TRIGONOSTOMUM SPINIGERUM SP. NOV.

(FIGS 8F, H, 11B)

Alternative species name: trigonostomum-spinigerum sp. nov.

Holotype: Whole mount, New Caledonia, Nouméa, Nouville, on algae in a lagoon south of the asylum, 3 August 2003 (LUC no. 231).

Etymology: Refers to the spines on the mantle surrounding the stylet; spinigerum (L.) = prickly, spiny, thorny.

Diagnosis: Trigonostomum species with copulatory organ 61 Mm long. Stylet 57 Mm long, proximally bent over almost 90∞. Mantle surrounds the whole stylet and carries 8–10 small spines on the convex side. Bursal appendage ± 35 Mm long, proximally funnel-shaped with two heavily coiled distal tubes, very faintly striated.

Remarks: The bursal appendage is measured (and drawn) on the whole mount, in which it appeared extremely thin-walled. Therefore, the length (35 Mm) has to be interpreted as the minimum length. Furthermore, only one distal tube could be observed (two in the live individual), probably because both tubes are situated exactly above each other in the mounted specimen.