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Taxonomic studies of Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. However, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented.

Taxonomic studies of Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. However, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented.

Taxonomic studies of the phylum Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. Nevertheless, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented., Taxonomic studies of the phylum Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. Nevertheless, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented.

Taxonomic studies of the phylum Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. Nevertheless, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented., Taxonomic studies of the phylum Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. Nevertheless, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we propose an online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented.

This study investigated kinorhynch communities from Mobile Bay, Alabama across three sampling transects. A multicorer was used to collect sediment samples from fifteen sites along a northwestern transect (sites 0–4), the Mobile Bay ship channel (sites 5–9 and 14), and a northeastern transect (sites 10–13). Each sediment sample was analyzed for kinorhynch community composition, granulometry, organic matter content, and trace metals. Kinorhynchs were identified to species via light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy for community analysis. Two genera and seven species were recovered from thirteen sites. Three abundant species, Echinoderes augustae, Leiocanthus langi, and Echinoderes bookhouti were found, which were known from recent Alabama surveys in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Echinoderes augustae was the dominant taxon, comprising 85% of the animals identified. Spearman correlations, PCA analysis, and abiotic data revealed a sporadic distribution of animals collected from two distinct sediment profiles. The kinorhynch densities correlated positively with fine sediments and select trace metals (which are indicators of freshwater input), but did not correlate with organic matter content or salinity. Additionally, this study reports two new species records for Mobile Bay.

Recent surveys in the Gulf of Mexico have considerably expanded the knowledge of Gulf kinorhynch ecology and has increased the known diversity of the phylum in the area. In this contribution, Echinoderes zacharyi sp. nov. is described from the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico's waters along the U.S. continental shelf and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This species belongs to a subgroup within the genus Echinoderes, known as the Echinoderes coulli-group and has a distinctive morphology which includes the animal's ability to retract segments 10 and 11 into segment 9. Additionally, this new species lacks a middorsal spine on segment 4, and has midlateral and lateroventral tubes on segment 5, as well as midlateral and lateral accessory tubes on segment 8. A description of E. zacharyi sp. nov. is provided along with the distribution of the species reported from the Alabama and Mexican coastlines.

Sediment collections from the southern Gulf of Mexico between the Texas-Mexico border and the Yucatan Peninsula have resulted in many new kinorhynch species distribution records and the finding and taxonomic description of a new species, Dracoderes chaac sp. nov. This study focused on the non-echinoderid members of the Phylum Kinorhyncha, many of which are rare or restricted to only a few locations. A total of 136 specimens were identified from 24 sediment stations, distributed among the following species: Antygomonas gwenae, Campyloderes vanhoeffeni, Centroderes readae, Condyloderes flosfimbriatus, Co. rohalorum, Cristaphyes panamensis, Dracoderes chaac sp. nov., Leiocanthus corrugatus, L. langi, L. quinquenudus, L. satanicus, Pycnophyes alexandroi, Semnoderes lusca, and Sphenoderes aspidochelone. Additional undescribed species in the genera Leiocanthus, Mixtophyes, and Paracentrophyes were recovered. Statistical analysis of the stations revealed a grouping of locations where the majority of the pycnophyid species were recovered. Some species (e.g., Ca. vanhoeffeni, S. aspidochelone) had an extensive distribution, while others were recorded from one or few locations only (e.g., A. gwenae, Co. rohalorum). Most of the species were reported from earlier collections in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the U.S. continental shelf, between 700-1100 km away.

Sediment collections from the southern Gulf of Mexico between the Texas-Mexico border and the Yucatan Peninsula have resulted in many new kinorhynch species distribution records and the finding and taxonomic description of a new species, Dracoderes chaac sp. nov. This study focused on the non-echinoderid members of the Phylum Kinorhyncha, many of which are rare or restricted to only a few locations. A total of 136 specimens were identified from 24 sediment stations, distributed among the following species: Antygomonas gwenae, Campyloderes vanhoeffeni, Centroderes readae, Condyloderes flosfimbriatus, Co. rohalorum, Cristaphyes panamensis, Dracoderes chaac sp. nov., Leiocanthus corrugatus, L. langi, L. quinquenudus, L. satanicus, Pycnophyes alexandroi, Semnoderes lusca, and Sphenoderes aspidochelone. Additional undescribed species in the genera Leiocanthus, Mixtophyes, and Paracentrophyes were recovered. Statistical analysis of the stations revealed a grouping of locations where the majority of the pycnophyid species were recovered. Some species (e.g., Ca. vanhoeffeni, S. aspidochelone) had an extensive distribution, while others were recorded from one or few locations only (e.g., A. gwenae, Co. rohalorum). Most of the species were reported from earlier collections in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the U.S. continental shelf, between 700-1100 km away.

