Archeolourinia shermani, a new genus and species of Louriniidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from a Caribbean mesophotic zone

Abstract

Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are found on the insular and continental slopes of Caribbean islands and comprise mainly scleractinian corals, sponges and macroalgae. These species provide habitat for a highly diverse and specialized crustacean fauna. A new genus and species of the family Louriniidae is described from samples taken from an MCE in south-west Puerto Rico. The new taxa can be diagnosed by: body elongate, almost cylindrical and with inconspicuous podoplean boundary between prosome and urosome; double genital somite with a discontinuous chitinized cuticular ridge; telson short with rectangular anal operculum; furca short; rostrum sinusoidal, well defined at the base; antennules 7-segmented with aesthetasc on the fourth segment; antenna with a brush-like basal seta and an abexopodal seta, exopod 1-segmented with 2 setae; endopod with 7 elements (1 geniculate seta and 1 modified inner spine); maxilliped well developed, prehensile, composed of syncoxa, basis, one segmented endopod and one claw-like apical seta; leg 1 endopod 3-segmented, first segment with a modified inner seta; legs 2, 3 and 4 with 2-segmented endopod with inner seta on the first segment; leg 5 basendopod fused, well developed with 4 setae, exopod well developed, with 5 setae; leg 6 represented by a single seta; and genital slits wide apart. The new genus and species can be confidently assigned to the family Louriniidae on the basis of the following synapomorphies: rostrum well-developed with rounded tip; antennule of female 7-segmented; mandible palp reduced; maxillule endopod and exopod absent; maxillae endopodite 2 represented by 3 setae; leg 5 basoendopod of female confluent, intercoxal sclerite absent, exopod 1-segmented; eggs retained in a single ventral egg sac; telson shorter than last urosomite; and furca short and with 6 setae.

Full text

Archeolourinia shermani, a new genus
and species of Louriniidae (Copepoda:
Harpacticoida) from a Caribbean
mesophotic zone
p.h.c. corgosinho
1,2
and n.v. schizas
3
1
Foundation Unesco/HidroEx, Avenida Professor Ma
´rio Palme
´rio 1000, 38200-000, Frutal-MG, Brazil,
2
Department
of Human Sciences, State University of Minas Gerais-UEMG/Campus Frutal, Avenida Professor Ma
´rio Palme
´rio 1000,
38200-000, Frutal-MG, Brazil,
3
Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagu¨ez, Call Box 9000, Mayagu¨ez,
PR 00681, USA
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are found on the insular and continental slopes of Caribbean islands and comprise
mainly scleractinian corals, sponges and macroalgae. These species provide habitat for a highly diverse and specialized crus-
tacean fauna. A new genus and species of the family Louriniidae is described from samples taken from an MCE in south-west
Puerto Rico. The new taxa can be diagnosed by: body elongate, almost cylindrical and with inconspicuous podoplean bound-
ary between prosome and urosome; double genital somite with a discontinuous chitinized cuticular ridge; telson short with
rectangular anal operculum; furca short; rostrum sinusoidal, well defined at the base; antennules 7-segmented with aesthetasc
on the fourth segment; antenna with a brush-like basal seta and an abexopodal seta, exopod 1-segmented with 2 setae;
endopod with 7 elements (1 geniculate seta and 1 modified inner spine); maxilliped well developed, prehensile, composed
of syncoxa, basis, one segmented endopod and one claw-like apical seta; leg 1 endopod 3-segmented, first segment with a modi-
fied inner seta; legs 2, 3 and 4 with 2-segmented endopod with inner seta on the first segment; leg 5 basendopod fused, well
developed with 4 setae, exopod well developed, with 5 setae; leg 6 represented by a single seta; and genital slits wide apart. The
new genus and species can be confidently assigned to the family Louriniidae on the basis of the following synapomorphies:
rostrum well-developed with rounded tip; antennule of female 7-segmented; mandible palp reduced; maxillule endopod
and exopod absent; maxillae endopodite 2 represented by 3 setae; leg 5 basoendopod of female confluent, intercoxal sclerite
absent, exopod 1-segmented; eggs retained in a single ventral egg sac; telson shorter than last urosomite; and furca short and
with 6 setae.
