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Investigations of the freshwater isopod genus Lirceus Rafinesque, 1820 in Ohio and Kentucky USA reveal surprising results regarding the taxon- omy of the genus. Given the incomplete states of their original descriptions, Lirceus fontinalis Rafinesque, 1820 and Lirceus richardsonae Hubricht & Mackin, 1949 were subjected to molecular and morphological analyses and then redescribed from as geographically near to their type locali- ties as possible. The range of L. fontinalis is circumscribed to include sites now only in Fayette County, Kentucky, while the range of L. richardsonae is expanded to include much of western Ohio. In addition, a new species from Delaware County, Ohio was identified and is described. This unexpected species showed relatively little affinity to L. fontinalis/richardsonae and may represent a species from a different faunal assemblage. The presence of these two isopod lineages suggests a contact zone in Ohio due to postglacial dispersal from the east and from the south.
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Key to the currently recognized species of Limnias Schrank, 1803 (Rotifera, Monogononta, Gnesiotrocha, Flosculariidae)
Although the most widely used key to the Rotifera subsumes six species of the sessile genus Limnias within two species groups (L. ceratophylli and L. melicerta), the original descriptions of these forms are sufficiently different to recognize them as distinct entities. We used these descriptions and all available literature on these species to develop dichotomous and formula keys to the six species based on easily recognizable morphological characters. As part of our review we added relevant ecological information from published sources, as well as our own data. We also discuss the need for additional observations of morphological, behavioral, life history, and genetic features to better understand the diversity of this widespread genus.
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- PAR ID:
- 10214778
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Zootaxa
- Volume:
- 4442
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 1175-5326
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 307; 318
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4442.2.7
