A new eye-bearing Macrodasys (Gastrotricha : Macrodasyida) from Jamaica

A new macrodasyidan gastrotrich is described from fine-medium sand collected at Doctor's cave beach of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Macrodasys ommatus n. sp. is the first gastrotrich to be reported from the Jamaica, the second described species in the genus to bear eye-spots and the . The shape of the frontal organ distinguishes the Jamaican species from its sibling M. nigrocellus: elongate and undulate without an accessory lateral chamber in the former vs. rather short with an accessory lateral chamber in the latter. The following combination of characters further distinguish the new species from its congeners: up to 7 anterior adhesive tubes per side arranged in a transversal row, three pairs of lateral adhesive tubes equally spaced along the intestinal region, up to 21 ventro-lateral adhesive tubes per side, two of which arise along the posterior region of the pharynx.