2025/10/28 by Damin Lee, Jin‐Ho Park, Taeseo Park · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Crustacean biology and ecology #Protist diversity and phylogeny
paper · pdf · doi:10.3897/zse.101.167593
openalex publication_date 2025/10/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
A new species belonging to the genus Rhynchothorax was discovered in a subtidal sandy patch off the eastern coast of Jejudo Island, Republic of Korea. The new species, Rhynchothorax arenigenus sp. nov. , is morphologically close to R. nopperabo , R. philopsammum , and R. vallatus , but can be distinguished by a combination of morphological characters: an ectal tubercle at the lateral extension of cephalic segment, the lateral process intervals, the arrangement of spines and tubercles on the lateral processes, the oviger spine formula, leg tuberculation, and the relative length of auxiliary claws. We highlight three morphological traits in the present species: a pair of ventral furrows on the proboscis, variable lateral process intervals, and the structure of oviger terminal claw. Notably, the ventral furrows are described here for the first time within the genus and may have been overlooked in other Rhynchothorax species. Additionally, partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( cox1 ) are provided to support species delimitation and to facilitate future phylogenetic research.