Halichaetonotus

Todaro, M. Antonio, Zotto, Matteo Dal, Bownes, Sarah J. & Perissinotto, Renzo, 2011, First records of Gastrotricha from South Africa, with description of a new species of Halichaetonotus (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae), ZooKeys 142, pp. 1-13 : 7

Halichaetonotus sp. 1 Fig. 1C

Material.

1 adult specimen, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, St Lucia beach, 22 February 2010, NAF Miranda legit.

Morphometry.

TL, 106.2 µm; PhL, 27.2 µm; PhIJ at U29.5; FuL, 21 (adhesive tube 17 µm); dorsal cuticular covering made up of seven columns of 17 overlapping, keeled scales. Scales round (up to 4 µm in diameter) on the head and neck region becoming ovoid (up to 8 × 4) over trunk. With exception of medial one, scales of posterior-most row bear keel extending into a 14 µm- long spine; 1+1 columns of hydrofoil scales ventrolaterally.

Remarks.

by virtue of the six spiny scales on the trunk rear, the animal appears different from any other species described so far. Unfortunately, a break of the slide occurred during the observation prevented the examination of the ventral side. Without detailed observations of the ventral scales’ shape, size and arrangement, we choose to avoid making a formal description of the species until additional specimens are observed.