Neogosseidae (Gastrotricha, Chaetonotida) from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A recent survey of meiofauna in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, uncovered two species of Neogosseidae (Gastrotricha, Chaetonotida), one of which is proposed as new to science. Using differential interference contrast and scanning electron microscopy, researchers identified Neogossea acanthocolla, originally described from Brazil, and Kijanebalola devestiva sp. n., revealing fine anatomical details that necessitate a revision of diagnostic traits for the genera Kijanebalola and Neogossea, as well as the entire Family Neogosseidae. This study not only expands our understanding of the biodiversity within this protected area but also provides crucial insights for future phylogenetic studies of Gastrotricha, enhancing the selection and precision of morphological trait coding.

Todaro, M., Perissinotto, R., & Bownes, S. (2013). Neogosseidae (Gastrotricha, Chaetonotida) from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ZooKeys, 315, 77–94. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.315.5593