taxonID	type	description	language	source
03A25153FF9FFFA091DEFD9A55CC200E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis (emended after Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993): Filiform Meidiamidae with the prostate vesicle curved over about 180 °, and with the proximal pole directed forwards, where the paired seminal vesicles enter; the distal pole, where the stylet is attached, is also directed forwards. The stylet is directed forwards and accompanied by the atrial needles. Accessory glandular organ absent. Genito-intestinal duct leading backwards from the female pore to a resorbing bursa in the gut. Female duct with a prepenial vagina, and functioning as a (prepenial) copulatory bursa. Type species: Meidiama lutheri Marcus, 1946. There are three species that are very similar, except for the hard parts of the copulatory organ and the number of testes. They are described together, mainly based on material of Meidiama uruguayensis sp. nov.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA0933DF9B754852584.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Lithophoran Proseriata with an encapsulated brain, a precerebral gut diverticle, intraepidermal nuclei, and with the epidermis completely ciliated. Ovaries in front of the vitellaria, anterior of and close to the pharynx; a long female duct, the oviducts joining before the male copulatory organ, and with the female pore behind it (digonoporid condition). With a genito-intestinal connection close to the female pore, leading to a resorbing bursa incorporated in the gut. Testes: in front of the ovaries. Copulatory organ directed forwards, with a stylet and atrial needles, only needles, or only a stylet. One or a pair of seminal vesicles behind the copulatory organ. Accessory glandular organ, associated with the male atrium, present or not. Pharynx globular and directed ventrally.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA0933DF9B754852584.taxon	type_taxon	Type genus: Meidiama Marcus, 1946.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A0FB1052AD2618.taxon	discussion	Diagnoses: Meidiama lutheri: species of Meidiama with a curved stylet of about 60 - Mm long, accompanied by 10 – 12 needles of 30 - Mm long, with a small terminal hook of about one-third to one-quarter of the length of the needles; close to 100 testes.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A0FB1052AD2618.taxon	distribution	Occurrence: Meidiama lutheri: Beach of Guarujà, near Santos, Brazil; coarse shell gravel (type locality).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A0FB1052AD2618.taxon	materials_examined	Material studied: Meidiama lutheri: two whole mounts, one indicated as lectotype (SMNH 7348); two slides with dispersed sections of several individuals, and of very poor quality, containing very fragmentary information (paralectotypes: SMNH 7349 – 7350).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A4FB365227270D.taxon	diagnosis	Meidiama uruguayensis: species of Meidiama with a curved stylet of 80 – 90 - Mm long, accompanied by 19 – 21 needles of 30 – 45 - Mm long, with a small terminal hook of about one-quarter to one-fifth of the length of the needles; about 50 testes.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A4FB365227270D.taxon	distribution	Meidiama uruguayensis: Río de la Plata, Balneario Las Flores, Departamento de Maldonado (34 ° 48 ′ 50 ″ S, 55 ° 20 ′ 03 ″ W), Uruguay (type locality); Playa Grande, Uruguay; coarse sand between rocks (18 / 7 / 2004).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A4FB365227270D.taxon	materials_examined	Meidiama uruguayensis: four whole mounts and ten sectioned individuals (13 slides) from the type locality; one of the whole mounts is designated as the holotype (SMNH 7352); paratypes UH 371 – 380.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA391A4FB365227270D.taxon	etymology	Etymology: Meidiama uruguayensis has been named after the country where it was found.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA59191FB6F54BC233D.taxon	diagnosis	Meidiama schockaerti: species of Meidiama with a straight stylet of about 65 - Mm long, accompanied by 18 – 20 needles of 60 Mm, without hook; 9 – 10 testes in a row.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA59191FB6F54BC233D.taxon	distribution	Meidiama schockaerti: Pingüinera beach (Seno Otway), Chili (Magellan Province); coarse sand and gravel (not Punta Arenas, Argentina, as mentioned in the original description of Martens & Curini-Galletti 1993).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA59191FB6F54BC233D.taxon	materials_examined	Meidiama schockaerti: holotype (SMNH 7351; whole mount) Description: The animals are very long and slender: adults of M. lutheri are around 4 - mm long; adults of M. schockaerti are 2 – 3 - mm long and adults of M. uruguyaensis are around 6 - mm long (all measured on the whole mounts), with some anterior sensory bristles. Adhesive papillae were not seen in the whole mounts, nor in the sections, but are present in the caudal region of M. lutheri, according to Marcus (1946). The brain is encapsulated, and there is a clear extension of the gut over the brain. The pharynx is directed ventrally, is slightly lobate, and is roughly in the middle of the body (Fig. 1). The epidermis is 1.5 – 2 - Mm thick in M. lutheri, and the cilia are 3 - Mm long dorsally and 4 - Mm long ventrally; in M. uruguayensis the epidermis is 1 – 1.5 - Mm thick, and the cilia are 2 and 3 - Mm long, respectively.