All things Meio with a specific focus on Chile

Enoplidae

The simplest way to distinguish between the three known species of Enoplus that can be found in Chile is using the reproductive structures of the male. If the supplement is trumpet/funnel shaped then the species is E. michaelseni. If the gubernaculum has a apophysis that points towards the tail then the species is E. benhami. If the gubernaculum has no obvious apophysis then the species is E. paralittoralis. E. paralittoralis also has a shorter tail than E. benhami.

Enoplus benhami (Ditlevsen, 1930)

This individual was collected in Calfuco, Los Ríos region. The samples was collected from a polychaete reef (Phragmatapoma sp.).

Enoplus michaelseni (Linstow, 1896)

This individual was found at Carrazil Bajo, Atacama region. The sample was taken from intertidal complex algae.

Enoplus paralittoralis (Wieser, 1953)

This individual was collected at Calfuco, Los Ríos region. The sample was taken from the depth of the water-table of an intermediate beach, mid-intertidal (retention) zone.