[Cnidaria • 2024] Umimayanthus mirnangga, U. jebarra, U. raksasa, etc. • Museum Collections as Untapped Sources of Undescribed Diversity of Sponge-zoantharian Associations with the Description of Six New Species of Umimayanthus (Zoantharia: Parazoanthidae) from Western Australia and eastern Indonesia

 

Umimayanthus cf. aruensis (Pax, 1911) 

in Montenegro, Fromont, Richards, Kise, Gomez, Hoeksema et Reimer, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1163/18759866-bja10069 

 x.com/deepseaUWA 

  Researchgate.net/publication/383565499

 

Abstract

The zoantharian genus Umimayanthus consists largely of species that live in obligate symbioses with sponges. Although zoantharians have often been overlooked in field collecting campaigns and in research, sponges are usually well-collected, and many natural history museums harbor numerous sponge specimens. Thus, these sponge collections may also include previously overlooked zoantharian species. Such is the case in this research, in which we examined sponge specimens in museum collections from Western Australia and eastern Indonesia. Based on our morphological and molecular analyses, we herein describe six species of Umimayanthus new to science, and redescribe another species described over a century ago. These species can be distinguished by their sponge associations, gross polyp and colony morphology, and depth ranges. Based on these findings, it appears that the Central Indo-Pacific region of Western Australia and Indonesia can be considered a hotspot for sponge-associated zoantharian diversity. We provide a key for the identification of all formally described species in the genus, but caution that there are likely more Umimayanthus species awaiting discovery.

Keywords: Anthozoa; biodiversity; coral reefs; Porifera; species descriptions

Phylum Cnidaria Hatschek, 1888 

Subphylum Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1831 

Class Hexacorallia Haeckel, 1896 

Order Zoantharia Rafinesque, 1815 

Family Parazoanthidae Delage & Hérouard, 1901 

Genus Umimayanthus Montenegro, Sinniger and Reimer 2015

Umimayanthus cf. aruensis (Pax, 1911) 

Umimayanthus mirnangga sp. nov. WAM Z88824 (holotype)

Umimayanthus mirnangga sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer

Etymology. The specific epithet “mirnangga” is derived from the phoneme used to refer to a young single woman in the Wunambal language. This in reference to the fact that the colonies of U. mirnangga sp. nov. are exclusively composed of solitary polyps. “mɨrnangga binya” n., B-class young woman. Syn: munangga. See Bengmoro et al. (1971) and Boona (2022).

Umimayanthus jebarra sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer

Etymology. The specific epithet “jebarra” is derived from the phoneme used to refer to the emu in Wunambal language. This in reference to the elongated shape of the polyps in U. jebarra sp. nov., which resemble the neck of an emu. As well, the name can act as a memorial to all the emus killed during the Great Emu Wars of 1932 in Western Australia. “jebarra anya” n., A-class. emu. Dromaius novaehollandiae. Syn: garnanganyja; jeebarra. See Mangglamarra (1991) and Karadada et al. (2011).

Umimayanthus wunanggu sp. nov. 

Umimayanthus wunanggu sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer

Etymology. The specific epithet “wunanggu” is derived from the phoneme used to refer to the hill white gum tree in Wunambal language. This in reference to U. wunanggu sp. nov. forming colonies of white polyps connected by a thin coenenchyma that extends on a linear branching pattern over the sponge surface. “wunanggu winya” n., W-class. /wunaŋgu/. hill white gum, tropical red box, Eucalyptus brachyandra von Mueller, 1859. See Capell (1941) and Karadada (2011).

Umimayanthus discolor sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer

Etymology. The specific epithet “discolor” means multiple colors in Latin. This is in reference to U. discolor sp. nov. forming colonies of polyps with contrasting colorations between the oral disk and the column, stolon, and coenenchyma.

Umimayanthus lynherensis sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer  

 Etymology. The specific epithet “lynherensis” is derived from the locality where the type specimen was collected, the Lynher Bank sea country north Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia.  

