Species diversity of eukalyptorhynch flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela) from the coastal margin of British Columbia: Polycystididae, Koinocystididae and Gnathorhynchidae

ABSTRACT

Kalyptorhynchs are abundant members of meiofaunal communities worldwide, but knowledge on their overall species diversity and distribution is poor. Here we report twenty species of eukalyptorhynchs associated with algae and sediments from the coastal margin of British Columbia. Two species, Paulodora artoisi sp. nov. and Limipolycystis castelinae sp. nov., are new to science and described based on their unique stylet morphology. New observations on two morphotypes of Phonorhynchus helgolandicus and two morphotypes of Scanorhynchus forcipatus suggest that the different morphotypes represent different species; accordingly, Phonorhynchus contortus sp. nov., Phonorhynchus velatus sp. nov. and Scanorhynchus herranzae sp. nov. are described here as separate species. Furthermore, we report on the occurrence and morphology of Polycystis hamata, Polycystis naegelii, Austrorhynchus pacificus, Austrorhynchus californicus, Paraustrorhynchus pacificus, Alcha evelinae, Duplacrorhynchus minor, Yaquinaia microrhynchus, Gyratrix hermaphroditus s. l., Scanorhynchus forcipatus, Rhinolasius dillonicus, Itaipusa biglandula, Utelga heinckei, Neognathorhynchus suecicus and Zonorhynchus seminascatus.

SUBJECT EDITOR:

• Danny Eibye-Jacobsen

KEYWORDS:

• Flatworms
• Pacific Ocean
• Kalyptorhynchia
• species discovery
• microturbellaria
• meiofauna

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Hakai Research Institute, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) and the Carmabi Marine Research Institute for hosting sampling campaigns on Calvert Island, Bamfield and Curaçao. María Herranz, Wayne Jacob, Davis Iritani, Noriko Okamoto, Nicholas Irwin, Kevin Wakeman, Rebecca Fiorito and Hostion Ho were of great assistance during sampling in British Columbia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Sampling

Permits for sampling were obtained by the Hakai Research Institute (Calvert Island), the Carmabi Marine Research Institute (Curaçao) and through Fisheries and Oceans Canada (XR 242 2015).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Tula Foundation through the Centre for Microbial Diversity and Evolution (CMDE). The sampling in Curaçao was funded by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).