New data on Polyplacophora from Tuscan Archipelago. I. Leptochiton sarsi Kaas, 1981 and Leptochiton pepezamorai Carmona Zalvide, Urgorri Garcia, 2004, two species new to the Mediterranean Sea

Two Atlantic species of Leptochiton, Leptochiton sarsi Kaas, 1981 and Leptochiton pepezamorai Carmona Zalvide, Urgorri Garcia, 2004, were found in the Tuscan Archipelago, at the Santa Lucia Bank. This area, between the Corsica and the Gorgona Island, is characterized by extensive white corals and hard bottom biocenosis extending from 125 to 800m, which is particularly rich in molluscs. The two species were found looking over a great amount of old detritus from a depth estimated near 500m. The study of L. sarsi (compared with some Atlantic specimens) and of Leptochiton pepezamorai permits us to better define some morphological features of these species, not well characterized in the original description. The collection of these Atlantic species in the Mediterranean Sea extends to 34 the number of species of Polyplacophora present in this area.