A new species of Echinoderes (Cyclorhagida: Echinoderidae) from the San Juan Islands, Washington State, USA, and insights into the kinorhynch transcriptome

Abstract

A new kinorhynch species, Echinoderes kohni sp. nov., is described from the San Juan Archipelago, northwest Washington State, USA. The species’ spine/tube distribution combined with the presence of long, spiniform tergal extensions assign it to the Echinoderes spinifurca species group. It is distinguished from other species in the group by its enlarged fringe tips on the posterior sternal plate margins of segment 10, and by its distribution of type 2 glandular cell outlets and sensory spots. Together with the morphological description we provide a de novo assembled transcriptome for the species, generated from a single individual. This represents the first time a kinorhynch has been described together with genetic data beyond a barcode.