On the genus Lagenopolycystis Artois and Schockaert, 2000 (Platyhelminthes, Kalyptorhynchia, Polycystididae)

Abstract

A comprehensive and comparative overview of the taxon Lagenopolycystis Artois and Schockaert, 2000 (= Lagenorhynchus Brunet, 1965) is given, followed by comments on the two known species: Lagenopolycystis peresi (Brunet, 1965) Artois & Schockaert, 2000 and L. mandelai Willems & Artois, 2017, and the description of six new ones: L. articulata sp. nov., L. azorensis sp. nov., L. canariensis sp. nov., L. conglobata sp. nov., L. mutabilis sp. nov., and L. poena sp. nov. The species of this morphologically homogenous genus can be distinguished from each other based on the dimensions and morphology of the hard parts of the male copulatory organ. All species occur in sandy marine habitats and are described from the western Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsula, and Macaronesia. One species (L. poena sp. nov.) also occurs on the Swedish west coast, while L. mutabilis sp. nov. and L. mandelai occur on the East and South African coast, respectively. The monophyly of the genus is briefly discussed.