two genders smaller, and (2) female second pediger bearing inconspicuous dorso-posterior swelling. Oncaea venusta and O. venella co-occur in Korean waters during spring to fall, but their occurrence patterns seasonally differ: the former shows higher density in fall while the latter does in summer.