<i>Prionos</i> gen. nov. from the meiofauna of a Malaysian mangrove forest and the status of <i>Psammis borealis</i> (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Paranannopidae)

A new genus and species, Prionos ornata, is described from a Malaysian mangrove forest, representing the first member of the Paranannopidae recorded from the mangrove habitat. On the basis of female antennulary segmentation patterns Prionos gen. nov. is tentatively assigned to a clade grouping Psammis, Danielssenia and Mucrosenia, yet a full assessment of the phylogenetic relationships will have to await the discovery of the male. The type material of Psammis borealis, formerly placed species incertae sedis in the Paranannopidae, is re-examined. The unique sexual dimorphism has provided supporting evidence for its removal to a new genus Anapophysia together with a second closely related species A. segonzaci sp. nov. described from the deep sea off La Reunion. The detailed armature of the antennary endopod is used to place Bathypsammis, Anapophysia and Fladenia in a lineage leading to the deepwater genera Paranannopus and Cylindronannopus. The possible sistergroup relationship between Bathypsammis and Anapophysia is discussed