Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Heterocypris incongruens (Ramdohr 1808), A New Species Ostracod in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

The present paper is intensive on screening new Ostracod’s species obtained from four selected sites in different areas, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Samples have been collected during October 2021, March and June 2022. Heterocypris incongruens (Ramdohr 1808) was observed in water after taking some algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Anabaena, etc.., and aquatic plants (Polygonum sp., Nasturtium officinale and Cynodon dactylon) with its residue near-shore water. Later separated the sample and fixed in 70% ethanol. After the morphological study, the PCR product of 28s rRNA was sequenced and deposited in the GenBank database with accession numbers OP600471-OP600474. According to phylogenetic analysis, the examined Heterocypris incongruens were identified and are being reported from Iraq.