First time discovery of Loricifera from Australian waters and marine caves

Abstract

Two new species of Loricifera, Pliciloricus cavernicola sp. nov. and Australoricus oculatus gen. nov. et sp. nov., have been found in two submarine caves, Jim's Cave and Fish Rock Cave, off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. This is the first discovery of Loricifera from Australia and additionally from marine caves. This paper is the third paper concerning the meiofauna animals from the two caves. Pliciloricus cavernicola sp. nov. is characterized by an adult having a large tripartite mouth cone with six oral stylets; clavoscalids with fine lines; a short, robust double organ; small leg-shaped scalids with three stiff hairs; simple claw-shaped scalids; reduction of trichoscalid basal plates in the first two rows and a midventral plica with three ridges. Australoricus oculatus gen. nov. et sp. nov. is characterized by a Higgins-larva having a pair of pigmented eyes; the 2nd scalid row missing; six smooth and long filiform scalids in the 6th row; six rectangular plates with two teeth in the 7th row; three pairs of ventral setae; two large lateral lorica plates; three pairs of posterior setae and toes with balloon-shaped mucrones.

Keywords:

• Australia
• Australoricus oculatus gen. nov. et sp. nov.
• Loricifera
• marine caves
• Pliciloricus cavernicola sp. nov.
• zoogeographic implications

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank the two divers, Noel Hitchins and Jim Gallegos, for assisting Tom M. Boesgaard on the diving trips to the two caves. Stine Elle is thanked for making the drawings of the two new species and the map with the locations. The work was financed by the following grants: the Australian Biological Resources Study Participation Program and the Carlsberg Foundation (Grant no. 970345/30 – 488) to Reinhardt M. Kristensen and the Danish Natural History Society grant to Tom M. Boesgaard.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark