Records of the Western Australian Museum 17 : 221-226 ( 1995 ). 
A new tegastid (Tegastidae: Harpacticoida: Copepoda) from southwestern 
Australia: Syngastes dentipes sp. nov. 
Use Bartsch 
Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Notkestrasse 31, 22607 Hamburg, Germany 
Abstract - In coastal waters of Western Australia, the harpacticoid family 
Tegastidae is represented by about two dozen species, belonging to the 
genera Syngastes, Tegastes and Parategastes. A new species, Syngastes dentipes, 
is described. The species is characterized by the enlarged maxilliped with 
prominent teeth on its claw. 
INTRODUCTION 
In the littoral meiobenthos, copepods generally 
are second to nematodes in abundance, and in 
habitats rich in coarse interstitia, they may be the 
most numerically important taxon. Most 
meiobenthic copepods are harpacticoids. Recent 
studies on shallow water meiobenthos at Rottnest 
Island, Western Australia, revealed a remarkably 
rich fauna. Harpacticoids were represented with a 
diversity of body forms which reflect a wide range 
of adaptations to ecological niches. The majority of 
species were more or less pyriform or cylindrical, 
with or without conspicuous spines. Others, such 
as the dorsovenlrally flattened Porcellidiidae, were 
very abundant on and amongst algae on exposed 
or semi-exposed shore-lines, whereas the laterally 
compressed, amphipod-shaped Tegastidae, also 
members of the phytal fauna, were found in less 
exposed areas, generally associated with habitats 
rich in microcavemes. 
From southern Australia, a single tegastid 
species (Tegastes sp.) was mentioned by Nicholls 
(1941) half a century ago. Shallow water samples, 
taken recently around Rottnest Island, proved the 
existence of almost two dozen tegastid species, 
with representatives of the genera Syngastes, 
Tegastes and Parategastes. Four species have been 
described recently (Bartsch 1993, 1994), and 
emendations and descriptions of other species are 
in preparation. 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
The specimens described were collected in 
January 1991 off Rottnest Island, Western 
Australia, from a substratum including algal 
holdfasts, sponges and other colonial organisms at 
a depth of 7-10 m. Animals were extracted by 
washing over a 100 pm sieve. The meiofauna was 
preserved in ethanol. 
Measurements of whole specimens were made in 
lactic acid. Dissected specimens were mounted in 
glycerine jelly. The figures were drawn using a 
camera lucida. The decimal system gives position 
of a seta, or other structure, with reference from 
proximal to distal end of a segment. The setal 
formula shows number of inner setae on the basal 
segment : inner setae on succeeding segment : 
inner, apical and outer setae on distal segment : 
outer setae on preceding segment : outer setae on 
basal segment. Filaments and denticles mean seta- 
like or scale-like structures not arising from a pore. 
Abbreviations used in text and figures: Ae, 
aesthetasc; Al, first antenna (antennule); A2, 
second antenna; c, cavity; ca, cylindrical 
appendage; dd, denticles; enp, endopod; ep, 
epicuticular droplets; exp, exopod; lr, lamellar 
ridges; Md, mandible; mp, median process; mt, 
median tine; Mxl, first maxilla (maxillula); Mx2, 
second maxilla; Mxp, maxilliped; p, pore(s); pp, 
porosity; ps, pore from seta; pvc, posteroventral 
corner; PI to P5, first to fifth leg; s, seta; sP5, setae 
of P5; ss, setulae; ta, tongue-like appendage. 
The holotype is deposited in the Western 
Australian Museum, Perth (WAM), and paratypes 
in the WAM and the author's collection. 
SYSTEMATICS 
Family Syngastidae 
Genus Syngastes Monard 
Syngastes dentipes sp. nov. 
Figures 1-30 
Material Examined 
Holotype 
?, Duck Rock off Rottnest Island, Western 
Australia, Australia (31°59'S, 115°32'E), sample 
