MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY IN WARM-TEMPERATE AND SUBTROPICAL POPULATIONS OF MACRODASYS (GASTROTRICHA, MACRODASYIDA, MACRODASYIDAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF 7 NEW SPECIES

Seven new species of Macrodasys, M. ancocytalis, M. achradocytalis, M. deltocytalis, M. meristocytalis, M. dolichocytalis, M. blysocytalis a nd M. stenocytalis (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida: Macrodasyidae) are des cribed from warm temperate and subtropical marine sediments along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Horida, U.S.A. Multivariate analyses of mo rphometric characters reveal that the shape and size of the reproducti ve organs are the most useful characters for discriminating among spec ies. The numerically abundant species M. achradocytalis and M. meristo cytalis displayed the widest geographic range. High morphological vari ability within Macrodasys populations at certain locations can be attr ibuted to the presence of two or more species.