Pycnophyidae (Kinorhyncha: Allomalorhagida) from the Gulf of Mexico: Fujuriphyes viserioni sp. nov. and a redescription of Leiocanthus langi (Higgins, 1964), with notes on its intraspecific variation

Abstract

Fujuriphyes viserioni sp. nov. is described from the Gulf of Mexico. The new species is characterized by the scarcity of laterodorsal setae, and the abundance of ventrolateral setae, which are present on segments 1, 3–8, and 10, with two pairs on segment 5 and one pair on the remaining segments. Moreover, Fujuriphyes viserionisp. nov. is recognized by the general absence of middorsal specializations along the trunk and the lack of ventral tubes on segment 2 in males. Type material of Leiocanthus langi (Higgins, 1964) and L. fimbriatus (Higgins, 1982) and additional specimens of L. langi collected from the Gulf of Mexico were furthermore studied in detail. Their examination revealed that L. fimbriatusis a junior synonym of L. langi, a species with an unusually high intraspecific variation in its morphology. Identification keys to all known species of Fujuriphyes and Leiocanthus are provided together with emended diagnoses for both genera.