Imeroherpia laubieri, a new Solenogaster from the Bay of Biscay

Abstract

A new bathyal solenogaster species of the hitherto monotypic genus and monogeneric family Imeroherpia (Pachytegmentaria: Sterrofustia: Imeroherpiidae) is described from the Bay of Biscay. Imeroherpia laubieri shows a distinctive configuration of the internal organs of the posterior body, where the entire space between the organs of the gonopericardial complex is occupied by large lumina, instead of connective tissue as in most species of Solenogastres. The epithelium of these lumina is thin and delicate, resembling coelomic epithelium. However, the lumina are actually voluminous posterior midgut sacculations, which clearly open into the midgut.