Species of Oswaldella Stechow, 1919 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from recent antarctic expeditions with R. V. ‘Polarstern’, with the description of eight new species

Abstract

Twelve species of the genus Oswaldell Stechow have been studied, eight of which are new to science [Oswaldella delicat sp. nov., O. encarnae sp. nov., O. garciacarrascosai sp. nov., O. gracilis sp. nov., O. grandis sp. nov., O. incognita sp. nov., O. obscura sp. nov. and O. rigida sp. nov.], originating from the Weddell Sea and collected by several antarctic expeditions with R.V. Polarstern. Each is described and figured, its systematic position is considered and current data concerning its autecology and geographical distribution are given. Finally, a comparative table is presented including the principal features of all known species of the genus.