A new species of Pseudostomella (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida: Thaumastodermatidae) from a sandy beach of Kerala, India

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 severalundescribed thaumastodermatid gastrotrichs belonging to the buccal palp bearing genus Pseudostomella. Adults of thenew species are characterized by the following traits: total body length of about 300 μm; cuticular armature made up ofmedium sized pentancres covering the entire dorsolateral surface; pre-buccal, grasping palps bearing five, large papillaedorsally and 4-6 smaller papillae ventrally; adhesive apparatus made up of six anterior, 22-24 ventrolateral, two dorsolateraland 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 Indiahave tetrancres instead of pentancres.