Suárez-Morales, E. & A.D. Mckinnon. (2025). The Australian Monstrilloida 3. Caromiobenella Jeon, Lee & Soh, 2018, Monstrilla Dana, 1849, and Sarsimonstrillus n. gen. Zootaxa. 5576(1): 1-99.
The Australian Monstrilloida 3. Caromiobenella Jeon, Lee & Soh, 2018, Monstrilla Dana, 1849, and Sarsimonstrillus n. gen.
Zootaxa
5576(1): 1-99.
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This is the third paper in a series regarding a taxonomical survey of the monstrilloid copepods collected during the past
three decades in coastal systems of Australia. The first contribution included the taxonomic analysis of three genera
of the Monstrilloida, i.e., Monstrillopsis Sars, 1921, Maemonstrilla Grygier & Ohtsuka, 2008, and the monotypic
Australomonstrillopsis Suárez-Morales & McKinnon, 2007. The second document contained the taxonomic analysis of
Cymbasoma Thompson, 1888 which emphasized the remarkable diversity of this genus in Australia, with a total of 25
new species. In this third contribution we present an account of the genera Caromiobenella Jeon, Lee & Soh, 2018, and
Monstrilla Dana, 1849, and describe a new monotypic genus with paired, anteriorly directed cephalic structures. Thus, the
taxonomic account of the monstrilloids found in Australian zooplankton samples collected since 1983 will be completed.
Three species of Caromiobenella are reported including an undescribed one. Additionally, this is the first record of C.
hamatapex (Grygier & Ohtsuka, 1995) in Australia with a comparative analysis with reports from Japan and South Korea.
In this regard, two previous records of Australian Monstrilla and subsequently introduced names assigned to them are
both referable to the widespread C. helgolandica (Claus, 1863), a species probably representing a species complex.
Furthermore, 11 new species of Monstrilla are described with one species represented by both sexes, eight by only males,
and four by only females. A new genus Sarsimonstrillus n. gen. is described from an adult female. Most new species
were found in temperate coastal embayments, particularly one with a very rich habitat diversity (Western Port Bay). Only
two of the new species of Monstrilla were found in reef-related sites, with one representing a new member of the M.
conjunctiva Giesbrecht, 1902 species group. Considering our results of this third contribution, Monstrilla is the second
most speciose monstrilloid genus in Australian waters and regains its place as the second most diverse monstrilloid genus
worldwide. The summarized contribution of this research initiative (2011–2024) consists of a total of 44 new species and
two new genera of the Monstrilloida in Australian waters