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9FFFA59191FB6F54BC233D.taxon	description	The ovaries are just in front of the pharynx, and the vitellarian follicles are all behind the pharynx, extending over around two-thirds of the postpharyngeal body part. Behind the last, most posterior follicle, the two ovovitelloducts join to form the common female duct. Slightly more posteriorly, this duct enlarges to form the copulatory bursa, in which a short vagina opens (Figs 1, 2). The female duct continues over a considerable distance (about 0.25 mm) to reach the female pore. From here departs a short genito-intestinal duct, which opens into a large resorbing bursa in the intestine. A connection with the gut is not seen, although some clusters of sperm are observed in the gut at the level of, and even anterior to, the copulatory organ. Very large cement glands run to the female pore, with the gland bodies lying mainly in the most caudal body part. The whole female duct is lined by a rather dense and nucleated epithelium, and is surrounded by spiral muscles. The epithelium is slightly higher in the copulatory bursa and in the most anterior part of the female duct. The muscle layer around the copulatory bursa is also slightly stronger than on the rest of the duct. The epithelium of the ovovitelloducts is very thin and sinuous, and no evidence of a resorbing function was seen. There are about 50 testes in M. uruguayensis (close to 100 in M. lutheri, according to Marcus 1946: fig. 120), roughly arranged in two rows, and with the first testis found at one-third of the prepharyngeal region, and with the last testes just in front of the ovaries. In M. schockaerti there are only 9 – 10 testes in a row. The copulatory organ, just in front of the female pore, is directed forwards. It consists of a pair of spherical seminal vesicles, from which long narrow ducts depart (Fig. 3). These ducts join to form a single seminal duct, which enters the prostate vesicle at its proximal pole. The seminal vesicles and the ducts are all surrounded by a strong spiral muscle layer. The prostate vesicle tapers anteriorly, where the stylet is attached, and is recurved over 180 °, with both proximal and distal poles directed forwards. The seminal duct can clearly be seen in the centre of the vesicle, with its epithelium forming the prostate glands, the nucleated gland bodies of which are outside and inside the vesicle. In the large male atrium, the curved stylet and the atrial needles are found. The needles are situated in the distal half of the atrium, and are arranged in a half-open girdle, closed at the dorsal side (above the stylet), and open at the ventral side. The prostate vesicle is surrounded by very strong, spirally arranged muscles, which continue over the male atrium, and seem to be attached to the needles. A moderately strong sphincter surrounds the male pore. In both individuals of M. lutheri, the curved stylet is about 60 - Mm long, the needles are 28 – 30 - Mm long, and are also slightly curved. The funnel-like proximal end of the stylet has an opening of 7 – 8 Mm in diameter, with a strongly thickened wall, whereas the stylet diameter tapers from 5 Mm proximally to 2 Mm distally. The curvature of the very distal end is stronger than in the middle of the stylet, making a precise measurement difficult, as the entire length of the stylets in the whole mounts cannot be seen in the same plane. The terminal opening is oblique and tapering proximally. We counted nine needles, whereas Martens & Curini-Galletti (1993) counted ten, and Marcus (1946) mentions 12. Needles lying above each other are indeed often difficult to discern. Each needle ends in a slender ‘ hook’, about one-third of the total length of the needle in the shortest needles, and about one-quarter of the total length in the longest needles. In M. uruguayensis the stylet is also curved, and is about 90 - Mm long in the holotype. At the distal opening it bears a variably ornamented ‘ wing’ (Fig. 4, inset). The obliquely-placed proximal opening, also with a strongly thickened wall, has a diameter of 20 Mm, and the stylet has a diameter of slightly less than 5 Mm distally. There are about 18 needles, which are 31 – 37 - Mm long, with the shortest needle located in the middle of the circle. The terminal ‘ hooks’ have a strongly curved tip, and are a little less than between one-fifth and one-quarter of the total length of the needles. The length of the stylet varies from 76 to 90 Mm (n = 7, mean = 84 Mm); the shortest needles are 26 – 46 - Mm long (n = 6, mean = 32 Mm), and the longest needles are 35 – 69 - Mm long (n = 6, mean = 44 Mm). The individuals with the longest stylet also have the largest needles. The copulatory organ of M. schockaerti deviates in a number of aspects from that of the other two species. The stylet is straight, close to 65 - Mm long, and gradually narrows from 10 - Mm wide at the proximal opening (without obvious thickening) to about 3 - Mm wide distally. The needles are about 60 - Mm long, and are without a terminal ‘ hook’. We counted about 18 needles, whereas Martens & Curini-Galletti (1993) depicted 21 needles in a regular arrangement around the stylet. We have the strong impression that the needles are concentrated at one side of the stylet, as in the other species of Meidiama.