Umimayanthus raksasa sp. nov. Montenegro, Kise & Reimer

Etymology. The specific epithet “raksasa”, which means “giant” or “gigantic” in Indonesian, refers to the large size of the polyps of this species in comparison to the other members of its genus.

 

 Javier Montenegro, Jane Fromont, Zoe Richards, Hiroki Kise, Oliver Gomez, Bert W. Hoeksema and James Davis Reimer. 2024. Museum Collections as Untapped Sources of Undescribed Diversity of Sponge-zoantharian Associations with the Description of Six New Species of Umimayanthus (Zoantharia: Parazoanthidae) from Western Australia and eastern Indonesia.  Contributions to Zoology. DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10069

  x.com/deepseauwa/status/1830439654870667504

Researchgate.net/publication/383565499_six_new_species_of_Umimayanthus_from_Western_Australia

[Cnidaria • 2023] Santjordia pagesi • A New Subfamily of ulmarid scyphomedusae, the Santjordiinae (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae: Semaeostomeae: Ulmaridae) from the Sumisu Caldera, Ogasawara Islands, Japan

Santjordia pagesi

 Lindsay, Grossmann, Montenegro & Morandini, 2023

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5374.4.5 

 Researchgate.net/publication/375767005

Abstract

An undescribed species of ulmarid medusa was observed in situ and captured at 812 m depth within the Sumisu Caldera, Ogasawara Islands, Japan. Morphological and molecular evidence points to it being distinct from other ulmarid medusae and a new species (pagesi), genus (Santjordia) and subfamily (Santjordiinae) are herein erected to contain it. This new subfamily of semaeostome ulmarid medusae has both marginal and subumbrellar rhopalia, making it unique within the order Semaeostomeae. Although the combination of subumbrellar tentacles and the lack of branched canals should warrant the erection of a new family within the Semaeostomeae, a lack of information on the gonad structure and poor bootstrap support in the molecular phylogenetic tree cause us to relegate it to the catch-all family Ulmaridae, until greater taxon sampling and phylogenetic analyses are carried out for the Semaeostomeae.

Key words: Coelenterata, deep sea, medusa, new species, new genus, submarine caldera

 

Systematics

Class Scyphozoa Goette, 1887

Order Semaeostomeae L. Agassiz, 1862

Family Ulmaridae Haeckel, 1880

Santjordia pagesi gen. et sp. nov. Holotype.
a: photograph of lateral view of living specimen in the gate sampler; b: photograph of aboral view of living specimen in the gate sampler; c: sketch of lateral view of living specimen; d: sketch of aboral view of living specimen; e: sketch of portion of oral view of preserved specimen; f: close-up of adradial rhopalium of preserved specimen, showing exumbrella with cleft, statocyst and rhopaliar canal; g: close-up of oral arm of living specimen in the onboard aquarium, showing marginal papillae. Scale bar = 2 cm except f: scale bar = 1 mm.

Subfamily Santjordiinae subfam. nov.

Genus Santjordia gen. nov.

Etymology: The genus name Santjordia refers to the red cross of Saint George (Catalan: Sant Jordi)—the shape and colour of which correspond well to the distinctive stomach base in this genus and species. Saint George is also the patron saint of Catalonia, where the first author began the present work while on sabbatical in the laboratory of a Catalan taxonomist.

Santjordia pagesi sp. nov.

Etymology: The species name is in honour of Dr. Francesc Pagès, who hosted the first author during his sabbatical in Barcelona and introduced him to the intricacies of cnidarian taxonomy.

In situ images of the holotype of Santjordia pagesi gen. et sp. nov.
Top left: aboral-lateral view; top right: lateral view;  bottom  left:  oral-lateral  view;  bottom  right:  lateral  view  within  the  gate  valve  sampler  on  the  ROV Hyper-Dolphin. Specimen size = 100 mm diameter.

