Condyloderes megastigma, Sorensen, Rho & Kim, 2010

Neuhaus, Birger, Zotto, Matteo Dal, Yamasaki, Hiroshi & Higgins, Robert P., 2019, Revision of Condyloderes (Kinorhyncha, Cyclorhagida) including description of Condyloderes shirleyi sp. nov., Zootaxa 4561 (1), pp. 1-91 : 82

Synonymy of C. megastigma with C. setoensis

Condyloderes megastigma differs from C. setoensis in the possession of a lateral accessory cuspidate spine on segment 4 versus the lack of this character in C. setoensis ( Tables 2, 7). Female C. megastigma display a paraventral type-1 (?) sensory spot on segments 2–5 ( Figs 24A , 25A ), but this character is only barely visible in the single female of C. setoensis because of its staining ( Fig. 22C ). One paratypic male of C. setoensis (AVA-CM- Jap02) exhibits a lateral accessory cuspidate spine on segment 4 on one side only, so the specimen shows a character intermediate between C. megastigma and C. setoensis . This finding means that characters to distinguish C. megastigma from C. setoensis are lacking. Therefore, we herewith conclude that C. megastigma is conspecific with C. setoensis and represents a junior synonym of this species. We also interpret the minor differences in sensory spot and spine occurrence between the populations recorded from relatively close areas in the Korea Strait as variation (comp. also chapters Original material of “ Condyloderes megastigma Sørensen, Rho & Kim, 2010b ” and Additional material of “ Condyloderes megastigma ”; Tables 2, 4, 7).

Figures

FIGURE 22. Condyloderes setoensis, female (USNM 1490850) in optical section (A) and ventral view (B–E), DIC. A. Segments 3–1 with ovaries. B. Segments 1–5; arrows mark area of reduced free flap on segment 1. C. Segments 2–5; arrows mark potential type-1 (?) sensory spots. D. Segments 6–11; note appendages and area of micropapillae. Arrowheads in B and D mark type-6 sensory spots. Scale bar in A 100 µm. Scale bar in C 50 µm. Scale bar in E 50 µm, valid for B, D, and E. Abbreviations: amp, female-specific area of micropapillae; ap, female-specific appendage; bpl, broader placid; cu, cuspidate spine; dv, dorsoventral muscle; ff, free flap; gp, gonopore; lm, longitudinal muscle; ltas, lateral terminal accessory spine; mts, midterminal spine; mvpl, midventral placid; npl, narrower placid; ov, ovary; pa, pachycyclus; ph, pharynx; s2, segment 2; tr, trichoscalid.

FIGURE 24. Condyloderes setoensis (previously C. megastigma). A, B. Habitus of female (holotype of C. megastigma, ZMUC-KIN-250) in ventral (A) and dorsal (B) view. Cuspidate spines highlighted by grey colour. Scale bar 100 µm, valid for A and B. Abbreviations: ac, acicular spine; amp, female-specific area of micropapillae; ap, female-specific appendage; cu, cuspidate spine; gp, gonopore; ltas, lateral terminal accessory spine; md3, middorsal spines of segment 3; mts, midterminal spine; ssp3, type-3 sensory spot.

FIGURE 25. Condyloderes setoensis (previously C. megastigma), female (holotype of C. megastigma, ZMUC-KIN-250), ventral view, DIC. A. Neck and segments 1–4, right ventrolateral spine of segment 2 dislocated from attachment site (black arrow); white arrows point to reduced pectinate fringe of free flap; black arrowheads mark potential type-1 sensory spots. B. Neck with placids and interstitial placids. C. Segments 5 and 6. D. Segments 7–10. E. Segment 10. F. Segments 9 and 10; arrows mark processes of tergal plates articulating with sockets of sternal plates; black arrowheads indicate potential type-5 sensory spots. Note gonopores at different focal levels in DF. White arrowheads in A and C–F mark type-6 sensory spots. Scale bar in A 50 µm, valid for A and B. Scale bar in C 50 µm. Scale bar in F 50 µm, valid for D–F. Abbreviations: amp, femalespecific area of micropapillae; ap, female-specific appendage; bpl, broader placid; co, condyle of placid; cu, cuspidate spine; cy, crystal in mounting medium; fa, filamentous appendage at trichoscalid; ff, free flap; gp, gonopore; ip, interstitial placid; mvpl, midventral placid; lv2, lateroventral spine of segment 2; npl, narrower placid; s6, segment 6; tr, trichoscalid.