Gaziella cochleata, Diez & Monnens & Wuyts & Brendonck & Reygel & Schmidt-Rhaesa & Artois, 2023

Gaziella De Clerck & Schockaert, 1995 View in CoL Gaziella cochleata sp. n. Diez & Artois

( Figs. 6a, b View Fig , 7a View Fig and 8a–c View Fig )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Gaziella sp. 1 in Diez et al. (2023)

Material and distribution. Cuba: Observations on live animals, whole mounted afterwards. Two specimens used for molecular analyses and four whole mounts from Bueycabón (type locality) ( 6 and 21 February 2018), one of which is designated holotype ( ZMH, No. V13679 ) and the others paratypes (HU, No. 855–857); fine-grained sand with organic matter, 0.5 m deep, salinity 35‰. Four whole mounts from Playa Morales ( January 4, 2017) (HU XIX.3.14– XIX.3.17); sandymuddy bottom in a bed of T. testudinum , 0.5 m deep, salinity 35‰. One whole mount from Siboney ( March 6, 2018) (HU XIX.3.28), sublittoral, 0.5 m deep, fine-grained sand rich in organic matter, salinity 33‰. Four whole mounts from Playa Caletón ( 26 January 2020) (HU XIX.3.18– XIX.3.21); sublittoral, 0.5 m deep, fine-grained sand around bed of S. filiforme , salinity 37‰. Three whole mounts from Juraguá ( 9 February 2020) (HU XIX.3.22– XIX.3.24); two specimens collected subtidally, 1 m deep, fine-grained sand, and one specimen collected intertidally, upper 20 cm of medium-grained sand, salinity 33‰. Three whole mounts from Hotel Guamá ( October 21, 2020) (HU XIX.3.25– XIX.3.27); sublittoral, fine-grained and silty sand, 0.8 m deep, salinity 32 ‰.

Etymology. The epithet refers to the spiralised distal cap of the copulatory bulb. Lat. Cochleatus: spiral.

Diagnosis. Species of Gaziella with a spiny cirrus ~ 44 µm long; spines ~ 5 µm long. The clerotized cap is a spiralised plate, ~ 41 µm long.

Description. The live animals are 2–2.5 mm long, slen- der, light-brown coloured due to parenchymal glands, and without eyes ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a View Fig ). Two types of strong frontal adenal rhabdites ( Fig. 6a View Fig : ar) are present, opening in the anterior invagination (proboscis-like structure) ( Fig. 7a View Fig : in). The pharynx ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a View Fig : ph) is located at 75%.

The paired testes ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a View Fig : t) are located anterolaterally from the pharynx. The thick seminal ducts run backwards and open independently into the single seminal vesicle ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 8a–c View Fig : sv). The atrial organs are located caudal to the pharynx, in the distal body third. The copulatory bulb ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a View Fig : cb) is inverted-pear shaped; it includes the seminal vesicle, the prostate vesicle ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a–c View Fig : pv), a spiny cirrus ( Figs. 6a, b View Fig and 8a–c View Fig : cir), and a distal clerotized cap ( Figs. 6a, b View Fig and 8a–c View Fig : sc). The cirrus is 26–54 µm long ( x = 44 µm; n = 14) and 9–11 µm wide ( x = 10 µm; n = 14). The cirrus spines are fine, very close to each other, and 4–5 µm long ( x = 5 µm; n = 28). The clerotized cap is a spiralised plate, 32–62 µm long ( x = 41 µm; n = 14) and 17–27 µm wide proximally ( x = 23 µm; n = 14).

The paired vitellaria ( Figs. 6a View Fig and 7a View Fig : vi) extend at both body sides, caudal to the brain ( Fig. 6a View Fig : br) to the level of the pharynx. The paired kidney-shaped ovaries ( Fig. 6a View Fig : ov) lie posterior to the male copulatory bulb; the oocytes are organised in a row, diminishing in diameter from the most distal to the most proximal. Each oviduct with a seminal reservoir vesicle ( Fig. 6a View Fig : sr). The bursa ( Fig. 6a View Fig : b) is located caudal to the ovaries. The common gonopore ( Fig. 6a View Fig : cg) is located at about 80%, just caudal to the male copulatory organ.