Dhugal John Lindsay, Mary Matilda Grossmann, Javier Montenegro and André Carrara Morandini. 2023. A New Subfamily of ulmarid scyphomedusae, the Santjordiinae, with A Description of Santjordia pagesi gen. et sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa: Discomedusae: Semaeostomeae: Ulmaridae) from the Sumisu Caldera, Ogasawara Islands, Japan.  Zootaxa. 5374(4); 533-551. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5374.4.5

  Researchgate.net/publication/375767005_Santjordia_pagesi_gen_et_sp_nov_from_the_Sumisu_Caldera_Ogasawa

[Cnidaria • 2023] Bellactis lux • A New Sea Anemone (Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico

Bellactis lux 

Delgado, Larson, Sheridan & Daly, 2023

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5353.4.5 

twitter.com/Anemone_Padawan

 

Abstract

Here we describe a new species of sea anemone from the family Aiptasiidae based on specimens collected from the Gulf of Mexico (USA: Florida & Alabama). Accounts of this species have been known since the early 1990’s, primarily from an underwater field guide and hobbyist aquarium literature under the name “Lightbulb Anemone.” We describe it as a new species from the genus Bellactis based on anatomy, histology, and cnidom. Members of this species are small in size, with a smooth, typically contracted column divided into regions based on color and bearing rows of two or three elevated cinclides in the mid column. Their tentacles are distinctive, translucent, distally inflated and can be bulbous in shape, with sub annular rings. This description synthesizes information about Bellactis and contextualizes what is known about its diversity in light of other members of the Aiptasiidae.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria, Aiptasiidae 

  

 Bellactis lux n. sp. 

Alonso Delgado, Paul Larson, Nancy Sheridan and Marymegan Daly. 2023. Bellactis lux n. sp. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae), A New Sea Anemone from the Gulf of Mexico.  Zootaxa. 5353(4); 379-392. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5353.4.5

 twitter.com/Anemone_Padawan/status/1711866299695915251

[Cnidaria • 2022] Diplopathes antarctica, D. multipinnata & D. tuatoruensis • New Genus and Species of Black Coral (Anthozoa: Antipatharia: Schizopathidae) from the SW Pacific and Antarctica

Diplopathes sp.

Opresko, Stewart, Voza, Tracey & Brugler, 2022

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5169.1.3 

 twitter.com/BlackCoralLab

Abstract

A new genus, Diplopathes, in the family Schizopathidae, and three new species are described from the Southwest Pacific and Antarctic region based on morphological data. The new genus superficially resembles Telopathes in being branched and having simple, bilateral pinnules, but differs in having strictly alternately arranged pinnules, and in having small polyps 4 mm or less in transverse diameter. Mitochondrial DNA placed Diplopathes and Telopathes in separate clades within the Schizopathidae, thus supporting the significance of seemingly subtle anatomical differences. The new species are: D. antarctica, with sparse branching, pinnules of up to 7 cm long, and polypar spines up to 0.045 mm tall; D. multipinnata, with dense branching, pinnules up to 3 cm long, and polypar spines up to 0.1 mm tall; and D. tuatoruensis, with very sparse branching, pinnules up to 10 cm long, and polypar spines up to 0.1 mm. Interestingly, the three new species do not form a monophyletic clade based on mitochondrial DNA. We propose and discuss two hypotheses to explain the results of the phylogenetic reconstruction, including that molecular and physical change are uncoupled or that we have uncovered another example of morphological convergence in unrelated species.

