Two new interstitial species of Remaneicaris JAKOBI 1972 from the Ribeirão do Ouro River, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with a redefinition of the genus

Abstract

Members of the copepod genus Remaneicaris JAKOBI 1972 are reported for the first time from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Two new species were discovered in interstitial near-shore waters of the small river Ribeirão do Ouro (tributary of the Paraopeba River of the São Francisco hydrographic basin). Remaneicaris analuizae n. sp. and R. enniceae n. sp. are described in detail, and their phylogenetic relationships within the genus are discussed; holo-types ♂ ♂ in coll. INPA, Petrópolis (Manaus, Brazil). The species differ from each other by the shape of endopod of leg 2, shape of leg 3 exopod, armature of leg 5, ornamentation of the telson, and by the number of integumental windows and sensilla. The monophyletic status of the genus is discussed and an updated list of species provided. The geographical occurrence of the genus in South America is briefly reviewed.