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9BFFA79324FD4C5494254B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Species of Dreuxiola with about 25 testes, a very long and coiled stylet, about 250 - Mm long, and two groups of four needles, each 35 – 37 - Mm long. The vagina ends with a sclerotized (‘ cuticular’) tube. Occurrence: Port aux Français, Kerguelen (Territoire Australe Français), on the flat beach east of the port; fine sand in the mid-littoral, dominated by nematodes. Material studied: Observations were made on the living animals and two whole mounts (one of them indicated as the holotype, SMNH 7353, the other indicated as a paratype UH 381); four series of sections, from which only two contain relevant information (UH 382 – 385). Etymology: Genus and species are named in honour of Prof. Philippe Dreux (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris): entomologist and noted authority on the wingless Curculionidae (Coleoptera) of the French Austral Territories. Description: The animals are very long and slender, 3 – 4 - mm long, with some anterior sensory bristles. Adhesive papillae were not seen in the whole mounts, nor were they seen in the sections. The brain is encapsulated, and there is a clear extension of the gut over the brain. The pharynx is directed ventrally, is slightly lobate, and is placed at two-thirds of the body length (Fig. 5). The epidermis is 1 - Mm-thick ventrally and 1.5 - Mm-thick dorsally; cilia are 2 - Mm long. The ovaries are just in front of the pharynx, and most vitellarian follicles are behind the pharynx, extending over about one-third of the post-pharyngeal body part. Behind the last follicle, the two ovovitelloducts join into the common female duct, which looks very muscular and swollen in living animals, is filled with sperm, and clearly functions as a copulatory bursa. The vagina opens roughly in its middle, with a little sclerotized tube that is about 50 - Mm long (Figs 6, 7). In the sections the vaginal duct appears as a narrow tube with a strongly muscular wall, surrounded by loose tissue that is also surrounded by some longitudinal muscles. In one of the sectioned animals this part is highly swollen, forming a vesicle that is also seen in the living animal and in the whole mounts (Fig. 6). Further backwards, the female duct narrows towards the female pore that is found at three-quarters of the postpharyngeal body part. From the female pore the genito-intestinal duct departs towards the resorbing bursa. The male system consists of about 25 testes in a row, extending from some distance behind the brain down to the level of the ovaries (Fig. 5). The copulatory organ lies between the female pore and the vagina, and has an astonishing construction (Figs 6 – 9). The prostate vesicle has the proximal pole directed forwards, where the paired seminal vesicles enter, and the distal pole is directed backwards; distally, the prostate vesicle tapers, and recurves by almost 180 °. The stylet starts with a bent proximal end, so that the stylet becomes directed forwards. The seminal vesicles lie next to the prostate vesicle and join each other in a short seminal duct that can be followed in the prostate vesicle. Here, its epithelium forms the prostate glands, of which the cell bodies with nuclei are outside the vesicle, and some nuclei are inside the bulb. The stylet is very narrow and very long. It makes a loop and enters the expanded male atrium. The proximal part of the atrium is swollen and contains a net-like glandular tissue surrounded by a thin muscle layer. Two groups of needles seem attached to this accessory glandular bulb. The stylet enters the male atrium roughly in the middle of this glandular bulb. The stylet is about 250 - Mm long in the two whole mounts; the needles are 40 – 50 - Mm long. These needles seem to be very slightly sclerotized, and are rather difficult to discern in whole mounts. Nevertheless, it could be observed that the needles are arranged symmetrically in two groups, each consisting of a shorter, curved needle at the outside, and a thicker, straight needle in the middle (both about 40 - Mm long), and with two slender and moderately curved needles of about 50 - Mm long in between (measurements from the two whole mounts).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF9BFFA49356FF4F521A26C3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Filiform Meidiamidae with many testes. The prostate vesicle has the proximal pole directed forwards, where the paired seminal vesicles enter. The distal pole is directed backwards, but at its end, where the stylet is attached, it turns sharply forwards, so that the stylet is directed forwards. It enters the male atrium next to the atrial needles. These needles are surrounded by a glandular epithelium with its own muscular envelope. Female duct with a prepenial vagina, functioning as a copulatory bursa. Genito-intestinal duct near the female pore leading to a resorbing bursa. Type species: Dreuxiola philippi sp. nov.