Keywords: mesophotic coral ecosystems, Puerto Rico, Louriniidae, Harpacticoida, new genus, new species
Submitted 10 July 2012; accepted 1 August 2012; first published online 21 September 2012
INTRODUCTION
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are characterized by the
presence of zooxanthellate corals and associated communities
typically found at depths of 30– 40 m and reaching to over
100 m in the tropics (Locker et al., 2010). Caribbean MCEs
are found on the insular and continental slopes of islands
and are visually dominated by sponge and algal species, as
well as scleractinian corals (Agaricia and Undaria spp.),
which may be abundant until 90 – 100 m depth, in waters
with high visibility (Sherman et al., 2010). These species
provide habitats for a highly diverse and specialized benthic
fauna.
We are particularly interested in the crustacean fauna of
MCEs because it may represent a transitional fauna between
the shallow and deeper habitats. The crustacean fauna
associated with MCEs is relatively unexplored because
MCEs are typically found at depths starting at 40–50 m
(too deep for conventional diving) and extending to over
100–150 m (too shallow for oceanographic ships). New
diving technology that combines Tri-Mix Diving and
Rebreathers allows divers to safely collect from these depths.
This method offers an alternative approach to benthic collec-
tions compared to the more destructive method of dredging.
Copepoda are the most numerous metazoan taxon at the
MCEs. Preliminary examination of the copepod fauna
showed that the fauna is dominated by Harpacticoida, followed
by Peocilostomatoida and Cyclopoida. After examination of
over 100 harpacticoid copepod specimens to the species level,
the families Cletodidae, Ectinosomatidae, Laophontidae,
Longipediidae, Miraciidae and Porcellidiidae are well rep-
resented at the MCEs.
The present study is part of a US National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration-funded research programme
(DeepCres) to characterize the benthic fauna associated with
the MCEs. Herein, we describe the first new copepod species
stemming from the DeepCres programme, a new genus and
Corresponding author:
P.H.C. Corgosinho
Email: paulo.corgosinho@hidroex.mg.gov.br
651
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2013, 93(3), 651 –657. #Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2012
doi:10.1017/S0025315412001336

species of Louriniidae Monard, 1927 with a new diagnosis for
the family.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Divers equipped with Tri-Mix Rebreathers collected substrata
(loose rubble, corals, sponges and algae) from MCEs located
near the shelf-edge of south-western Puerto Rico. Loose sub-
strata were placed over a 1 mm and 0.125 mm sieve and
washed with filtered seawater. The portion of fauna retained
in the 0.125 mm sieve was extracted and examined under a
microscope. The specimen was dissected in lactic acid and
mounted on slides with glycerine. Allobservations and drawings
were conducted with the aid of an Olympus BX51 compound
microscope equipped with Normarsky interference contrast
and using a drawing tube, at 400×and 1000×magnification.
Terminology and homologization of maxillary and maxil-
lipedal structures follow the methods of Ferrari & Ivanenko
(2008). The terms seta, setules, spines and spinules are used
according to the terminology proposed by Huys & Boxshall
(1991).
The following abbreviations are used in the text: A1, anten-
nule; A2, antenna; benp, basendopod; enp, endopod; enp-1
(2,3), proximal (middle, distal) segment of endopod; exp,
exopod; exp-1 (2,3), proximal (middle, distal) segment of
exopod; Md, mandible; Mx1, maxillule; Mx2, maxilla; Mxp,
maxilliped; P1–P6, first to sixth thoracopod.
