Marbefia, Huys & Lee, 2009

Huys, Rony & Lee, Wonchoel, 2009, Proposal of Marbefia, gen. n. and Inermiphonte, gen. n., including updated keys to the species of Pseudonychocamptus Lang, 1944 and Paralaophonte Lang, 1948 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae), ZooKeys 23 (23), pp. 1-38 : 4-5

Marbefia , gen. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5B070367-A759-44B2-931C-7D9A49AC6AC4

Diagnosis. Laophontidae . Body linear, not dorsoventrally depressed. Integument of cephalothorax and body somites covered with tiny spinules; posterior margins of somites smooth, with spinule rows dorsally and ventrally. Rostrum delimited at base; broadly triangular, prominent. Genital double-somite ♀ with lateral incisions and ventrolateral internal chitinous ribs marking original segmentation. Pleural extensions of ♀ abdominal somites well developed. Caudal ramus cylindrical, subrectangular and as long as wide; inner margin with long spinules; with 7 setae; setae IV and V well developed, pinnate; seta VI reduced, setiform. Anal operculum spinulose.

Sexual dimorphism in antennule, P3–P4 endopods, P5, P6 and in genital segmentation.

Antennule slender and 7-segmented in ♀; 8-segmented and subchirocer with 3 segments distal to geniculation in ♁; segments with spinular ornamentation along anterior margin of segments 1–4 in ♀ and 1–3 in ♁; segments 1–2 without processes; with aesthetasc on segment 4 (♀) or 5 (♁); acrothek on apical segment consisting of 2 setae and one aesthetasc. Antenna with 4 setae on exopod; allobasis with abexopodal seta. Mandibular palp elongate, 1-segmented; with one basal, one exopodal and 3 endopodal setae. Maxillule with defined exopod bearing 2 setae. Maxilla with 3 endites on syncoxa; endopod represented by 4 setae. Maxilliped elongate; syncoxa with 2 setae; basis without distinct ornamentation; endopodal claw long and curved, with one accessory seta.

P1 long, with elongate coxa and basis; with 3-segmented exopod, exp-2 1.6 times as long as exp-1, exp-3 with 2 short and 2 geniculate setae; endopod stout, enp-1 without inner seta, enp-2 with minute seta and long minutely denticulate claw. Swimming legs P2–P4 with 3-segmented exopods and 2-segmented endopods. P2–P4 enp-2 swollen, with double row of flimsy setular extensions along outer lateral margin (except for P 4 in ♁); inner seta of P3–P4 enp-1 present in ♀ but absent in ♁. P3 enp-2 produced into straigth spiniform apophysis in ♁ (homologous with outer spine of enp- 2 in ♀). Armature formula of swimming legs 2 to 4 (P2–P4) as follows:

P5 with separate exopod and baseoendopod. Exopod elongate with 6 setae in ♀ and 4 setae in ♁. Endopodal lobe well developed in ♀, subrectangular, with 5 setae. Baseoendopods fused medially in ♁; endopodal lobes rudimentary, with 2 setae each.

P6 forming well developed operculum with 2 small setae in ♀; asymmetrical in ♁ (with dextral or sinistral configuration), with outer distal corner produced into conical process bearing 2 well developed elements.

Type and only species. Pseudonychocamptus carthyi Hamond, 1968 = Marbefia carthyi ( Hamond, 1968) , comb. n.

Etymology. The name of the new genus honours the advances in our understanding of marine ecosystem functioning stimulated by the MarBEF Network of Excellence in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. Gender: feminine.