Zelinkaderes yong sp. nov. from Korea - the first recording of Zelinkaderes (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida) in Asia.

Andreas Altenburger,Cheon Young Chang,Martin Vinther Sørensen,Hyun Soo Rho

doi:10.1186/s40555-014-0103-6

Abstract

A new kinorhynch species, Zelinkaderes yong sp. nov., is described from Korea. Zelinkaderes yong sp. nov. is described from coastal, sandy habitats in Korea by means of light and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The new species is characterized by the presence of cuspidate spines in lateroventral positions on segments 2 and 9, ventrolateral positions on segment 5, and lateral accessory positions on segment 8; flexible tiny acicular spines in lateroventral positions on segment 2, more regular-sized lateroventral acicular spines on segment 8, and middorsal spines on segments 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11. Females furthermore have acicular spines in middorsal and midlateral positions on segment 10, whereas males have crenulated spines on this segment. The absence of acicular spines in the lateral series of segment 9 makes it easy to distinguish the new species from all previously described congeners. The new species differs most from Zelinkaderessubmersus,whereas it is morphologically closest to Zelinkaderesklepali.In regard to the spine patterns, the new species only differs from Z. klepali by its lack of lateroventral acicular spines on segment 9. The finding of a new species of Zelinkaderes in East Asia extends the distributional range of the genus, which suggests that the genus basically could be present anywhere in the world and could be considered as cosmopolitan.

Highlights

A new kinorhynch species, Zelinkaderes yong sp. nov., is described from Korea
Z. floridensis shows a closer resemblance to the new species, but besides the differences on segment 9, Z. floridensis is unique among its congeners by the absence of cuspidate spines on segment 2 (Higgins 1990)
Based on studies of LM material, paradorsal sensory spots similar or identical to the spots of Z. yong are present on segments 4, 6, 8, and 9 of Z. klepali from the Red Sea (Neuhaus pers. comm.) One remarkable difference regarding sensory spots is the apparent absence of type 3 sensory spots around the base of the midterminal spine in Z. yong sp. nov

Summary

Introduction

A new kinorhynch species, Zelinkaderes yong sp. nov., is described from Korea. Kinorhynchs are small, worm-like, invertebrate animals that live among the marine meiobenthos. South Korea is one of the countries where kinorhynch diversity is relatively well known with more than ten new species discovered within the last 4 years (Sørensen et al 2010a; Sørensen et al 2010b, c; Lundbye et al 2011; Sørensen et al 2012; Sørensen et al 2013). Members of the Altenburger et al Zoological Studies (2015) 54:25 species of the genus, Zelinkaderes floridensis Higgins 1990, that was collected from localities with muddy sand, around 20 miles off Fort Pierce at the Atlantic Coast of Florida. The fourth, and until now most recently discovered species, Zelinkaderes brightae Sørensen et al, 2007, was described from Fort Pierce, Florida but from much cleaner calcareous sand than Z. floridensis and closer to the coast. The taxonomy of Zelinkaderes appears to be relatively uncomplicated, and the four known species can be distinguished by their lateral spine patterns and in particular by the position of their cuspidate spines

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Discussion

Conclusion