Distribution of Stenasellidae in Africa and description of a new species of Metastenasellus from Cameroonian groundwaters

During recent investigations of the groundwater fauna of Cameroon, specimens of a new species of the stygobitic genus Metastenasellus, M. boutini sp. nov. were collected in wells of the city of Douala. The new species can be easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by its relatively large size (up to 11 mm), pleonite 1 and 2 half the length of pereonite 7, the shape of pleopod 2 in males (presence of an external lobe on the protopodite, distal part of the spermatic duct slightly protruding out of the second article, lack of a distal seta on the exopodite), and uropod half the length of the pleotelson. Ecological data and a key to Metastenasellus species are provided. We also performed an exhaustive analysis of the literature on Stenasellidae in Africa to study the geographical distribution of the family in this continent and discuss some hypotheses about the origin of African species.

First records of Pseudozeuxidae and Metapseudinae (Metapseudidae) (Crustacea, Tanaidacea) in Southwestern Atlantic, with descriptions of two new species

Based on specimens collected from eulittoral zone in rocky shores of northeast of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on 2017, two new tanaidaceans species from two different suborders are described: Apseudomorpha brasiliensissp. nov. (Apseudomorpha, Metapseudidae) and Pseudozeuxo fischerisp. nov. (Tanaidomorpha, Pseudozeuxidae). Diagnostic characters of Apseudomorpha brasiliensis are mandible palp article-2 and article-3 with six and nine finely penicillate setae on inner margin, respectively; pereopod-1 carpus and propodus with two and four ventral spines, respectively; pleonites 2 and 5 with pleura having long distal seta; uropod exopod shorter than endopod articles 1–2 combined, endopod four-articled. Pseudozeuxo fischeri is characterized by pereopods 1–3 coxa with long seta about half as long as basis; pereopods 2–3 carpus with ventrodistal seta; propodus with two ventral setae; pereopods 4–6 propodus with two ventral spines and one seta; uropod endopod two- and exopod one-articled. This is the first record of the family Pseudozeuxidae and the metapseudid subfamily Metapseudinae from the Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil). Remarks on their associations with macroalgae and identification keys to world species of Apseudomorpha and Pseudozeuxo are provided.

First records of the uristid lysianassoids from Korean waters: redescription of Anonyx abei Takekawa & Ishimaru, 2001 and description of Anonyx exilipes sp. n. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Uristidae)

The uristid lysianassoids are reported for the first time from Korean waters with a redescription of Anonyxabei Takekawa & Ishimaru, 2001 and the description of Anonyxexilipessp. n.Anonyxabei is characterized by a distinctively small projection of the posterodistal corner on epimeron 3, different from all species of the Anonyxnugax group which share a constriction at the point of insertion of a distal seta on the inner ramus of uropod 2. Anonyxexilipessp. n. is included in the Anonyxlaticoxae group characterized by the unconstricted inner ramus of uropod 2. This new species is distinguished from other A.laticoxae group species by the longer and more slender carpus and propodus of pereopod 6, and the non-lobate merus of pereopod 7.

A new Setacheres (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Asterocheridae) associated with Ircinia felix (Duchassaing & Michelotti) (Porifera) from Brazil

Recent surveys of the copepod fauna associated with the sponge Ircinia felix (Porifera, Dictyoceratida) in Brazil resulted in the discovery of a new siphonostomatoid species belonging to a recently erected genus of Asterocheridae. Setacheres portobarrensis sp. nov. possesses a 21-segmented antennule, with 3 free distal segments, after the aesthetasc. The third exopodal segment of leg 3 shows a distal seta instead of a spine as in some other congeners. The new species shows several unique features on the third endopodal segment of the antenna, the mandibular stylet, the inner lobe of the maxillule, and setules and spinules located in specific regions of legs 1 to 4. Setacheres portobarrensis sp. nov. follows the same distributional pattern as its congeners, and this is the first record of a siphonostomatoid copepod associated with Ircinia felix.

Five new species of the genus Nannopus (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Nannopodidae) from intertidal mudflats of the Korean West Coast (Yellow Sea)

Five Nannopus Brady, 1880 species that are new to science are described from the intertidal mudflats of the Korean West Coast, Yellow Sea (South Korea). Nannopus minutus sp. nov. and N. dimorphicus sp. nov. belong to a group of species defined by seven elements on P4 exp-3, and these two species are unique by the pinnate caudal seta III. These species differ in the number of dorsal integumental windows on the cephalothorax (three in N. minutus, one in N. dimorphicus), shape of the distal small seta on the P4 endopod (naked in N. minutus, pinnate in N. dimorphicus), shape of the caudal seta IV (inflated and leaf-shaped in N. minutus, with a globular expansion at its insertion and slender in N. dimorphicus), and shape of the caudal seta V (anterior part cylindrical in N. minutus, inflated and bulbous in N. dimorphicus). The males of N. minutus and N. dimorphicus differ in the number of dorsal integumental windows on the cephalothorax (without any in N. minutus, with one integumental window in N. dimorphicus), number of outer spines on P2–P3 exp-3 (three in N. minutus, four in N. dimorphicus), shape of the inner seta on P3 enp-2 (naked in N. minutus, pinnate in N. dimorphicus), and shape of the outer medial and outermost setae on the P5 endopod (pinnate in N. minutus, naked in N. dimorphicus). Nannopus serratus sp. nov. and N. unisegmentatus Shen & Tai, 1964 share the presence of two setae on P2 enp-2 but differ in ornamentation and position of the setae on the mandibular palp, shape of the inner seta on P3 enp-2, and shape of distal seta on P4 enp-2. Nannopus parvus sp. nov. and N. bulbiseta sp. nov. belong to the group of species with the female P5 exopod fused, but these two species can be separated from the others by the presence of two bulbiform pinnate setae on the second segment of the antennule, as well as by the relative length and shape of the inner subdistal pectinate seta of P4 exp-3 (pectinate and 0.5 to 0.7 times as long as those in other congeners), and the shape of outer medial and outermost setae on the P5 endopod (naked only in female). However, they both display unique characters among all congeners. The caudal ramus of N. parvus is trapezoidal or square-shaped, and 0.4 to 0.5 times as long as those in other congeners, and the caudal seta V is very short and spine-like. Nannopus bulbiseta has four and five setae on P2 and P4 exp-3 respectively, the caudal ramus is sub-cylindrical or sub-rectangular, and the proximal part of the female caudal seta V is bulbous and very slender distally. A key to 14 valid species of Nannopus is provided.

First record of the family Sphyrapodidae Guţu, 1980 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Apseudomorpha) with the description of a new species ofSphyrapusfrom the Colombian Caribbean

A new sphyrapodid tanaidacean,Sphyrapus caribensissp. nov. is described and a new record ofKudinopasternakia siegiis reported for the Colombian Caribbean based on samples collected during cruises in 2014–2015. The new species appears to be most closely related to the northeast Atlantic species,Sphyrapus malleolus. Sphyrapus caribensiscan be distinguished fromSphyrapus malleolusby a combination of characters, including the maxillipedal basis without long distal seta, the number of setae on the distoventral margin of pereopods 1 and 2, and the number of plumose seta on the pleopod basis. A key for the separation ofSphyrapusspecies is presented.