Bicorniphontodes, George & Glatzel & Schröder, 2019

George, Kai Horst, Glatzel, Thomas & Schröder, Katharina, 2019, Bicorniphontodes (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Laophontodinae Lang, 1944): a new genus with description of a new species from the Napoleon Reef, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt, Zootaxa 4706 (1), pp. 171-188 : 173

Genus: Bicorniphontodes gen. nov.

Type species: Bicorniphontodes bicornis (A. Scott, 1896) comb. nov. Additional species: B. hamatus ( Thomson, 1883) comb. nov., B. horstgeorgei ( George & Gheerardyn, 2015) comb. nov., B. ornatus ( Krishnaswamy, 1957) comb. nov., B. clarae gen. et sp. nov. (present contribution).

Etymology: The generic name refers to the paired posterolateral “horns” on the cphth of the assigned species.

Remark: two of the assigned species, B. hamatus comb. nov. and B. ornatus comb. nov., were described only fragmentary and in an unsatisfying quality ( Thomson 1883; Monard 1935; Lang 1936; Krishnaswamy 1957), and the respective type material is not available for direct comparison. Thus, many characters cannot be confirmed for these species. Nonetheless, they fit the main generic diagnostic and phylogenetic characters (see discussion), in particular the shape of the cphth with its lateral triangular extensions and the paired cuticular laterodistal processes. Therefore, both species are placed into the new genus. Features that cannot be confirmed are marked with an asterisk * in the generic diagnosis.

Generic diagnosis. Harpacticoida Sars, 1903 , Laophontodinae Lang, 1944 . Body slender and cylindrical; inconspicuous podoplean boundary between pro- and urosoma. Cphth anteriorly laterally stretched, forming triangular lateral extensions; moreover, latero-distally with pair of backwardly directed strong cuticular processes; in some representatives, the cephalothoracic cuticula is distinctively structured at its dorsal side*. Free thoracic and abdominal somites clearly distinct. Cphth and free thoracic somites carrying P2–P4 (in some species, even P5-bearing somite) dorsally with sensilla on apical margin, which arise from small socles*. Females with fused last thoracic (P6-bearing) and first abdominal somite, forming a genital double somite. All body somites except cphth and telson dorsally on apical margin with hyaline frills that end in round lappets*. FR long and slender, reaching almost the length of penultimate abdominal somite and telson together; with 7 setae, all of which located subapically. A1 5-segmented in female, fourth segment very small, aes on third segment; 6-segmented (chirocer) or 7-segmented (subchirocer) in male*, aes on fifth segment. A2 with allobasis lacking an abexopodal seta*; exp represented by 1 small seta*. Md* slender, gnathobase with some multicuspidate teeth; md palp a single lobe, with 4–6 setae. Mxl* with prominent precoxal gnathobase bearing apically several strong spines and setae; coxa elongated, with 2 apical setae; basis, exp, and enp fused to single lobe carrying several lateral and apical setae. Mx* with 2 endites, each carrying 3 setae; enp small, knob-like, with 2 setae, or completely reduced and represented by 2 setae. Mxp* prehensile, syncoxa with or without apical seta, enp apically with 1 long slender claw that is accompanied by minute seta. P1 of typical laophontodin shape: coxa* and basis elongated, basis with 1 inner* and 1 outer seta; enp prehensile, 2-segmented, apically with 1 claw, 1 (sometimes geniculate) seta and 1 minute seta*; exp 3-segmented, exopodal segments without inner setae, exp-1 with 1 outer spine, exp-2* with 1 geniculate outer seta, exp-3 with 4 geniculate* apical setae. P2–P4 with laterally elongated bases; female enps 2-segmented, enp-1 minute*, without setae/spines, enp-2 elongate, slender, in P2 and P3 with 2 apical setae, in P4 additionally with 1 inner, in some species also with 1 outer seta; male P2 and P4 as in female, but P3 enp* 3-segmented, the second segment with small triangular apophysis; enp-3 small, with 2 apical setae. P5 with endopodal lobe completely absorbed into benp, represented by 2 and 1 setae in female and male, respectively; female exp distinct, elongated, carrying 2 lateral and 3 (sub)apical setae; in male, exp fused to benp*, with 3–4 setae. Female P6 minute, located previous to copulatory pore, with former lobes each indicated by 1 small seta; male P6 absent*.