Two new species of Urodasys (Gastrotricha, Macrodasyidae) with cuticular stylet

Most species of Urodasys bear a clearly structured cuticular styler in the caudal organ, that constitutes a powerful diagnostic feature. On the basis of the morphology of this styler, two new species, Urodasys acanthostylis a nd U. uncinostylis, are described. Urodasys acanthostylis is diagnosed by a styler with the tubular portion clearly bent at a slightly obtuse angle, U uncinostylis by a styler with the tubular portion which develops in about one and a half coils. The former was found along the Apulian coast (souther n Italy) and in Malta, and the latter at the Maldives.