 Keywords: Coelenterata, Morphological convergence, ITS2, mitochondrial DNA, New Zealand, SRP54, taxonomy, Telopathes

 

Dennis M. Opresko, Rob Stewart, Tatiana Voza, Di Tracey and Mercer R. Brugler. 2022. New Genus and Species of Black Coral from the SW Pacific and Antarctica (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia: Schizopathidae). Zootaxa. 5169(1); 31-48. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5169.1.3

  twitter.com/BlackCoralLab/status/1552105387851137025

[Cnidaria • 2021] Tubastraea megacorallita • A New Species of the Sun Coral Genus Tubastraea (Hexacorallia: Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) from Hong Kong

 Tubastraea megacorallita

Yiu, Chung & Qiu, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5047.1.1 

 Researchgate.net/publication/354896559 

Abstract

Tubastraea, commonly known as sun coral, is a genus of brightly coloured azooxanthellate corals in the family Dendrophylliidae. The diversity of this genus is low, with only seven recognized species. Herein, we describe Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov. from Hong Kong based on morphological and molecular analyses. This new species exhibits several characteristics of the genus including being colonial, having a rough texture of corallum and no epitheca. It can be distinguished from its congenerics by bigger corallites, and the Pourtalès plan arrangement of its septa. The rDNA gene sequences (consisting of ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, 18S and 28S) showed 2.45–5.18% divergence from those of its closest relatives, T. coccinea and T. micranthus.

Keywords: Coelenterata, scleractinian coral, azooxanthellate, ahermatypic coral, dendrophylliid, South China Sea

 Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov.:
 A living specimen in the field; B: Skeleton of a specimen with tissues removed (TMBC030850); C: a corallite (TMBC030853); D: Fossa (TMBC030853); E: Costae (c) and Intercostal striae (i.s.) (TMBC030853).

Scale bar: A-B: 1 cm; C: 5 mm; D-E: 1 mm.

 Possible predators of  Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov.:
A: an individual of Phestilla melanobrachia feeding on T. coccinea; also shown are egg masses (yellow) of the nudibranch; B: an individual of Coralliophila costularis feeding on a colony of T. megacorallita sp. nov.;
C: three individuals of Coralliophila costularis feeding on a colony of Tubastraea diaphana. D: an individual of Epidendrium sp. feeding on a colony of T. coccinea.

Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov. 

Sam King Fung Yiu, Sheena Suet-Wah Chung and Jianwen Qiu. 2021. A New Species of the Sun Coral Genus Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) from Hong Kong. Zootaxa. 5047(1); 1-16. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5047.1.1

  Researchgate.net/publication/354896559_A_new_species_of_Tubastraea_from_Hong_Kong

 research.hkbu.edu.hk/news/hkbu-biologists-discover-new-coral-and-nudibranch-species

[Cnidaria • 2020] There are Three Species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela Upwelling Ecosystem, not Two; Chrysaora fulgida, C. africana & C. agulhensis

 Chrysaora agulhensis

Ras, Neethling, Engelbrecht, Morandini, Bayha, Skrypzeck & Gibbons, 2020

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.3.1 

Abstract

Chrysaora (Pèron & Lesueur 1810) is the most diverse genus within Discomedusae, and 15 valid species are currently recognised, with many others not formally described. Since Chrysaora fulgida (Reynaud 1830) was first recognised as occurring off the south west (SW) coast off South Africa, the species has been variously synonymised with Chrysaora hysoscella (Linnaeus 1767) and Chrysaora africana (Vanhöffen 1902). Using DNA evidence alongside multivariate tools to analyse quantitative morphometric and meristic data, as well as information from the cnidome, we unambiguously separate C. fulgida from C. hysoscella; we resurrect C. africana as a valid species and recognise a new species, Chrysaora agulhensis sp. nov. Full descriptions of C. fulgida, C. africana and C. agulhensis sp. nov. are provided. The species have different geographical patterns of distribution around the region, with restricted areas of overlap: C. agulhensis sp. nov. is found along the southern coast of South Africa and over the Agulhas Bank, C. fulgida extends from Cape Point in South Africa to southern Angola, and C. africana can be found from southern Namibia northwards to the Gulf of Guinea. The species can be readily separated in the field by a combination of tentacle/lappet number and shape, colour patterns and the form of the oral arms.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Agulhas Bank, Benguela upwelling region, Namibia, New species, Pelagiidae, Scyphozoa, Taxonomy

SYSTEMATICS

Subclass DISCOMEDUSAE Haeckel, 1880

Order SEMAEOSTOMEAE L. Agassiz, 1862

FAMILY Pelagiidae Gegenbaur, 1856

GENUS Chrysaora Péron and Lesueur, 1810

 Chrysaora agulhensis sp. nov. collected at Whale Rock during November 2012
side-view of a larger specimen in situ displaying deep purple colouration of the central apex, long trailing oral arms and ribbon-like tentacles. 

