Analytic taxonomy and notes on marine, brackish-water and estuarine Gastrotricha

Abstract

Marine Gastrotricha, both Macrodasyida and Chaetonotida, are the subject of an analytic review, citing taxonomic status of names, authorships of taxa, and those responsible for changes, in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 4 th ed. (1999). Notes are included with regard to taxonomic usage so as to guide workers in the future. Among the proposed novelties are: within Macrodasyida, to restrict the family Lepidodasyidae Remane, 1927 to the genus Lepidodasys Remane, 1926, and to establish a new family, Cephalodasyidae with Cephalodasys Remane, 1926 as its type-species to house the remaining genera and species that have been contained in the polyphyletic family Lepidodasyidae. Hemidasys agaso Claparède, 1867 is considered extinct, and the new name Tetranchyroderma antenniphorum is proposed for Tetranchyroderma antennatum Luporini, Magagnini & Tongiorgi, 1973; in addition, five species are here considered to be species inquirendae: Dactylopodola weilli d'Hondt, 1965, Paradasys nipponensis Sudzuki, 1976, Macrodasys indicus Kutty & Nair, 1969. Tetranchyroderma forceps d’Hondt & Balsamo, 2009 and Turbanella plana (Giard, 1904b). Among Chaetonotida: the Xenotrichula velox-species group Ruppert, 1979 and the Xenotrichula intermedia-species group Ruppert, 1979 were given each the rank of subgenus. Chaetonotus pleuracanthus Remane, 1926 is rejected as a synonym for Chaetonotus marinus Giard, 1904; Chaetonotus somniculosus Mock, 1979 is transferred to the genus Halichaetonotus, the new name Halichaetonotus euromarinus is proposed for Halichaetonotus spinosus Mock, 1979, and Xenotrichula carolinensis Ruppert, 1979 is re-established. Heteroxenotrichula variocirrata d'Hondt, 1966 is here considered to be species inquirenda.