Fiersiphontina, Bruno, Maria Cristina & Cottarelli, Vezio, 2011

Bruno, Maria Cristina & Cottarelli, Vezio, 2011, Proposal of Fiersiphontina gen. nov., redescription of Fiersiphontina sensillata comb. nov., and new data on the distribution of Spiniferaphonte (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae), Zootaxa 2809, pp. 1-19 : 2-3

Fiersiphontina gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Female. Body cylindrical, caudal rami narrowing distally, shorter than anal somite, carrying three distinct hook-like process anterior to seta VII, one small process anterior to seta I, one process on distal outer corner, two ventral distal processes, and seven setae; seta V robust, dorsally bent, and strongly sclerotised. Genital field with one small seta on each P6 vestige and copulatory pore distinctly posterior to the transverse ridge. Antennule 6- segmented, first segment with blunt process on outer margin, second segment with large, posteriorly directed hook along outer margin, aesthetasc on fourth and sixth segments. Antennary exopod one-segmented, carrying four subequal pinnate setae. Exopod P1 one-segmented; endopod P2 represented by one seta and exopod fused to basis carrying one naked seta and one strong bipinnate spiniform seta; endopod P3 and P4 represented by small tubercle carrying one short seta; exopod P3 one-segmented and exopod P4 two-segmented; P5 distinct, with three setae on exopod, basis with one seta on outer peduncle, endopodal lobe with two setae, exopod with three setae.

Male. No sexual dimorphism in P1, P3, P4; sexual dimorphism: antennule seven-segmented, aesthetasc on fifth and seventh segments; exopod P2 vestigial, with one apical strong spiniform seta and two inner sparsely plumose setae; P5 fused, with three long setae on the exopod and very reduced naked endopodal lobe; P6 vestigial, asymmetrical, right P6 with reduced, non-functional plate, left P6 with large internal plate articulated with the somite, each P6 with a process carrying two setae.

Type and only species. Fiersiphontina sensillata ( Wells & Rao, 1987) (= Laophontina sensillata Wells & Rao, 1987 : pp. 184–186, figs 149–150), here designated. The diagnosis of the genus coincides with that of the only known and type species of the genus, and must, therefore, be considered provisional.

Etymology. The generic name is dedicated to Dr. Frank Fiers, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium, for his important contribution to the knowledge of Laophontidae . The generic name is a combination of his name and the suffix – phontina commonly used in genus type names of this family. Gender feminine.