Three new meiofaunal solenogaster species (Mollusca: Aplacophora) from the north-east Pacific.

Many species of Solenogastres (Mollusca: Aplacophora) have been described from relatively remote locations or the deep sea. However, knowledge of the diversity of this group of carnivorous molluscs remains incomplete, even in relatively accessible, shallow localities. Here, we describe three new species of interstitial solenogasters from a well-studied site virtually right off the dock of Friday Harbor Laboratories (WA, USA). Two new species ofMacellomenia,M. schanderisp. nov. andM. morseaesp. nov, are described, greatly expanding the biogeographic range of this genus previously only known from the Atlantic. Interestingly,M. schanderiappears to be more similar to the AtlanticM. adenotaSalvini-Plawen, 2003a than the co-occurringM. morseae. However, the one specimen ofM. morseaewe were able to examine by histology was a juvenile, so the adult condition of some characters (mostly dealing with the reproductive system) are unknown. Additionally, a new species ofHypomenia,H. sanjuanensissp. nov, is described, also extending the geographic range of this previously monotypic genus known only from the Gulf of Naples, Italy. DNA barcode sequences are provided to aid in the identification ofM. schanderi,H. sanjuanensis, and the previously described sympatric speciesMeiomenia swedmarkiMorse, 1979. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:87E88772-B9BC-4BE6-93AB-C19FD944DD23 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]