Three new and two known halacarid species are described from benthic and epiphytic meiofauna samples nearby five seagrass species from the east coast of Kenya (Gazi Bay). Three species belong to the genus Copidognathus (subfamily Copidognathinae). The present record of C. magnipalpus (Police, 1909) is the first one for the Kenyan coast, but also for the Western Indian Ocean. C. kenyae sp.n. is new to science because of its combination of characteristics: very stout and long rostrum going upto a quarter of palpal tibiotarsus, dorsal seta 2 on ocular plate, epimeral process absent, posterior portion of anterior dorsal plate with a few rosette pores, posterodorsal plate with two costae 2-3 pores wide, few rosette pores present on lateral side of posterodorsal plate giving indication of paracostae, tibia I with two stout, thick and short setae and one slender seta ventrally. Telofemur I with a thick ventral spine like seta. Telofemora III and IV devoid of any ventral seta, tarsi III/IV with four dorsal setae. The resemblance of this species to C. curassaviensis is discussed. C. gazii sp.n. is characterised by an anterior dorsal plate with a small frontal projection, an anterior and a big posterior areolae joined together; gland pores at the lateral margin; ocular plate with an elongated posterior tail; a crescent-shaped elevated ridge at the middle. Posterodorsal plate devoid of costae and with porose panel. Telofemora III and IV devoid of ventral seta. Porose area on telofemora I/II and tibiae I/II. Tarsi III/IV with four dorsal setae. Rhombognathus scutulatus Bartsch 1983 (subfamily Rhombognathinae) is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region but this is the first record from the Kenyan coast. One new species of the subfamily Simognathinae was found in the Kenyan samples. Simognathus tropicalis sp.n. differs from S. uniscutatus as the posterior epimeral plate is divided into two halves, which is not the case in the latter species. A pointed apical membrane in the second palpal segment could not be distinguished. An elongated ventro-distal portion of tibia I was observed. In addition to the description of the species found in Gazi Bay, an overview of the species known from the East African coast is reported. |
