Brunetorhynchus canariensis, Schockaert, Ernest R., Martens, Paul M., Revis, Nathalie, Janssen, Toon, Willems, Wim & Artois, Tom J., 2014

Schockaert, Ernest R., Martens, Paul M., Revis, Nathalie, Janssen, Toon, Willems, Wim & Artois, Tom J., 2014, A new genus with six new species of Typhlopolycystidinae Evdonin, 1977 (Platyhelminthes, Kalyptorhynchia, Polycystididae), Zootaxa 3755 (3), pp. 259-272 : 267-268

Brunetorhynchus canariensis n. sp. Schockaert, Janssen & Artois

( Figs 4–5 )

Holotype. A whole mount from the Canary island Lanzarote ( Spain), off Punta Jameos del Agua, 29°9'25.10"N 13°25' 37.89W, medium sand, clean, with Caulerpa , 38 m deep (15 October 2011). ( SMNH 7839).

Paratypes. Three whole mounts and five sectioned specimens (six slides) from the type locality (HU, nos 547–554).

Other material studied. Three whole mounts (HU, nos VI.2.31–VI.2.33) from the Canary island Lanzarote ( Spain), Mala 29°05' 0.53"N 13°26' 59.09"W, medium coarse calcareous sand from an open, steep slope; sample taken close to black coral, 48 m deep (8 October 2011).

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the locality where the species was found.

Diagnosis. Species of Brunetorhynchus , with a stylet approximately 90–100 µm long, around 10 µm broad at the proximal opening tapering to about 4–5 µm distally. It has a thickened proximal rim, open at one side, from where two spiral ridges start, merge and make two turns counter-clock wise over the stylet. No prostate vesicle (type III). Long muscular female duct (type I).

Description. The animals are 0.5–0.8 mm long (measured in the whole mounts), with eyes. As in B. deconincki n. sp., the proboscis is about 1/4th to 1/5th of the body length with parallel cone retractors. The pharynx is at 30 to 40%. The caudal glands are conspicuous.

In sections, the genital pore is at about 90%. The elongated common genital atrium receives the uterus through its anterior wall, dorsally the male atrium at the right and the female duct at the left side. The atria are lined with a low epithelium with few nuclei and surrounded by thin muscle fibres.

The single testis is behind the pharynx and at the left side, male atrial organs at the right. A large seminal vesicle enters the stylet together with the duct of the relatively small accessory secretion reservoir (type II). The male atrium is surrounded by a thin spiral muscle sheath. In none of the individuals—alive, in whole mount or sectioned—was a prostate vesicle seen. The slender and slightly undulating stylet is 91–103 µm long (m = 95 µm, n = 6) and about 10 µm broad at its proximal end, tapering to 4–5 µm distally. The proximal rim is thickened and open at one side where two ridges depart. Those ridges soon join and run twice counter-clock wise over the stylet. At the distal end they separate again, giving rise to the subterminal opening. Another very thin ridge that turns around the stylet can also be seen.

The single ovary is at the left. Together with the vitelloduct it enters the wide oviduct with a posterior bursa part and a large seminal receptacle with strong circular muscles close to the ovary. The female duct is very long, surrounded with circular muscles that become abruptly thicker near the common atrium. No glandular elements were seen in the female system.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Brunetorhynchus canariensis n. sp. (A, B) The living animal. (C) Posterior end of a living animal. (D) Posterior end of another living animal, showing the long female duct and the large caudal glands. (E) Reconstruction of the atrial organs from sagittal sections, seen from the right. (F) The seminal receptacle from a whole mount. (scale bars = 25 µm)

FIGURE 5. Brunetorhynchus canariensis n. sp. (A, B) Drawing and micrograph of the stylet of the holotype. (C) Micrograph of the stylet of an individual from Mala. (scale bars = 25 µm)