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Abstract:
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During an interstitial faunal survey along the south-west coast of Kerala, India, gastrotrich fauna were found in abundance.
Together with species of the genera Xenotrichula, Halichaetonotus and Tetranchyroderma, were present several
undescribed thaumastodermatid gastrotrichs belonging to the buccal palp bearing genus Pseudostomella. Adults of the
new species are characterized by the following traits: total body length of about 300 μm; cuticular armature made up of
medium sized pentancres covering the entire dorsolateral surface; pre-buccal, grasping palps bearing five, large papillae
dorsally and 4-6 smaller papillae ventrally; adhesive apparatus made up of six anterior, 22-24 ventrolateral, two dorsolateral
and six posterior adhesive tubes; caudal organ pear-shaped; frontal organ spherical. Pseudostomella cheraensis sp.
nov. is the fourth taxon of the genus known from India; however, all the previous species reported hitherto from India
have tetrancres instead of pentancres. |