Dracophyes cepedai gen. et sp. nov., a new Dracoderidae genus and species (Kinorhyncha: Allomalorhagida) from the Peru Basin

Abstract

A new Dracoderidae genus, Dracophyes gen. nov., and a new species Dracophyes cepedai sp. nov. from the Peru Basin are described. The new genus is characterized by the presence of acicular spines showing conspicuous intracuticular structures on segments 1–9 (either anchor for the dorsal or groove-like for the lateral series), alternating laterally displaced dorsal spines, becoming more lateral towards the posterior segments, males with two pairs of minute, poorly sclerotized penile spines, and its conspicuous obovate trunk shape. The new genus accommodates three species: Dracophyes toyoshioae comb. nov., Dracophyes chaac comb. nov. and D. cepedai sp. nov. The latter was collected in abyssal depths in the Peru Basin (East Pacific Ocean) and is recognised by having dorsal acicular spines on segments 1 to 9, alternating laterally displaced from the middorsal line, ventral acicular spines in ventrolateral position on segment 1, lateroventral position on segments 2–4 and 6–9, and in lateral accessory position on segment 5, tubes in lateroventral position on segment 5 and in lateral accessory position on segments 2 and 8, type 2 glandular cell outlets in lateroventral position on segment 10 and extremely long lateral terminal spines. Moreover, with the erection of the new genus, emended diagnoses for the family Dracoderidae and the former single genus within the family, Dracoderes, are proposed.