Two new Echinoderes (Kinorhyncha, Cyclorhagida) from Spain, including a reevaluation of kinorhynch taxonomic characters

Two new species of the kinorhynch genus Echinoderes from the north coast of Spain are described by light microscopical and SEM techniques, E. cantabri cus and E. hispanicus. Diagnostic characters of E. cantabricus are the pres ence of midlateral tubules on segment 3; subdorsal, laterodorsal, lateroven tral and ventrolateral tubules on segment 4; a single middorsal spine on se gment 6; lateroventral tubules on segment 7; lateroventral spines on segmen ts 8 and 9; lateroventral tubules on segment 10, sublateral in males; and s ubdorsal tubules on segment 12 of males. The length of lateral terminal spi nes and body proportions are also diagnostic. Diagnostic characters of E. hispanicus are the presence of subdorsal, subla teral and ventrolateral tubules on segment 4; middorsal spines on segments 6, 8, and 10; lateroventral tubules on segment 7; lateroventral spines on s egments 8-11; lateral accessory spines and sublateral tubules on segment 10 ; and subdorsal tubules on segment 12 of males. Body proportions and the le ngth of lateral terminal spines are also diagnostic. Taxonomic characters such are the nature, location and distribution of cuti cular structures have been reevaluated and redefined in order to achieve a more accurate approach to the descriptions of present and future kinorhynch species.