A taxonomic key to those species of seed shrimp (Crustacea: Ostracoda) known to occur in the playa lakes of the Llano Estacado region of the Southern High Plains of Texas is provided. This includes 10 species representing eight genera in five families of these temporary pool crustaceans. Identification utilized in this key is based primarily upon the external characteristics of the carapace of mature specimens.
Playa lakes of the Southern High Plains represent one of the more unique inland aquatic habitats of North America and have received considerable attention due to both their unusual biological and physical characteristics (Reeves 1966; Rowell 1971; Home 1974; Osterkamp & ...