A new species of the genus Hexapleomera Dudich, 1931 from the South Korea, with molecular evidence (Crustacea, Tanaidacea, Tanaididae)

Abstract. Two populations of new species are described for Hexapleomera Dudich, 1931 from the southeastern coast and Jeju island of South Korea (north west Pacific). The specimens were collected using a light trap set overnight at the entrance near a pier or harbour. Hexapleomera ulsana sp. n. is clearly differentiated from other species in the genus by the uropod with five articles, a maxillule palp with four distal setae, the maxilliped coxa with three proximal setae, the epignath with short and blunt spiniform seta, the propodus of pereopods 2–3 with three ventral setae, and the maxilla with a rugged shape of the distal margin. Differences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene observed between two populations of H. ulsana from different regions (Ulsan and Jeju Island) and between H. ulsana and H. urashima (Japan) were 1.1 % and 32.4 %, respectively. Two genetically-close populations differed in the setae on pleopod 3, the proximal setae on the maxilliped coxa, and the ventral setae on pereopods 2–3, which showed that geographical distance affected the morphological divergence. In addition, a comprehensive comparison with previous records of Hexapleomera was conducted and close examinations on the appendages, known to have morphological variations between the individuals of one species and/or between different genders, were carried out based on new species and discussed herein.