Two new species of pycnophyid Kinorhyncha, Leiocanthus quinquenudus sp. nov. and L. satanicus sp. nov., are described from soft seafloor sediment samples in the Gulf of Mexico. Leiocanthus quinquenudus sp. nov. is easily distinguished from the other congeners by the absence of ventromedial setae on segment 5, a structure otherwise present in all the other known Leiocanthus. Leiocanthus satanicus sp. nov. lacks lateral terminal spines, a feature only shared by L. langi and L. mainensis among the congeners; otherwise the new species is easily discernible by the arrangement of the paradorsal, laterodorsal and ventromedial setae, and the number of ventral sensory spots per segment. These findings are a significant contribution to the knowledge of the Kinorhyncha biodiversity from the Gulf of Mexico, which has recently been explored in several taxonomical and ecological studies mainly focused on cyclorhagid Kinorhyncha, not pycnophyid kinorhynchs.

This study analyzed kinorhynch communities from the southern portion of Mobile Bay and the near shore Alabama continental shelf. A multicorer was used to collect sediment samples from fourteen sites, specifically targeting the flow of freshwater efflux from the Mobile watershed. These sediment samples were analyzed for kinorhynch species, organic matter content, granulometry and trace metals. Kinorhynch specimens were examined via light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and identified to species level for community analysis. Eleven species of kinorhynchs were recovered from thirteen sites. Four dominant species, Echinoderes augustae, E. bookhouti, E. spinifurca, and Leiocanthus langi were present, in agreement with an earlier survey of Alabama coastal kinorhynchs. Spearman correlations, PCA, and cluster analyses of kinorhynch communities, along with abiotic data, revealed a patchy distribution of kinorhynchs, organic matter and fine sediments in the path of freshwater efflux. Additionally, this study reports four new species records for the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Recent studies have increased the known diversity and distribution of kinorhynchs in the Gulf of Mexico. For this study, sediment was sampled from Alabama coastal waters at shallow depths ranging from 11 to 26 metres. The 13 stations were positioned to the west and east of the mouth of Mobile Bay as well as at central locations. A total of 320 animals were collected. Animal densities ranged from 0 to 66 ind./10 cm(2), with an average of 9.6 ind./10 cm(2). The majority of the identified animals (97%) belonged to four species. Animal densities were highest at stations clustered at the mouth of Mobile Bay and correlated positively with higher levels of most trace metals, organic matter and silt/clay. Animal density correlated negatively with total sand, surface salinity and water depth. These data revealed a surprisingly low abundance of animals to the east and west of Mobile Bay compared to higher densities at the mouth of the Bay, suggesting that their populations are heavily influenced by the water entering the Gulf from the Bay. Efflux from the Bay provides a source for finer sediment, which is likely an important driving factor influencing higher kinorhynch diversity and density.

Fujuriphyes viserioni sp. nov. is described from the Gulf of Mexico. The new species is characterized by the scarcity oflaterodorsal setae, and the abundance of ventrolateral setae, which are present on segments 1, 3–8, and 10, with two pairs onsegment 5 and one pair on the remaining segments. Moreover, Fujuriphyes viserioni sp. nov. is recognized by the general absenceof middorsal specializations along the trunk and the lack of ventral tubes on segment 2 in males. Type material of Leiocanthuslangi (Higgins, 1964) and L. fimbriatus (Higgins, 1982) and additional specimens of L. langi collected from the Gulf of Mexicowere furthermore studied in detail. Their examination revealed that L. fimbriatus is a junior synonym of L. langi, a species with anunusually high intraspecific variation in its morphology. Identification keys to all known species of Fujuriphyes and Leiocanthusare provided together with emended diagnoses for both genera., Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, ALFA insurance company, Troy University, Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Two new species of Condyloderes are described, C. rohalorum sp. nov. from the deep-sea off California, and Condyloderes flosfimbriatus sp. nov. from the continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Additional species are furthermore reported from the two regions, including Condyloderes kurilensis from the Californian deep-sea, one potentially new species from each of the two regions, and the presence of specimens similar to, and potentially conspecific with, the two new species, i.e., Condyloderes cf. C. rohalorum sp. nov. in the Gulf of Mexico, and Condyloderes cf. C. flosfimbriatus sp. nov. from the Californian deep-sea. Examinations of C. rohalorum sp. nov. reveal that the species has two different adult female stages, hence representing the first example of adult female dimorphism known from this genus, and indicating that adult moulting might happen amongst species of Condyloderes.

Two new species of Condyloderes are described, C. rohalorum sp. nov. from the deep-sea off California, and Condyloderes flosfimbriatus sp. nov. from the continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Additional species are furthermore reported from the two regions, including Condyloderes kurilensis from the Californian deep-sea, one potentially new species from each of the two regions, and the presence of specimens similar to, and potentially conspecific with, the two new species, i.e., Condyloderes cf. C. rohalorum sp. nov. in the Gulf of Mexico, and Condyloderes cf. C. flosfimbriatus sp. nov. from the Californian deep-sea. Examinations of C. rohalorum sp. nov. reveal that the species has two different adult female stages, hence representing the first example of adult female dimorphism known from this genus, and indicating that adult moulting might happen amongst species of Condyloderes.