The type material is deposited at the Smithsonian National
Museum of Natural History.
systematics
Class COPEPODA H. Milne Edwards, 1830
Order HARPACTICOIDA Sars, 1903
Family LOURINIIDAE Mohard, 1927
Archeolourinia gen. nov. type species: Archeolourinia sher-
mani gen. et sp. nov. Male is unknown.
diagnosis
Copepoda Harpacticoida. Body elongate, almost cylindrical
and with inconspicuous podoplean boundary between
prosome and urosome; genital double somite with a discon-
tinuous chitinized cuticular ridge indicating a former division
between somites, absent at the dorsal and ventral surfaces;
telson shorter than the last urosomite, slightly tapering poster-
iorly, with rectangular anal operculum in dorsal view; furca
short, 1.2 times broader than long, without processes;
rostrum sinusoidal, well defined at the base; A1 7-segmented
with aesthetasc on the fourth segment, 1st segment without
armature and ornamented with strong spinules, 1st to 4th seg-
ments are strongly developed, 5th to 7th segments much
reduced in width in comparison with the previous ones; A2
biramous, with a brush-like basal seta and an abexopodal
seta, exp 1-segmented with 2 setae; enp with 7 elements (5
strong spines, 1 geniculate seta and 1 modified inner spine);
Mxp well developed, prehensile, composed of syncoxa, basis,
one segmented endopod and one claw-like apical seta; P1 to
P4 exp 3-segmented; P1 exp-3 with 2 outer spines and 2 gen-
iculate setae; P1 enp 3-segmented, 1st segment with a modi-
fied inner seta, 2nd segment with an outer seta and enp-3
with 3 elements (1 outer geniculate setae, 1 distal long seta
and 1 inner minute seta); P2, P3 and P4 with 2-segmented
enp with inner seta on the 1st segment.
Armature of P1-4 is as follows:
Coxa Basis Exp Enp
P1 0- 0 1-0 I- 0; I-0; II, 1, 1 0-1; 0-1; 1, 1, 1
P2 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I-1; III, 2, 1 0-I; I, 2, 2
P3 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I-1; III, 2, 2 0-1; I, 2, 1
P4 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I- 1; III, 2, 2 0-1; I, 2, 1
P5 basendopod fused, well developed with 4 setae, exp well
developed, 1-segmented, approximately as long as broad,
with 5 setae; P6 and genital field located at the proximal
margin of the double genital somite, P6 represented by an
opercular plate armed with a single seta on each side; copula-
tory pore medially located, genital slits wide apart.
Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov.
etymology
The generic name is a combination of the Greek word archeos
(arxaio6), and the generic name Lourinia, alluding to the
presence of some unusual plesiomorphic conditions in the
species described here. The species is named after Dr Clark
Sherman, Geologist at the Department of Marine Sciences,
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagu¨ez, who has been collecting
many of the samples from the MCEs.
type material
Holotype: one female dissected and mounted on 8 slides
(SNMNH 1188625).
type locality
The single specimen was collected on 10 November 2009
from south-west Puerto Rico, offshore La Parguera, Hole-in-
the-Wall (17853′04.5960′′N67801′18.9120′′W), 67 m depth.
description of female
Body (Figure 1A, B) elongate, length 240 mm (measured from
tip of rostrum to posterior end of telson), habitus almost
cylindrical (Figure 1F) and with inconspicuous podoplean
boundary between prosome and urosome (Figure 1A, B);
genital double somite with a discontinuous chitinized cuticu-
lar ridge indicating a former division between somites, absent
at the dorsal and ventral surfaces; free prosomites and uroso-
mites with posterior hyaline membrane; sensilla and cuticular
pores as in Figure 1A, B; telson shorter than the last uroso-
mite, slightly tapering posteriorly, with rectangular anal oper-
culum in dorsal view (Figure 1B) and with a strong row of
spinules, laterally, near the insertion of the furca.
Furca (Figure 5C) short, 1.2 times broader than long
without processes and with 6 setae, seta I short, seta III long,
inserted in a protuberance, setae IV and V the longest, distally
inserted, seta VI the shortest, seta VII long, with a socket.
Rostrum (Figure 2A) sinusoidal and well defined at the base.
