Rheocyclops, a new genus of copepods from the southeastern and central USA(Copepoda : Cyclopoida : Cyclopidae)

The new genus Rheocyclops is proposed to accommodate the cyclopoid copepods Diacyclops virginianus Reid, from Virginia, and the new species R. carolin ianus from South Carolina, R. talladega and R. hatchiensis ham Alabama, and R. indiana from indiana, U.S.A. Most species were collected from the hypor heic zones of stream beds, except R. indiana which was found in a drip pool in a cave. The new genus is distinguished by a combination of characters: anal operculum produced; antennule 11-segmented; antenna lacking exopodite seta; rami of legs 1-4 all 3-segmented, pr some rami 2-segmented; leg 5 wit h proximal segment fused to somite and reduced to small protrusion bearing seta inserted near distal (free) segment, and free segment cylindrical with 2 terminal setae.