 Chrysaora agulhensis sp. nov.

 Diagnosis. Chrysaora of medium size; 32 rounded marginal lappets, four per octant; no more than 24 persistent tentacles; tentacles laterally flattened with pronounced bases, and ribbon-like; oral arms longer than bell, folded spirally at base; characteristic star shape pattern on exumbrella surface always visible, created by the radial pattern of deep maroon/purple triangles; white spots scattered across the surface of the exumbrella; mouth becomes substantially larger as organism grows. Lappets with network of gastrovascular canals. Oral arms spirally arranged basally.

Distribution. Range stretches from Table Bay along the west coast of South Africa towards Port Elizabeth along the south east coast of South Africa (Agulhas Bank): endemic.

Etymology. “agulhensis” referring to its distribution across the Agulhas Bank along the South coast of South Africa.

    

V. Ras, S. Neethling, A. Engelbrecht, A.C. Morandini, K.M. Bayha, H. Skrypzeck and M.J. Gibbons. 2020. There are Three Species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela Upwelling Ecosystem, not Two. Zootaxa. 4778(3); 401-438. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.3.1

UWC researcher discovers new jellyfish species

uwc.ac.za/News/Pages/UWC%20researcher%20discovers%20new%20jellyfish%20species.aspx

[Cnidaria • 2020] Chironephthya sirindhornae & C. cornigera • Two New Species of the Genus Chironephthya (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Nidaliidae, Siphonogorgiinae) from the Gulf of Thailand

Chironephthya sirindhornae 

 Imahara, Chavanich, Viyakarn, Kushida, Reimer & Fujita, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4780.2.6

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Chironephthya, C. sirindhornae sp. nov. and C. cornigera sp. nov., are described based on three specimens collected from the Gulf of Thailand. Both species are well distinguished from the previously described species of the genus Chironephthya by their colonies consisting of multiple stems that stand upright from a common base, and by a significantly thinner canal wall without large spindles. As a result of phylogenetic analyses using COI, mtMutS, and 28S rDNA sequences of these two species, these three specimens constituted an independent small clade within a large mixed clade of Siphonogorgia and Chironephthya, with the two species slightly different from each other. The discrepancy in the morphology suggested the erection of a new genus to accommodate these species, however, as the subclade was included in a large mixed clade of Siphonogorgia and Chironephthya, we place these species within genus Chironephthya. Our results further highlight the continuing confusion between Siphonogorgia and Chironephthya, and demonstrate the need for taxonomic revision of these genera.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Chironephthya sirindhornae sp. nov., C. cornigera sp. nov., new species, common base, Octocorallia, Nidaliidae, Siphonogorgiinae, Gulf of Thailand

Systematics

Class Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1834

Subclass Octocorallia Haeckel, 1866

Order Alcyonacea Lamouroux, 1812

Family Nidaliidae Gray, 1869

Subfamily Siphonogorgiinae Kölliker, 1874

Genus Chironephthya Studer, 1887

FIGURE 2. Live colony of Chironephthya sirindhornae sp. nov. (NSMT-Co 1703).

Chironephthya sirindhornae sp. nov.

Japanese name: Hime-kudayagi

ปะการังอ่อน กรมสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดาฯ สยามบรมราชกุมารี

Etymology. The specific epithet is named in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who has initiated and implemented the Plant Genetic Conservation Project for maintenance and conservation of biodiversity both on land and in the ocean.