A1 (Figure 2A, B) 7-segmented with aesthetasc on the
fourth segment, 1st segment without armature and ornamen-
ted with strong spinules, 1st to 4th segments are strongly devel-
oped, 5th to 7th segments much reduced in width in
comparison with the previous ones; armature as follows: 0/8/
5/1 +ae/1/1/7 +ae.
A2 (Figure 2C) biramous, with indistinctly separated allo-
basis, with a brush-like basal seta and an abexopodal seta, exp
(Figure 2D) 1-segmented with 2 setae; enp with 7 elements, 1
652 p.h.c. corgosinho and n.v. schizas

minute spine on the proximal inner margin, 1 larger spine
medially on the inner margin and 1 transformed tryphid
spine on the distal inner margin, distally with 1 serrulate
seta, 2 long setae (1 geniculate) and 1 bipinate spine on the
distal outer margin.
Labrum (Figure 2K) sinusoidal, ornamented distally with a
row of numerous spinules-like teeth and several rows of spi-
nules/setules on the posterior margin.
Md (Figure 2E) with a large praecoxal arthrite connecting to
a strong corpus mandibularis. Md palp (Figure 2F)
1-segmented, separation between basis, exp and enp indistinct;
basis with a unipinate setaand a bare small seta; exp represented
by an outer bipinate seta; enp represented by a serrulate seta.
Mx1 (Figure 2G) praecoxal arthrite rectangular, apically
armed with 2 blunt spines, 3 trifid spines, 2 serrulate setae
on the oral margin and 2 aboral setae; coxa and basis fused
(Figure 2H); coxal endite with 2 slender setae; basal endite
with 2 slender setae and a long spine; enp fused to basis and
represented by 2 slender setae; exp fused to the basis and rep-
resented by a short lobe armed with 1 long and slender seta
and a small seta.
Mx2 (Figure 2I) syncoxa and basis fused; basis with 2
endites, 1st endite with 3 slender setae, 2 fused; 2nd endite
with 3 slender setae, 1 fused; proximal endopodal segment
armed with a claw like spine and a slender seta near the inser-
tion of the spine; second endopodal segment armed with 2
slender setae.
Mxp (Figure 2J) well developed, prehensile, composed of a
long syncoxa ornamented with long spinules, a long basis with
long spinules along the distal margin and a 1-segmented enp
armed with 2 slender setae and a strong claw like spine.
P1 (Figure 3A) intercoxal sclerite broader than long, in the
shape of an irregular convex hexagon; with a large, triangular
praecoxa, longer than broad; coxa with a row of strong
spinules on the anterior outer margin and a row of small
spinules on the posterior outer margin; basis heavily spinulated
along its margins, without inner and outer spines/setae; exp 3-
segmented, exp-1 and exp-2 with strong spinules along outer
margin, exp-3 with 2 outer spines and 2 distal geniculate
setae; enp 3-segmented, proximally of the same length of the
exp, enp-1 approximately of the same length of enp-2 and
enp-3 together, with a long seta on the inner margin, enp-2
the shortest, with an inner seta, enp-3 with 3 elements, 1
outer geniculate setae, 1 distal long seta and 1 inner minute seta.
P2 to P4 (Figures 3B & 4A, B) with a large praecoxa,
broader than long; P2 to P4 praecoxa with an anterior row
of spinules near the outer margin; coxa large, rectangular,
broader than long, with an anterior row of spinules near the
Fig. 1. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. female, habitus in lateral (A) and dorsal views (F). Lateral view of the protopodites and first exopodite of P1 (B), P2
(C), P3 (D) and P4 (E). Ventral view of the egg sac. Scale bar 1 ¼100 mm (A); scale bar 2 ¼50 mm (B – E); scale bar 3 ¼50 mm (F, G).
archeolourinia shermani, a new genus and species 653

outer margin of P2, not ornate in P3 and P4; basis with an
outer seta, a row of strong spinules along outer and medial
margin and an anterior row of strong spinules, near the
inner margin. Exp-3 segmented; exp-2 of P2 with a short
setae, approximately as long as exp-2; exp-2 seta longer in
P3 and P4, approximately as long as the whole exp; distalmost
inner seta of exp-3 of P3 and P4 distally modified (strongly
serrulate). Enp of P2 to P4 2-segmented; enp-1 with inner
seta, modified, with brush tip in P2; enp-2 with a serrulate
seta at the distal inner margin of P2; with a brush-like seta
on the inner margin of P3 and P4.
