Characterization of a new parthenogenetic Artemia population from Thamaraikulam, India CRISTOPHER J.A. JOHN1, THEODORE J. ABATZOPOULOS2 and PETER M. MARIAN1 1 Institute for Artemia Research and Training, Center for Marine Science and Technology, M.S. University Marina Campus, Rajakkmangalam - 629502, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Department of Genetics, Development & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, School of Biology, Aristotle University, 541 24 Thessalloniki, Greece   Abstract The brine shrimp Artemia (Crustacea, Anostraca) is a well-known organism used as live feed for finfish and shellfish larvae. Here we report on a new population of Artemia, identified in saltpans of Thamaraikulam, India. The characterization of this strain involved cyst, naupliar and adult biometrics, as well as carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and energy content estimations. The fatty acid profile of the cysts was also analysed. The cyst diameter, nauplius and adult length of this Artemia strain were 244.9 mm, 492.8 mm and 10.60 mm, respectively. Moreover, the optimal temperature and salinity conditions resulting in maximum survival were 22-30°C and 35 ppt, respectively. It is worth noting that this population can survive in a wide range of temperatures, but in a very narrow range of salinity. These data suggest that this new Artemia population is different from other studied parthenogenetic strains in terms of its biometrical characteristics and temperature and salinity tolerance.   < back .