Phyllodelphys, Kim & Boxshall, 2020

Kim, Il-Hoi & Boxshall, Geoff A., 2020, Untold diversity: the astonishing species richness of the Notodelphyidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), a family of symbiotic copepods associated with ascidians (Tunicata), Megataxa 4 (1), pp. 1-6 : 623

Phyllodelphys gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Body vermiform, consisting of prosome and small urosome. Prosome divisible by constriction into cephalosome and metasome; with metasome forming brood pouch, much longer than wide, but variable in width depending on age. Free urosome 2-segmented, consisting of genitalsomite and unsegmented abdomen. Caudal rami rudimentary, bearing 5 minute setae of irregular form. Rostrum present. Antennule small, lobate, and setulose. Antenna consisting of coxa, basis, and unsegmented endopod bearing short terminal claw. Mandible consisting of coxaand palp; coxawith broadgnathobasebearingteeth and spinules on medial margin; palp consisting of basis bearing 1 seta, exopod bearing 4 setae, and unsegmented endopod bearing 5 setae. Maxillule unsegmented, bearing several setae, most leaf-like. Maxilla 2-segmented; first segment (syncoxa) with 2 setae; secondsegment (basis + endopod) with several setae (some leaf-like). Maxilliped unsegmented with broad, leaf-like setae. Legs absent.

Type species. Phyllodelphys capensis gen. et sp. nov. by original designation.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Greek phyll (=a leaf) and delphys. It alludes to the presence of the leaf-like setae on the posterior mouthparts. Gender feminine.

Remarks. Phyllodelphys gen. nov. has an elongate, vermiform body similar to that of several other genera within the Notodelphyidae , such as Pythodelphys Dudley &Solomon,1966, Lissodelphys gen. nov.,and Nodoscarus gen. nov. The new genus can be separated from these other genera by the possession of the broad, leaf-like setae on the posterior mouthparts and the characteristic form of the coxal gnathobase in which the medial margin is denticulate and pectinate.