NEOCYCLOPS GURNEY FROM BRAZILIAN SANDY BEACHES (COPEPODA, CYCLOPOIDA)

Neocyclops medius Herbst, 1955 and Neocyclops vicinus (Herbst, 1955) a re redescribed from intertidal interstitial water of sandy beaches alo ng the Brazilian coast. The male of N. vicinus is described for the fi rst time. Neocyclops vicinus can be easily distinguished from N. mediu s by the relatively longer caudal rami, the presence of a mandibular p alp, and the sexually dimorphic antenna. This study revealed the leg 4 endopodite segments 2 and 3 as being fused in both species. The termi nal segment of the 2-segmented leg 4 endopodite of the copepodite 5 do es not differentiate into 2 distinct segments during the molt to adult . The plane of fusion is marked by a thin and incomplete line on the f rontal surface. This scar was erroneously interpreted as a functional articulation by Herbst (1955). Topotypes of N. salinarum (Gumey, 1927) examined showed a similar fusion of those segments of leg 4. Populati ons from the Black Sea coast ascribed to N. vicinus differ from the Br azilian specimens in a number of morphological details, sufficient to propose that they represent a separate taxon, perhaps N. remanei (Herb st, 1952). A diagnosis for Neocyclops is provided.