Serratotantulus chertoprudae gen. et sp. n. (Crustacea, Tantulocarida, Basipodellidae): A new tantulocaridan from the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean

Abstract

A single tantulus larva was found at the abyssal depth of the Indian Ocean attached to a harpacticoid host of the family Cletodidae. It represents a new genus and species of Tantulocarida, family Basipodellidae. Its ultrastructure was studied with SEM. This genus can be easily distinguished from the other genera of Basipodellidae by the pore pattern, bilobed oral disk with strong longitudinal ridges and the posterior projection of the cephalic shield. A morphological analysis of two related families Basipodellidae and Deothertridae shows that they represent polyphyletic taxa and need further revision.