Sistemática filogenética de Remaneicaris Jakobi (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Parastenocarididae) da região neotropical

Abstract

The genus Remaneicaris is the most speciose genus in the South America, being composed by 28 species, plus six new species described here. It is monophyletic and its position within the family Parastenocarididae is tested using the method of cladistic systematic. The genus turned out to be basal within the family and some remarks on the groundpattern of Parastenocarididae are given here. It can be easily characterized by the subdistal position of the outer spine of leg 4 exp 3 as well as due to other very plesiomorphic characters, such as the presence of two setae on the first endite of Mx2 and a unisegmented endopod on the leg 3 of males. A new subfamily is proposed here to accommodate the genus Remaneicaris, sharing with it the same diagnosis. Finally, a diagnosis for each of the monophyletic groups within Remaneicaris and a redescription of most of the species previously described are here given. A key for the identification of the species is also offered.