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The first exploration of the kinorhynch meiofauna in Portuguese marine waters has revealed the existence of two undescribed species of the cyclorhagid genusEchinoderes. In the present contribution we describeEchinoderes lusitanicussp. nov. andEchinoderes reichertisp. nov., both collected from subtidal regions of the coast of Algarve in the southernmost region of Portugal.Echinoderes lusitanicussp. nov. is recognized by the presence of tubes on segment 2 in subdorsal and ventrolateral positions, on segment 5 in lateroventral positions, on segment 8 in lateral accessory positions, and on segment 10 in laterodorsal positions. Spines are present in middorsal position on segments 4 to 8, and in lateroventral positions on segments 8 and 9. The females have minute lateral terminal accessory spines. The second species,E. reichertisp. nov., is characterized by tubes on segment 2 in subdorsal and ventrolateral positions, on segment 5 in lateroventral positions, and segment 8 in sublateral positions. In addition, the species possesses acicular spines in the middorsal position on segment 4, and in lateroventral positions on segments 6 to 9. Morphological aspects such as tube/spine pattern of the trunk or sexually dimorphic traits are discussed and compared with otherEchinoderesspecies showing close resemblance. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:79C25EEE-9064-46F8-95E2-EE493DC82185 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an annual bivalve dredge survey undertaken in April 2005 along the Portuguese coast, one specimen of the sand crab Albunea carabus was collected. This is the first record of this species on the Portuguese continental shelf. The individual found was a male with 11.31 mm carapace length and was collected off Faro at 3 m depth in a sandy area considerably hydrodynamic during winter. This occurrence is one of the few records outside the Mediterranean Sea. A short review of previous findings on this species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]