Chironephthya cornigera sp. nov. 

 Japanese name: Tsuno-kudayagi

Etymology. Specific name cornigera is a Latin word corniger = bearing horns, referring to the colony shape in life.

Yukimitsu Imahara, Suchana Chavanich, Voranop Viyakarn, Yuka Kushida, James D. Reimer and Toshihiko Fujita. 2020. Two New Species of the Genus Chironephthya (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Nidaliidae, Siphonogorgiinae) from the Gulf of Thailand. Zootaxa. 4780(2); 324–340. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4780.2.6

 

#RSPG #อพสธ #โครงการอนุรักษ์พันธุกรรมพืช 

#ปะการังอ่อน #สิรินธร #กรมสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดาฯ สยามบรมราชกุมารี 

#ทรงพระเจริญ

[Cnidaria • 2019] Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic

Antipathes atlantica Gray, 1857

in Lima, Cordeiro & Pérez, 2019. 

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4692.1.1 

Abstract

Black corals (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) occur in all oceans of the globe, especially at depths greater than 50 m. However, their richness is underestimated due to the scarcity of studies on this group, especially in deep waters. The south Atlantic is one of the most depauperate regions in terms of our knowledge of antipatharians. Herein, we report 34 antipatharian species for the Southwestern Atlantic. Additionally, based on the examination of museum specimens, three species are new records in the Atlantic (Parantipathes laricides; Stichopathes paucispina and S. spiessi); and 17 had their distribution expanded, representing six families (Antipathidae, Cladopathidae, Leiopathidae, Myriopathidae, Schizopathidae and Stylopathidae). Additionally, the richness, distribution and associations of antipatharians are briefly discussed. An artificial key to South Atlantic antipatharians is included.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Cnidaria, Deep-sea, Seamounts, Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande Rise

Antipathes atlantica Gray, 1857

Manuela M. Lima, Ralf T.S. Cordeiro and Carlos D. Pérez. 2019. Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic. Zootaxa. 4692(1); 1–67. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4692.1.1

[Cnidaria • 2019] Swiftia sahlingi • New Records of Swiftia (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) from off the Pacific Costa Rican Margin, including A New Species from Methane Seeps

Swiftia sahlingi  

Breedy, Rouse, Stabbins, Cortés & Cordes, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4671.3.6 

photograph: Verene Häussermann twitter.com/CordesLab

Abstract

Exploration of the deep sea off the Pacific margin of Costa Rica has resulted in the discovery of a number of new species and reports for the region. Here, we report on the occurrence of the octocoral genus Swiftia, and describe a new species collected by the Alvin submersible off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The new species has been observed at around 1000 m depth, growing on authigenic carbonates near methane seeps. Swiftia sahlingi sp. nov. is characterised by having bright red colonies that are with limited branching, with slightly raised polyp-mounds, thin coenenchyme mainly composed of long warty spindles, and conspicuous plates. A molecular phylogenetic analysis supports the differences between this new taxon and the closest Swiftia species. The new species represents the first record of the genus from Costa Rica and in fact for the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Carbonate mounds, gorgonian, methane seeps, Plexauridae, Swiftia, taxonomy

Systematics 

Subclass Octocorallia 

Order Alcyonacea Lamouroux, 1816 

Family Plexauridae Gray, 1859

Swiftia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864

Type species: Swiftia exserta (Ellis & Solander, 1786) 

FIGURE 1. Swiftia sahlingi sp. nov. MZUCR 2725, holotype;
(A) entire colony; (B) detail of branches and polyp mounds; (C) MZUCR 2729, paratype, polyp detail; (D) Swiftia comauensis, polyp detail (photograph: Verene Häussermann).

  Swiftia sahlingi sp. nov.  

 Etymology. The species is named in memory of Heiko Sahling, a distinguished marine geologist who discovered and named Mound 12, the type locality of the new species.

