Three new species of <i>Echinoderes</i> (Kinorhyncha) from the Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico

Recent ecological studies from the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) provided evidence for the presence of several undescribed kinorhynch species. In the present contribution three new species of Echinoderes from these samples are described. Echinoderes dejesusi sp. nov. has a similar pattern of spines/tubes to species of the Echinoderes dujardinii group, but it is easy to distinguish by its long middorsal spines and lack of type 2 glandular cell outlets. Echinoderes veracruzensis sp. nov. is characterized by spines on segments 4, 6, and 8 and its lateroventral spine pattern, with spines only present on segments 7 to 9. These traits, plus the presence of type 2 glandular cell outlets, allow easy recognition of the species. The third species, Echinoderes xtabay sp. nov., showed a trait not shared with other species, i.e. lateroventral spines on segments 6, 8 and 9. Its trunk appearance is almost rectangular, with very well-developed pachycycli along the anterior margins of segments 2–10, and it has middorsal spines on segments 4, 6, and 8 only. Our results increase the number of Echinoderes species known for the southern GoM from nine to 12. Despite a comprehensive survey in the GoM, the three species described here have only been found in the southern part of the region. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BEF25FE3-E07E-42E3-AA49-E246CBBDD818.