Armature of P1-4 is as follows:
Coxa Basis Exp Enp
P1 0- 0 1-0 I- 0; I-0; II, 1, 1 0-1; 0-1; 1, 1, 1
P2 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I-1; III, 2, 1 0-I; I, 2, 1
P3 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I-1; III, 2, 2 0-1; I, 2, 1
P4 0- 0 1- 0 I- 0; I- 1; III, 2, 2 0-1; I, 2, 1
P5 (Figure 5A) basendopod well developed, with an outer seta,
fused and with two processes on each side, at the midline; with
4 bipinate setae (refered as 1 to 4 from the inner to the outer
margin), setae 1 and 4 are the smallest, 2 and 3 the longest, 2
the longer. Exp well developed, 1-segmented, approximately
as long as broad, with 5 setae (referred as 1 to 5 from the
inner to the outer margin); seta 1 bare and small, seta 2 and
4 bipinate and longer, seta 3 the shortest, naked, seta 5 long
(broken), inserting in an outer lobe.
P6 and genital field (Figure 5B) located at the proximal
margin of the genital double somite, P6 represented by an
opercular plate armed with a single small and bipinate seta
on each side; copulatory pore medially located, genital slits
set wide apart. Eggs retained in a single ventral egg sac
(Figure 1 A, G).
DISCUSSION
The family Louriniidae is a poorly known and enigmatic taxon
with an unclear phylogenetic relationship within the
canthocamptid-like harpacticoids. Up to this date, the
family was represented by a single species, Lourinia armata
Fig. 2. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. female, A1 (A, B), rostrum (A) A2 coxa, allobasis and endopod (C), A2 exopod (D), Md praecoxal arthrite and
corpus mandibularis (E), Md palp (F), Mx1 praecoxal arthrite (G), Mx1 coxa, basis, enp and exp (H), Mx2 (I), Mxp (J), labrum (K). Scale bar ¼50 mm.
654 p.h.c. corgosinho and n.v. schizas

(Claus, 1866); although two species (Lourinia aculeata
(Thompson I.C. & Scott A., 1903) and Lourinia nicobarica
(Sewell, 1940)) and three subspecies (Lourinia armata major
(Sewell, 1940), Lourinia armata minor (Sewell, 1940) and
Lourinia armata sulamericana Jakobi, 1954), now considered
direct child taxa, have been proposed to belong to this family
in the past.
The new genus and species described here can be easily
assigned to the family Louriniidae on the basis of the following
characters that we consider synapomorphic to the family:
(a) rostrum well-developed with rounded tip; (b) A1 of
female 7-segmented; (c) A2 with separate coxa and allobasis
armed with an outer spine; (d) A2 enp with at least 5 strongly
developed elements; (e) Md with well-developed gnathobasis,
Md palp reduced; (f) Mx1 with well-developed praecoxal
arthrite bearing about 6 distal elements, enp and exp absent;
(g) Mx2 with two basal endites, enp-1 drawn into a strong
claw, enp-2 represented by 3 setae; (h) P2 to P4 typically
with 2 segmented enp; (i) P5 benp of female confluent, inter-
coxal sclerite absent, exp 1-segmented; (j) eggs retained in a
single ventral egg sac; (k) body cylindrical with inconspicuous
Fig. 3. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. female, P1 (A) and P2 (B).
Scale bar ¼50 mm.
Fig. 4. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. female, P3 (A), P3 exp-3 (B), P4 (C), P4 enp-1-2 (D), distal setae of exp-3 of P4 (1, 2). Scale bar ¼50 mm.
