A new species of Thermocyclops Kiefer, 1927 (Crustacea, Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Cyclopidae) from temporary habitats, with a discussion on the diversity and distribution of the genus in Thailand

Abstract

Thermocyclops Kiefer, 1927, is a genus of Cyclopidae, one of the most diverse families among cyclopoids. To date, 13 species of this genus have been recorded in Thailand. Through intensive sampling of rice fields in central Thailand and temporary waters in northeastern Thailand, one new species, Thermocyclops oryzae sp. nov., was discovered. This new species is clearly distinguished from other Thermocyclops by the presence of a serrated lobe on the posterior surface of the medial expansion of the basipodite of the fourth swimming leg. Moreover, it can be distinguished from its congeners by (i) ornamentation on the genital double-somite, succeeding two urosomites and caudal ramus; (ii) the length and width ratio of the caudal ramus; (iii) the length ratio of the innermost terminal seta (VI) and the outermost terminal seta (III); (iv) the number of setae on the second endopodal segment of the antenna; (v) projection and ornamentation on the intercoxal sclerites of the first to fourth swimming legs; (vi) the surface ornamentation of the medial margin of the basipodite of the first to fourth swimming legs; and (vii) the relative length of two apical spines of the third endopodal segment of the fourth swimming leg. The present discovery increases the number of species in this genus in Thailand to 14. A pictorial key to all species is proposed, and their ecologies and distributions within Thailand are updated and discussed.