Lagenopolycystis poena Artois, Van Steenkiste, Diez and Schockaert, 2025

Monnens, Marlies, Schockaert, Ernest R., Diez, Yander L., Revis, Nathalie, Janssen, Toon, Jouk, Philippe E. H., Tessens, Bart, Van Steenkiste, Niels W. L. & Artois, Tom J., 2025, On the genus Lagenopolycystis Artois and Schockaert, 2000 (Platyhelminthes, Kalyptorhynchia, Polycystididae), Zootaxa 5659 (3), pp. 357-376 : 372

Lagenopolycystis poena Artois, Van Steenkiste, Diez and Schockaert sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A288E4FA-6513-49BA-BE03-6DE6D9E76551

( Fig. 8 )

Diagnosis. Species of Lagenopolycystis with a prostate stylet of 78–133 µm (x̄ = 106 µm, n = 17), strongly curved proximally and slightly curved distally with a (more or less) straight part in between and with a blunt distal end; both ‘walls’ of the gutter are proximally ear-shaped with a highly thickened rim. The accessory stylet is 37–66 µm (x̄ = 57 µm, n = 16) and has a sharp end. It is attached to the proximal end of the main stylet at about 1/4 of its length. The tube of the ‘seminal receptacle’ is unknown.

Distribution. SPAIN • Atlantic coast west of Rota, N36°3’0” W6°2’5”, rocky coast, coarse-grained sand on and between rocks (11 April 2008) (TYPE LOCALITY); Mediterranean, Portbou, Punta del Claper, small rock island just south of harbour, N42°25’31” E3°10’15”, fine sand, mixed with some shell grit and some silt, 25 m deep (19 July 2021); same locality and habitat, N42°25’29” E3°10’17”, 22 m deep (19 July 2021).

FRANCE • Cerbère , Peyrefite Bay, in the middle of the bay, N42°27’38” E3°09’36”, sand bank between seagrass beds, shell grit mixed with fine gravel, 13 m deep (11 September 2023) ; Cerbère , ‘ Les Chambres’, sand area between rocks, N42°26’30” E3°10’21”, very coarse sand mixed with shell grit, 5–6 m deep (31 July 2014) ; same locality, sand area between seagrass beds, N42°26’31” E3°10’19”, coarse sand mixed with some shell grit, 14 m deep (4 August 2014) ; same locality, past the coastal rock zone, N42°26’32” E3°10’20”, clean medium sand mixed with some fine shell grit, 19 m deep (27 May 2023) ; Cerbère , Terrimbo, Les Aloès, in front of jetty, past the coastal rock zone, N42°27’09” E3°09’46”, fine gravel with some silt, 9 m deep (20 July 2010) ; same locality, N42°27’09” E3°09’48”, clean fine sand, 9 m deep (5 August 2014) ; same locality, habitat, and depth (29 August 2016) ; same locality, at the foot of a rock forming a little island on the left side of the jetty, N42°27’12” E3°09’42”, medium sand mixed with some fine gravel, shell grit, silt, and debris of seagrass leaves, 4 m deep (8 September 2024) .

FRANCE, CORSICA • Bay of Calvi , in front of the Caldano tip, N42°3’0” E8°4’2”, sandy sediment, 32 m deep (11 April 1983) .

ITALY, SARDINIA • Tonnara, south of Stintino , at the debouchments of a small river, associated with algae (19 August 1994) ; Punta Negra , sand from gully, 30 cm deep (22 August 1994) ; same locality; among algae on rocks, submerged next to the small pier at high tide (20 June 2007) ; same locality; one specimen on very silty algae and the other in coarse-grained sand among rocks, near the pier, salinity 37 ‰ (11 August 2024) .

PORTUGAL • Carvoeiro, Algarve, beach below Vale de Covo , eastern rocks on main beach, N37° ’3” W8°2’3”, algae and sand scraped from rocks, 5 m deep (27 May 2013) .

SWEDEN • Skagerrak , Bohusten near Bonden, shell gravel, 20–30 m deep (Leg. Dr T. Karling, 7 August 1961) .

Material examined. Eighteen whole mounts, one of which designated holotype ( FMNH http://id.luomus. fi/KV.548), the rest deposited as reference material in the collections of Hasselt University (HU XXIII.4.37– XXIV.1.03). The stylets of one specimen (HU XXIII.4.37) could not be meaured at all, while in another one (HU XXIV.1.01) only the prostate stylet could be measured .

Etymology. Species name refers to the Phoenicians, the ancient civilization (1550–300 BC) that spread across the Mediterranean, founding many colonies, including Olbia (Sardinia) and Cádiz (southern Spain). Poenus (Lat.): Phoenician, Carthaginian.

Additional remarks. Due to the ear-shaped proximal parts of the main stylet, the stylet resembles that of L. peresi at first glance. However, the stylet of L. poena sp. nov. is not regularly curved over its whole length, it is slightly larger than that of L. peresi , and the accessory stylet is attached more proximally to the main stylet.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Lagenopolycystis poena sp. nov. A–B. Micrographs of the stylet, from A. the holotype (FMNH http://id.luomus. fi/KV.548), and B. a reference specimen (HU XXIII.4.42). C–G. Camera lucida drawings of the stylets from C. the designated holotype (FMNH http://id.luomus.fi/KV.548),andD–G.reference specimens(same scale)(D: HUXXIII.4.42, E:HUXXIII.4.44, F: HU XXIII.4.43). H–K. Micrographs of a live specimen from Portugal (HU XXIII.4.42), including H., an overview of the entire specimen, I. the pharynx, J. the proboscis, and K. the vitellarium and ovary.