Two sides of a coin: the phylum Kinorhyncha in Panama. II) Pacific Panama

Meiofaunal sampling was carried out in 2011 in the Pacific coast of Panama, West of Panama City and Las Perlas Archipielago. No kinorhynch species have previously been reported from the area. Seven species were found, four of them new to science: Echinoderes belenae sp. nov., Echinoderes muricatus sp. nov., Echinoderes strii sp. nov., and Cristaphyes harrisoni sp. nov. In addition, Echinoderes intermedius and Pycnophyes alexandroi, recently described from the Caribbean coast, are also reported, as well as an unidentified species of Antygomonas. With the present results, the kinorhynch fauna of Panama reaches 23 species; furthermore, the distribution of species at both sides of Panama is discussed biogeographically.