Cantellius alphonsei n. sp., A new coral-inhabiting barnacle (Cirripedia, Pyrgomatinae) of Montipora

A new species, Cantellius alphonsei sp. nov., was found on Montipora venosa during the first cruise of the Interuniversity Institute of Eilat (IUI) to Ile d'Alphonse in the Seychelles. This species shows some similarities to C. septimus (Hiro, 1938), but the differences between C. septimus and the barnacles from Ile d'Alphonse are clear and consistent and justify the designation of these barnacles as a new species. Comparison of the description and illustrations of C. septimus in the literature suggests numerous differences and probably indicate the presence of more than one species within the barnacles regarded as "C. septimus". Acceptance of this assumption requires examination of material from a wide range of host corals and from different localities.