Odalisca Breedy, Greg W. Rouse, April Stabbins, Jorge Cortés and Erik E. Cordes. 2019. New Records of Swiftia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Octocorallia) from off the Pacific Costa Rican Margin, including A New Species from Methane Seeps. Zootaxa. 4671(3); 407–419. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4671.3.6

 twitter.com/CordesLab/status/1174677849610964992

[Cnidaria • 2019] Benthic Hydroids (Hydrozoa) from the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)

Campanularia hicksoni Totton, 1930

in Àngel & Cantero, 2019.  

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4570.1.1   

Abstract

Hydrozoans are a conspicuous component of Antarctic benthic communitites. Recent taxonomic effort has led to a substantial increase in knowledge on the diversity of benthic hydroids from some areas of the Southern Ocean, including the Weddell Sea, the largest sea in the Antarctic region. However, the study of many hydrozoan taxa are still pending, and the diversity in this huge region is expected to be higher than currently known. In order to contribute to the knowledge of taxonomy, ecology and distribution of these cnidarians, a study of unpublished material collected by several German Antarctic expeditions aboard the RV Polarstern in the eastern sector of the Weddell Sea has been conducted. A total of 77 species belonging to 22 families and 28 genera of benthic hydroids have been inventoried, constituting the most prolific collection hitherto analyzed. Most species (81%) belong to Leptothecata, but the observed share of Anthoathecata (19%) is higher than in previous Antarctic hydrozoan studies. Symplectoscyphidae was the most speciose family with 16 representatives (22%), followed by Haleciidae with 10 (14%) and Staurothecidae with 8 (11%). The number of species known in the area was increased with 27 new records, including several species rarely documented. As a result, the Weddell Sea becomes the second Antarctic region in terms of hydrozoan diversity, with 89 species known to date. Novel data on the use of substrate, reproductive phenology, and bathymetric range are provided for the inventoried species.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Biodiversity, Checklist, Cnidome, Hydrozoan, New Records, Southern Ocean

Campanularia hicksoni Totton, 1930,
general view of the colony.

Joan J. Soto Àngel and Álvaro L. Peña Cantero. 2019. Benthic Hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the Weddell Sea (Antarctica). Zootaxa. 4570(1); 1–78. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4570.1.1

[Cnidaria • 2016] Erenna insidiator & E. sirena • A Description of Two New Species of the Genus Erenna (Siphonophora: Physonectae: Erennidae), with Notes on Recently Collected Specimens of Other Erenna species

 Erenna laciniata Pugh, 2001  

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4189.3.1 

Abstract

Two new Erenna species, Erenna insidiator sp. nov. and Erenna sirena sp. nov., are described from specimens collected in the vicinity of Monterey Bay, California, and also, for E. sirena at the southern end of the Gulf of California, Mexico. Further information on the three extant Erenna species is given, based on specimens collected in the same areas. These have enabled, for instance, the identification of three types of tentilla on the tentacles of E. cornuta Pugh, 2001, rather than the two noted on the single previously known specimen. The genus is remarkable for the presence of bioluminescent lures on the tentilla of all five species. In E. sirena sp. nov. the tentilla are also covered by a red-fluorescent layer, which was briefly described by Haddock et al. (2005), and further details are given herein. Another extraordinary feature of the colonies E. sirena sp. nov. is that the main part of the tentacle, with its tentilla, can be extended away from the siphosomal stem on a long peduncle. This phenomenon also appears to occur in E. laciniata Pugh, 2001, and has not been observed before for other physonect species.

Keywords: Coelenterata, Siphonophora, Physonectae, Erennidae, Erenna, taxonomy, Morphology, Lures

P.R. Pugh  and S.H.D. Haddock. 2016. A Description of Two New Species of the Genus Erenna (Siphonophora: Physonectae: Erennidae), with Notes on Recently Collected Specimens of Other Erenna species. Zootaxa. 4189(3); 401–446.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4189.3.1