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF98FFA791E4FED8556A267B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Elongated Meidiamidae with many testes. Copulatory organ without atrial needles, and without accessory glandular organ. Prepenial copulatory bursa. Type species: Yorknia aprostatica sp. nov.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF98FFA6919EFDE953B62193.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Species of Yorknia with 15 testes in a row, without either prostate glands or vesicle, and with an almost straight stylet of about 80 - Mm long, with a proximal ‘ cap’ of 30 – 40 Mm in diameter, and with a single large seminal vesicle. Female pore only slightly behind the male pore; prepenial copulatory bursa with two vaginas. Occurrence: Cairns, Australia (Queensland), at Yorkney’s Knob; intertidal in fine to medium-fine sand (type locality) (October 1993). Material studied: A whole mount, designated as the holotype, (QM G 230107). A second whole mount and six sectioned animals (UH 386 and UH 387 – 392). Etymology: The genus name is derived from the locality where the species was found; the species epithet is derived from the most striking character, namely the absence of prostate glands. Description: The animals are long and slender, 3 – 4 - mm long, with some anterior sensory bristles. Adhesive papillae were not seen in the whole mounts, nor were they seen in the sections. The brain is encapsulated, and there is a clear extension of the gut over the brain. The pharynx is directed ventrally, is slightly lobate, and is located at between two-thirds and three-quarters of the body (Fig. 10 A). The epidermis is 1.5 - Mm thick, with 3 - Mm-long cilia. The ovaries are just in front of the pharynx, and all vitellarian follicles are behind the pharynx, extending to the middle of the post-pharyngeal body part. Behind the last follicle the two ovovitelloducts join into the common female duct, which is swollen in the living animal, and clearly functions as a copulatory bursa. At about its middle, two vaginal pores can be seen (Fig. 10 B). In the sections (Fig. 11), the two vaginas depart as a wide funnel from the dorsallysituated copulatory bursa. The female duct narrows towards the female pore, where the duct is enlarged again, and continues backwards as a genito-intestinal duct communicating with a large resorbing bursa. The epithelium covering the female duct is ciliated. This epithelium is very low in the copulatory bursa, in the vaginas, and at the dorsal side of the swollen part at the pore, and is extremely thin in the genitointestinal duct, where it is devoid of cilia. At their very end, the ovovitelloducts show aspects that suggest some resorbing function, but no degenerating sperm was observed. The cement glands, which open at the female pore, are very large and are found in the whole posterior part of the animal. The copulatory organ is provided with an almost straight stylet, lying in a tubiform, narrow male atrium that enlarges proximally to a narrow space, which receives at its ventral side the wide opening of the seminal vesicle. Dorsally, this proximal space is covered by a sclerotized ‘ cap’, which has a fan-like muscle, with its wider side attached to the cap, and its narrower side attached to the stylet (see also Fig. 12). The seminal vesicle is extremely large, occupying almost the whole postpenial part of the animal. One of the most striking characters of this species is the complete absence of any prostate glands (and vesicle). The stylet (Fig. 12) is about 80 - Mm long, with an almost constant diameter of 8 – 10 Mm; the ‘ cap’ is 45 - Mm long in the holotype, and is 30 - Mm long in the paratype. The fan-like muscle is clearly visible in the whole mount.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF99FFA691F2FA73542D233C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Meidiamidae with a single pair of testes and the pharynx in the anterior part of the body. Copulatory organ with a pair of short atrial needles sitting on a muscular base. Without stylet and accessory glandular organ. Seminal vesicles paired or single. With or without prepenial vagina. Genitointestinal connection absent? Type species: Serrula byronensis sp. nov. There are four species that are very similar, and these are described together.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA99301FAE754B82340.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnoses: Serrula byronensis: species of Serrula with an unpaired seminal vesicle, a prepenial vagina, and a copulatory bursa. The needles are pointed: 14 - Mm long, and 5 – 6 - Mm wide at the base. The precerebral diverticle ends at the statocyst.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA99301FAE754B82340.taxon	distribution	Occurrence: Serrula byronensis: Byron Bay, Australia (New South Wales); exposed intertidal at Tallum Beach, mid-fine sand (October 1993).