Fig. 5. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. female, P5 (A), P6 and genital
field (B), telson with furca (C). Scale bar ¼50 mm.
archeolourinia shermani, a new genus and species 655

podoplean boundary; (l) telson shorter than the last urosomite,
slightly tapering posteriorly; and (m) furca short and with 6
setae. Also remarkable is the presence of modified setae with
brush-like or serrulate tip at the same position in different
limbs such as P1 enp-1, P2 enp-1 and enp-2, P3 and P4 enp-2.
Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. differs from
Lourinia armata by the presence of a Md palp with fewer
elements, totalling 2 distal setae and a vestigial enp represented
by 2 setae; Mx1 basal endite with 2 setae, coxal endite with 3
setae; Mxp well developed, prehensile, composed of a long
syncoxa ornamented with long spinules, a long basis with
long spinules along the distal margin and a 1-segmented enp
armed with 2 slender setae and a strong claw like spine;
P1 enp 3-segmented, distal endopodal segment without the pre-
dominantly strong distally inserted spine that in Archeolourinia
shermani gen. et sp. nov. is probably represented by the longest
spine; benp of P5 of female with 4 long setae, exp with 5 setae.
Additionally, P3 enp-2 of Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp.
nov. is less armed than in Lourinia armata and the exp-3 has
an additional inner setae in P3 and P4.
Considering that the diagnosis for the family Louriniidae is
the same diagnosis proposed for the type species Lourinia
armata, in order to accommodate Archeolourinia shermani
gen. et sp. nov. within Louriniidae, here we offer an
amended diagnosis to the family.
Louriniidae
amended diagnosis
Copepoda Harpacticoida. Body elongate, almost cylindrical and
with inconspicuous podoplean boundary between prosome and
urosome in lateral view; genital double somite with a discon-
tinuous chitinized cuticular ridge indicating a former division
between somites, absent at the dorsal and ventral surfaces;
telson shorter than the last urosomite, slightly tapering poster-
iorly, furca short or cylindrical, with 6 setae; A1 of female 7-
segmented with aesthetasc on the fourth segment, 1st
segment without armature and ornamented with strong spi-
nules, 1st to 4th segments are strongly developed, 5th to 7th
segments much reduced in width in comparison with the pre-
vious ones; A2 biramous, with a basal seta or tiny spine, exp 1-
segmented with 2 setae; enp turned outwards in lateral view,
with 7 elements (at least 5 transformed spines); rostrum sinu-
soidal, well defined at the base; Md withwell-developed gnatho-
basis, Md palp reduced, Mx1 praecoxal endite with about 6
distal elements, enp and exp vestigial, represented by few
setae; Mx2 enp-2 vestigial and represented by 3 setae; Mxp ves-
tigial or prehensile; P1 to P4 exp 3-segmented; P1 enp 2 or 3-
segmented, 1st segment with a modified inner seta; P2, P3
and P4 with 2-segmented enp with inner seta on the 1st
segment. Modified setae or spines consistently appearing on
enp-1 of P1 and enp-1 and 2 of P2, P3 and P4. Male P3 enp
with inner apophysis on the enp-2. Male P5 benp confluent,
exp and benp fused. Eggs retained in a single ventral egg sac.
Phylogenetic remarks
The phylogenetic position of Louriniidae has been debated in
the past. Monard (1927), following the discussion about the
taxonomic composition and the phylogenetic position of
the Cylindropsyllidae Sars, 1909, established the section
Agnatha to accommodate the families Metidae Lang, 1948,
Darcythompsoniidae Lang, 1936 and Louriniidae on the basis
of the reduced or absent Mxp. In accordance to Monard
(1927), only those genera with reduced Mxp could be included
within the Cylindropsyllidae. This arrangement was strongly
criticized by Lang (1936) who considered the loss of Mxp a con-
vergent character. Additionally, Lang (1948) commented on the
close similarity of Louriniidae with Cylindropsyllidae and
namely with the Canthocamptidae Brady, 1880.
