A new gastrotrich species of the genus ptychostomella (macrodasyida, thaumastodermatidae) from south korea

A new marine gastrotrich species, Ptychostomella jejuensis n. sp. belonging to the family Thaumastodermatidae, is described on the basis of the specimens from subtidal sand bottom at about 6–7 m depth of Jeju Island, South Korea. Ptychostomella jejuensis n. sp. is distinguished from its congeneric species with smooth cuticular armature by the character combination: (1) small body up to about 160 μm in length; (2) presence of knob-like cephalic tentacles; (3) absence of dorsal and ventral adhesive tubes; (4) bifid pedicles; (5) pyriform copulatory organ. Under scanning electron microscopy, numerous epidermal gland openings were observed in the new species, characteristically flanking a bristle. Taxonomic accounts on the affinities, some brief remarks on the epidermal gland openings and the cooccurrence with P. orientalis Lee and Chang, 2003 are also presented with detailed illustrations and scanning electron photomicrographs.