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA9930DFA1D5422233C.taxon	diagnosis	Serrula maxillaria: species of Serrula with a single seminal vesicle. Atrial needles are 13 - Mm long and 3 - Mm wide over the whole length, and have a truncated and serrated distal end. The precerebral diverticle ends at the statocyst.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA9930DFA1D5422233C.taxon	distribution	Serrula maxillaria: Cairns, Australia (Queensland); protected beach at Yorkney’s Knob, with fine to midfine sand (October 1993).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA89301FA3252CB27EA.taxon	diagnosis	Serrula concharum: species of Serrula with paired seminal vesicles; needles are similar to those of S. maxillaria, 15 - Mm long and 5 - Mm wide. Pre-cerebral diverticle ends anteriorly of the statocyst.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA89301FA3252CB27EA.taxon	distribution	Serrula concharum: Eaglehawk Neck, Australia (Tasmania); exposed intertidal, with fine sand, and with a high density of Mesodesmatidae bivalves of the genus Paphies Lesson, 1830 (October 1993).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	diagnosis	Serrula acuta: species of Serrula with a single seminal vesicle?; slender pointed needles that are 25 - Mm long, and are 6 - Mm wide at the base. No data on the living animal.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	distribution	Serrula acuta: same locality as S. maxillaria.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	materials_examined	Material studied: Drawings from the living animals, except for S. acuta. One whole mount of each species (designated as holotypes, QM G 230108 – 230111). Sections of one individual of S. byronensis of very poor quality, and without relevant information (except the epidermis) (UH 393).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus name refers to the serrate end of the needles in two of the species (Latin serrula: little saw). The species epithet of S. byronensis refers to the place where it has been found; that of S. concharum refers to the co-occurrence with many shells (Latin concha: shell); the needles of S. maxillaria show some resemblance to the maxillae of crustaceans; the needles of S. acuta are very slender and pointed (Latin acuta: pointed).	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	description	Description: These four species are described from only one living individual of each species, and from the whole mounts. Therefore, our knowledge of a number of important characters is lacking. Nevertheless, we consider it worthwhile to describe them, hoping that more abundant material may be found in the future. The four species are relatively small: only about 1 - mm long. They have the usual anterior sensory bristles, but also have long bristles at the caudal end. Serrula byron also has prominent adhesive papillae (Figs 13, 14). The precerebral gut diverticle reaches far in front of the statocyst in S. concharum, whereas it ends roughly above the statocyst in S. byronensis and S. maxillaria (and is unknown in S. acuta). Cnidocysts were seen in the anterior part of the gut in S. maxillaria.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
03A25153FF96FFA8932DFA6B55CC233E.taxon	discussion	The globular and ventrally directed pharynx is placed at the first quarter of the body; the ovaries, located anterior to the pharynx, are preceded by a single pair of testes. All vitellarian follicles are behind the pharynx, and the posteriormost follicles are found in front of the copulatory bursa in S. byronensis, and in front of the copulatory organ in the other species. The female pore is located at some distance behind the seminal vesicle (Fig. 14). The copulatory organ is directed forwards, with a small prostate vesicle on which the two needles are attached. Serrula concharum has a pair of seminal vesicles; the other species have an unpaired seminal vesicle. Only in S. byron has a prepenial copulatory bursa been observed, with a vagina just in front of the copulatory organ. We could not determine whether the vagina and the male pore are combined or not. As far as the whole mount reveals, S. acuta has a single seminal vesicle, whereas a copulatory bursa is absent. Without sections, it cannot be said if a genitointestinal connection or a resorbing bursa is present. The hard parts of the copulatory organ (Fig. 15) consist of two spines that we interpret as the equivalent of the needles in the male atrium of the other representatives of Meidiamidae. Except in S. acuta, each of the two needles sits on a base, evidently formed by two muscles that ‘ flank’ the prostate vesicle at either side. Because of the lack of sections, the hypothesis that these bases are muscles is yet to be confirmed. The form and size of the needles are given in the diagnoses.	en	Schockaert, Ernest R., Curini-Galletti, Marco, Ridder, Wouter De, Volonterio, Odile, Artois, Tom (2009): A new family of lithophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 (4): 759-773, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00463.x
