Two sides of a coin: The phylum Kinorhyncha in Panama. I) Caribbean Panama

Abstract

Sampling for meiofauna was carried out in 2010 in Bocas del Toro, Northwest Caribbean Panama, as the first part of a study along Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama. Nine kinorhynch species were known previously from the area, some of them being confirmed in the present contribution plus several new citations. In addition, four species new to science are described, Echinoderes rociae sp. nov., Echinoderes orestauri sp. nov., Cristaphyes panamensis sp. nov. and Pycnophyes alexandroi sp. nov. Furthermore, and based on the present material, we redescribe Echinoderes intermedius providing new and more detailed morphological information. The presence of Echinoderes truncatus in the area, reported previously, is also discussed. Hence, an updated list of the kinorhynch fauna for the Caribbean Sea is provided, reaching 33 species.