An updated list of the free-living freshwater copepods (Crustacea) of Mexico

Records of the Mexican freshwater copepod fauna were reviewed to build an up dated list of these microcrustaceans. Data on all 78 species included are presented for each Mexican state. Seven species are reported in Mexico for the first time, and several first state records are presented. States with the highest number of species recorded are Yucatan, Michoacan, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, and the Distrito Federal area. For several states there are no records of freshwater copepods. The calanoid Mastigodiaptomus albuquerquensis and the cyclopoid Eucyclops agilis are the most widely distributed freshwater copepods in Mexico. Although relatively few data are available, the existing information allowed some biogeographic interpretations regarding calanoid and cyclopoid species groups with affinites to neotropical, nearctic and transitional zones.