<i>Sentiropsis, Peltisenia</i> and <i>Afrosenia</i>: three new genera of Paranannopidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

Re-examination of Idomene aberrans Por, previously referred to the Pseudotachidiinae (Thalestridae), has provided unequivocal morphological evidence for its removal to a new genus Peltisenia placed in the Paranannopidae. The revelation of claviform aesthetascs on the mandible, maxillule and maxilla supports close affinity to a specialized lineage including Paradanielssenia Soyer, Micropsammis Mielke, Leptotachidia Beeker and Telopsammis Gee & Huys. On the basis of the biramous mandibular palp and differences in the male morphology of the P2 endopod it is suggested that Peltisenia gen. nov. represents the sistergroup of this lineage. Danielssenia minuta Coull from Bermuda and D. spinipes Wells from Mozambique are both redescribed from the type material and placed in monotypic genera Sentiropsis gen. nov. and Afrosenia gen. nov., respectively. The former occupies an intermediate position between Jonesiella Brady and the genera equipped with claviform aesthetascs on the mouthparts. The relationships of Afrosenia gen. nov. are less clear but new data on the mouthparts and swimming leg sexual dimorphism indicate a position near the base of the lineage leading to the oral aesthetasc bearing genera