However, it is remarkable how many similarities can be
enumerated between Darcythompsoniidae and the family
Louriniidae. Any taxonomic conclusions are still too speculat-
ive, but it is worth mentioning that both families retain a
similar body structure and a very similar female A1, A2, a
high level of congruence of the armature of Md, Mx1 and
Mx2, a tendency to the reduction of the Mxp and a high
level of congruence concerning the armature of P1 to P4. It
is especially notable how similar are Louriniidae and the
genus Leptocaris Scott, 1899, the most basal species within
Darcythompsoniidae in accordance to our ongoing study.
These taxa share the same structure of female A1 with 1st
segment without armature and ornamented with strong spi-
nules, 1st to 4th segments are strongly developed, 5th to 7th
segments much reduced in width in comparison with the pre-
vious ones. Additionally, in both taxa modified setae occur at
more or less the same positions in P2 to P4.
It is well known that among the canthocamptid-like harpac-
ticoids, such as the Louriniidae, the enp of the P3 of males may
develop an apophysis that differs in high degree among species,
genera and families. In fact, within some families or in an
entire family, this apophysis cannot be formed (ex: in the
Darcythompsoniidae, the sexual dimorphism can occur in
one or more enp of the P2 to P4, but never an apophysis is
formed in the enp of P3). This is a clear exception to the above-
mentioned pattern, but it seems to be a consensus that the
Darcythompsoniidae belong to the canthocamptid-like
harpacticoids.
It would be premature to make any assumptions on the
phylogenetic position of Louriniidae, but the condition of
the Louriniidae as the sister group of Darcythompsoniidae
should be tested in future phylogenetic studies. An alternative
is that similar structures convergently evolved in Louriniidae
and Darcythompsoniidae, adapting to similar habitats in
shallow waters and associated with phytal substrata or decay-
ing leaves (viz. Boxshall & Halsey, 2004).
Remarks on the ecology and distribution
There has been limited information on the ecology and distri-
bution of Louriniidae. Most louriniidids have been collected
from shallow benthic samples or washings of algae mainly
from tropical and subtropical areas of the Indo-Pacific and
Mediterranean (Lang, 1948; Vervoort, 1964). An exception
is the reported Lourinia armata from the Korean peninsula
(Yoo & Lee, 1993). In the Atlantic, Louriniidae have been
reported from Tenerife (Noodt, 1955), Bermuda (Coull &
Herman, 1970) and Brazil (Jakobi, 1954), all from shallow
waters. Archeolourinia shermani gen. et sp. nov. was collected
from substrata dominated by the scleractinian corals Agaricia
spp. at 67 m depth, which was unexpected given the previous
reports. Adaptation to different depths suggests ecological
differences. All louriniids are characterized by a Mxp
reduced to a small lobe and a seta except for A. shermani
gen. et sp. nov. which bears a prehensile Mxp. This
656 p.h.c. corgosinho and n.v. schizas

morphological difference indicates major differences in the
feeding behaviour and ecology of A. shermani gen. et sp.
nov. compared to the previously reported louriniids reinfor-
cing the designation of a new genus to accommodate this
species.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagu¨ez (UPRM),
Department of Marine Sciences Diving Team: Ivonne
Bejarano, Milton Carlo, Michael Nemeth, Hector Ruiz and
Clark Sherman, for the collection of mesophotic samples.
Funding was provided from the US National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Sponsored Coastal
Ocean Research (Award No. NA06NOS4780190) to the
Caribbean Coral Reef Institute of UPRM. The present manu-
script was inspired by a short visit of the first author to UPRM
sponsored by CCRI-DMS.
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Correspondence should be addressed to:
P.H.C. Corgosinho
Foundation Unesco/HidroEx
Avenida Professor Ma
´rio Palme
´rio 1000, 38200-000,
Frutal-MG, Brazil
email: paulo.corgosinho@hidroex.mg.gov.br
archeolourinia shermani, a new genus and species 657