Two new gastrotrich species of the genus Acanthodasys (Macrodasyida: Thaumastodermatida) from South Korea

Abstract

As a result of the faunistic study on the marine gastrotrichs in South Korea, two new species belonging to the genus Acanthodasys are described from fine sands in intertidal or sublittoral bottom of Yellow Sea and Jeju Island. Acanthodasys ericinus n. sp. is characterized by elongate body, cuticular armature intermingling scales with spiny scales (uniancres) and 3-4 mid-dorsal adhesive tubes. Acanthodasys comtus n. sp. is differentiated from congeners by cuticular armature of spiny scales (uniancres) and two kinds of spineless scales comprising large, sculptured rhomboid plates with central depression, embossed with a crisscross, and small elliptical scales with thick rim and central depression without sculpture. This presentation deals with the morphological features under scanning electronic microscopy and systematic accounts of the two new species. The genus Acanthodasys is first reported from East Asia.hodasys ericinus n. sp. is characterized by elongate body, cuticular armature intermingling scales with spiny scales (uniancres) and 3-4 mid-dorsal adhesive tubes. Acanthodasys comtus n. sp. is differentiated from congeners by cuticular armature of spiny scales (uniancres) and two kinds of spineless scales comprising large, sculptured rhomboid plates with central depression, embossed with a crisscross, and small elliptical scales with thick rim and central depression without sculpture. This presentation deals with the morphological features under scanning electronic microscopy and systematic accounts of the two new species. The genus Acanthodasys is first reported from East Asia.