Urodasys poculostylis sp. nov., a new stylet-bearing gastrotrich (Macrodasyida) from Capron Shoal, Florida

Abstract

A new species of marine Gastrotricha, Urodasys poculostylis sp. nov. (Macrodasyida: Macrodasyidae), is described from the sublittoral sediments of Capron Shoal, Florida. The new species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite with a single left testis, a stylet bulb and a frontal organ. The stylet bulb bears a cup-shaped sclerotic stylet up to 20 µm long. Several specimens possessed a large spermatophore within the frontal organ. Urodasys poculostylis sp. nov. can be further distinguished by the presence of three pairs of anterior adhesive tubes distributed in two rows, 14–17 pairs of lateral adhesive tubes with staggered insertions, 5–7 pairs of ventrolateral adhesive tubes, 12–15 pairs of dorsolateral adhesive tubes and two dorsal adhesive tubes.

Key words:

• Gastrotricha
• hermaphrodite
• meiofauna
• spermatophore
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. Rick Hochberg and Vladimir Gross for their helpful comments on this manuscript and the staff at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida for their hospitality and assistance during collection.

Funding

This research was supported by a National Science Foundation under Grant No. DEB 0918499 to R. Hochberg. This is Smithsonian Marine Station contribution number 938.

Editorial responsibility: Tomas Cedhagen

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This research was supported by a National Science Foundation under Grant No. DEB 0918499 to R. Hochberg. This is Smithsonian Marine Station contribution number 938.