Florarctus kwoni Chang & Rho, 1997

Fig. 2 A, B

Material examined. Four females (121–227 µm long) collected in coral sand at Cook’s Bay, 0.5–1.0 m depth.

Remarks. Of the 14 known species of Florarctus, including the recently described Florarctus wunai Fujimoto, 2015, only three have undivided lateral alae: Florarctus salvati Delamare Deboutteville & Renaud-Mornant, 1965, Florarctus vulcanis Renaud-Mornant, 1987, and F. kwoni . The alae of the specimens from Moorea, although slightly wider than described by Chang & Rho (1997), are rocket-shaped (Fig. 2 A), whereas they are roundish in both F. s al va t i and F. vulcanis . Our specimens also clearly show “mammilliform” sculpturing on the dorsal cuticle. Furthermore, in our specimens the procuticular supports (caestus) form a continuous belt with ill-defined contours lacking lateral processes (Fig. 2 B), fitting the original description of F. k w o ni (Chang & Rho, 1997). In contrast, in F. s a l v a t i and F. vulcanis the procuticular supports lack the continuous belt, rather forming multiple, individual lateral diverticula. In F. salvati these diverticula are digit-shaped while in F. vulcanis they are enlarged distally. (Renaud-Mornant 1987). This is the first record of F. k w o ni for French Polynesia and the first time this species has been found beyond the type locality in Palawan Island, the Philippines.