Abstract

The family Entomolepididae is represented in the South Atlantic Ocean solely by Spongiopsyllus, a monotypic genus found previously in association with sponges. A recent survey on the Boa Viagem Reefs, located off Salvador, Bahia State, on the northeastern region of Brazil, has revealed a new species of the genus, Spongiopsyllus redactus n. sp., found associated with the endemic scleractinian coral Mussismilia hispida (Verrill). The new species is distinguished from its congener, S. adventicius Johnsson, 2000, by differences in the number of segments of the antennule, the ornamentation of the distal endopodal segment of the antenna, and the setation of the maxilliped and P1. An updated key to the species of Entomolepididae is also provided.