Pseudostomella dolichopoda Todaro, 2012 and P. cataphracta Ruppert, 1970 (Gastrotricha: Thaumastodermatidae): new records from Brazil and USA and an updated key to the genus

Abstract

Pseudostomella dolichopoda was originally described from the north coast of São Paulo, Brazil, and P. cataphracta from North Carolina, USA. Herein we report new distributional records of both species: P. dolichopoda is recorded from Espírito Santo, Brazil and P. cataphracta from Florida, USA. An updated identification key for the genus Pseudostomella is also provided.

A synopsis of knowledge, zoogeography and an online interactive map of Brazilian marine gastrotrichs

“…Only seven species (30%), all belonging to the order Macrodasyida ( Pseudostomella dolichopoda , Pseudostomella squamalongispinosa , Ptychostomella lamelliphora , Crasiella fonseci , M. fornerisae , Dactylopodola todaroi , K. carlosrochai ), were originally described from samples collected in Brazil (Table 1). Since the first marine gastrotrich described in Brazil were published in 2004 and the last one in 2019 (Araújo, Balsamo & Garraffoni, 2014; Araújo et al, 2016; Garraffoni, Di Domenico & Hochberg, 2017; Hochberg, 2014; Todaro, 2012, 2013; Todaro & Rocha, 2004, 2005; Todaro et al, 2019) the historical rates of species description are 0.43/per year, much lower when compared, in the same period, with the world historical rates of marine gastrotrich descriptions (8.93/per year).…”

“…Unfortunately, most of these gaps are also observed for marine animals. Most of the surveys were concentrated on the Northern coast of São Paulo State and the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Todaro & Rocha, 2004, 2005; Todaro, 2012, 2013; Hochberg, 2014; Garraffoni, Di Domenico & Hochberg, 2017; Todaro et al, 2019), and only two studies were performed outside this area (Araújo, Balsamo & Garraffoni, 2014: Bahia State; Araújo et al, 2016: Espírito Santo State) (see below section “Brazilian Gastrotricha distribution patterns”).…”

“…The only significant difference between Brazilian marine and freshwater gastrotrichs is related to the number of available identification keys; that mainly exists for marine species. In the last years, taxonomic keys for species belonging to six genera were published, and many listed taxa in Brazil, for example, Aspidiophorus (Todaro et al, 2009); Cephalodasys (Kieneke, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Hochberg, 2015); Dactylopodola (Von Und Zu Gilsa et al, 2014); Paraturbanella (Todaro et al, 2017); Pseudostomella (Clausen, 2004; Todaro, 2012; Araújo et al, 2016) and Tetranchyroderma (Todaro, 2002).…”

“…In general, in recent years, the number of new Gastrotricha species descriptions increased in geographic locations known for poor sampling (Todaro & Rocha, 2004, 2005; Hochberg, 2003, 2008, 2014; Todaro, 2012, 2013; Hochberg, Atherton & Gross, 2013; Von Und Zu Gilsa et al, 2014; Araújo, Balsamo & Garraffoni, 2014; Araújo et al, 2016; Todaro, Leasi & Hochberg, 2014; Todaro, Perissinotto & Bownes, 2015; Todaro, Dal Zotto & Leasi, 2015; Todaro et al, 2017, 2019; Kieneke, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Hochberg, 2015; Garraffoni, Di Domenico & Amaral, 2016; Garraffoni, Di Domenico & Hochberg, 2017; Araújo & Hochberg, 2017; Chatterjee, Priyalakshmi & Todaro, 2019).…”

“…Araújo et al (2016) reported a new record of Pseudostomella dolichopoda Todaro, 2012, originally described from the Northern coast of São Paulo, and then collected from the State of Espírito Santo. Garraffoni, Di Domenico & Amaral (2016) analyzed the patterns of diversity of marine Gastrotricha among benthic habitats and localities along the Southeastern Brazilian coast.…”