The genera Egmundella Stechow, 1921 and Cyclocanna Bigelow, 1918 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) in waters of Northwest Africa.

In this paper, we study material belonging to the hydroid genera Egmundella Stechow, 1921 and Cyclocanna Bigelow, 1918 collected off the coast of Northwest Africa, from Morocco to Guinea Bissau, between 2004 and 2012, during several international surveys. Currently, the genus Egmundella is included in the family Campanulinidae Hincks, 1869, but its taxonomic status is doubtful, since most of the life cycles of its species are unknown. A total of four species have been identified: E. grimaldii Leloup, 1940, E. modesta Millard & Bouillon, 1975, E. superba Stechow, 1921 and E. ansini n. sp. Egmundella grimaldii is found for the first time since its original description, and fertile material is described herein. Its gonotheca is morphologically similar to that of C. producta (G.O. Sars, 1874), suggesting that both species could be congeneric. A description of specimens of C. producta collected along the NW African coast is also provided.

Hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from Mauritanian Coral Mounds.

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The genus Diphasia L. Agassiz, 1862 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) in Northwest Africa.

This paper is the result of the study of large collections of Sertulariidae Lamouroux, 1812 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Hydroidolina) obtained from continental margins of Northwest Africa by several Spanish and Norwegian surveys between 2004 and 2012. Material collected from Lusitanian seamounts by the French Seamount 1 expedition and from the Great Meteor Bank by the German survey Meteor 42/3 were also examined. A total of 12 species belonging to the genus Diphasia were studied and illustrated, and four new species were described: Diphasia leonisae n. sp., Diphasia saharica n. sp., Diphasia africana n. sp., and Diphasia anaramosae n. sp. Diphasia attenuata, Diphasia fallax and Diphasia tropica were not represented in the collections. However, they have been discussed here because they had been previously reported in the study area or in the eastern North Atlantic. One species was only identified to the genus level. The syntype material of Diphasia attenuata var. robusta Billard, 1924, neotype of Diphasia delagei Billard, 1912, and comparison material for the other species that have been preserved in several zoological collections were also examined. Besides, an identification key for these species is provided.

One new genus and three new species of plumulariid hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Plumulariidae) from the western Pacific Ocean, with a re-examination of Plumularia insignis Allman, 1883 and related taxa.

One new genus (Schizoplumularia) and three new species (Schizoplumularia vervoorti, S. geniculata and S. elegans) of plumulariids are recognized and described from large collections of plumularioid hydroids collected in New Caledonia and vicinity during several French expeditions. During taxonomic studies of these hydroids, colonies were compared with type material of Plumularia insignis Allman, 1883 and several other similar species-group taxa. As a result, three of the latter (P. flabellum Allman, 1883, P. conjuncta Billard, 1913, and P. billardi nom. nov.) are recognized as valid in addition to P. insignis. The binomen P. billardi is a replacement name for P. insignis var. gracilis Billard, 1913. In being elevated to the rank of species in this work, it becomes an invalid junior primary homonym of several others having the same name.

Additions to thalassinidean fauna (Crustacea: Decapoda) off Mauritania (NW Africa) with the description of a new genus and a new species.

The Maurit surveys along the Mauritanian coast revealed the small collection of thalassinideans examined in this work. A total of four species were identified, of which Ezaxius ferachevali n. gen., n. sp. is described and figured here. Calocaris macandreae Bell, 1853 is the most abundant species, while the presence of Calocarides coronatus (Trybom, 1904) is confirmed on the West African coast. Trypaea oblonga n. comb. is proposed for Callianassa oblonga Le Loeuff & Intès, 1974 and it has been recaptured for the first time since its original description, with the addition of a female specimen. We also include remarks on the current status of thalassinidean systematics.

Hermit crabs (Decapoda: Crustacea) from deep Mauritanian waters (NW Africa) with the description of a new species.

Thirteen hermit crab species of the families Diogenidae, Paguridae and Parapaguridae were captured in deep waters off Mauritania during Maurit surveys. A new species of the genus Paguristes, Paguristes candelae n. sp., is described.        Areopaguristes mauritanicus n. comb. is proposed for Paguristes mauritanicus Bouvier, 1906 and Pseudopaguristes     marocanus n. comb. for Paguristes marocanus A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1892; the females of the latter species are reported for the first time. Our data extends the geographical distribution of Pseudopaguristes marocanus southwards and that of Paragiopagurus macroceros northwards. Both species, together with Diogenes pugilator (Roux, 1829), are             recorded for the first time in Mauritanian waters. New data about bathymetric ranges are also reported for Pseudopaguristes marocanus n. comb., Areopaguristes mauritanicus n. comb. and Paragiopagurus macroceros.

Squat lobsters (Crustacea: Anomura) from Mauritanian waters (West Africa), with the description of a new species of Munidopsis.

This paper is the result of the study of a squat lobsters collection obtained along the Mauritanian coast, between 91 and 1867 m depth, during the 'MAURIT' surveys carried out in the period from 2007 to 2010. Eumunida bella de Saint Laurent & Macpherson, 1990 (Chirostyloidea) and six species of Munida and Munidopsis (Galatheoidea) are reported in the present work.A new species, Munidopsis anaramosae n. sp. collected off northwestern Banc d'Arguin at 1000-1012 m depth, is described and illustrated. The presence of an eyespine that arises distally from the middle end of the cornea, walking legs merus spinose on dorsal and ventral margins and cheliped merus ventrally unarmed distinguish it from related species. Munida chunii Balss, 1913 is redescribed here and the new records of Munida guineae Miyake & Baba, 1970, M. speciosa von Martens, 1878 and Munidopsis chunii Balss, 1913 extend their geographical distribution northwards, and in the case of the last species, increase its bathymetric range.