Latest Articles from ZooKeys Latest 5 Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:46:59 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://zookeys.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ Novel in situ observations of asexual reproduction in the carpet sea anemone, Stichodactyla mertensii (Stichodactylidae, Actiniaria) https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/84415/ ZooKeys 1103: 57-63

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1103.84415

Authors: Morgan F. Bennett-Smith, Micaela S. Justo, Michael L. Berumen, Raquel Peixoto, Benjamin M. Titus

Abstract: Merten’s carpet sea anemone, Stichodactyla mertensii Brandt, 1835, is the largest known sea anemone species in the world, regularly exceeding one meter in oral disc diameter. A tropical species from the Indo-Pacific, S. mertensii drapes prominently over coral reef substrates and is a common host to numerous species of clownfishes and other symbionts throughout its range, which extends from the Red Sea through the Central Pacific Ocean. Long thought to reproduce via sexual reproduction only, recent genetic evidence suggests it may rarely reproduce asexually as well, although this process had never been confirmed through direct observation and the mechanism was yet to be described. Here, we directly observed and documented in situ asexual fragmentation via budding, in real time, by a Red Sea S. mertensii in a turbid inshore reef environment. While asexual reproduction is not unusual in sea anemones as a group, it is typically expected to be uncommon for large-bodied species. Herein, we describe S. mertensii fragmentation, provide high resolution images of the event from the Saudi Arabian coastline at multiple time points, and confirm asexual reproduction for this species.

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Short Communication Fri, 27 May 2022 19:12:43 +0300
Gems of the southern Japanese seas – four new species of Edwardsianthus (Anthozoa, Actiniaria, Edwardsiidae) with redescriptions of two species https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/69025/ ZooKeys 1076: 151-182

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1076.69025

Authors: Takato Izumi, Takuma Fujii

Abstract: Edwardsianthus England, 1987 is a genus of Edwardsiidae, a family of burrowing and worm-like sea anemones characterized by lacking four mesenteries in the first cycle and containing only one type of nematocysts in nemathybomes. Until now, this genus has accommodated only two species since its establishment and has been recorded only from Indo-West Pacific regions. In this study, six species are reported from Japan: two are previously known species, E. pudicus (Klunzinger, 1877) and E. gilbertensis (Carlgren, 1931); four are new species, E. carbunculus sp. nov., E. sapphirus sp. nov., E. smaragdus sp. nov., and E. amethystus sp. nov. Based on these results, the diagnostic features of the genus are revised.

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Research Article Fri, 10 Dec 2021 02:55:00 +0200
Sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) of Singapore: redescription and taxonomy of Phymanthus pinnulatus Martens in Klunzinger, 1877 https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/31390/ ZooKeys 840: 1-20

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.840.31390

Authors: Nicholas Wei Liang Yap, Ria Tan, Clara Lei Xin Yong, Koh Siang Tan, Danwei Huang

Abstract: Despite the ubiquity of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) in tropical ecosystems, our understanding of their biodiversity and taxonomy is limited. Here we re-establish the identity of an intertidal zooxanthellate species, Phymanthus pinnulatus Martens in Klunzinger, 1877. Originally described from a single preserved specimen in the Berlin Museum by CB Klunzinger, his brief footnote lacked crucial details to positively identify the species. Our redescription is based on more than 50 living individuals of P. pinnulatus collected from its type locality, Singapore. These were examined and compared with type materials of the species and its congeners. Specimens of P. pinnulatus differ from syntypes of species described as Phymanthus levis Kwietniewski, 1898 from Indonesia, as well as Phymanthus sansibaricus Carlgren, 1900 and Phymanthus strandesi Carlgren, 1900, both described from East Africa. Phymanthus pinnulatus was encountered on the lower intertidal, among coral rubble and between rocky crevices. It is vibrantly coloured and has 96 marginal tentacles with branching outgrowths along each, resulting in a ‘frilly’ appearance. The anemone has a flat expanded oral disc, with discal tentacles that are inconspicuous and reduced, unlike syntypes of its congeners. Details of its live appearance, musculature, and cnidom are also provided for the first time. Overall, types of cnidae and capsule sizes differ from other known species of Phymanthus documented elsewhere. It is inferred that P. pinnulatus has a wide distribution that extends eastwards from Singapore, as far as Ambon and the Torres Straits. Some individuals reported as Phymanthus muscosus Haddon and Shackleton, 1893 and Phymanthus buitendijki Pax, 1924 are probably P. pinnulatus. This morphological analysis provides new insights into the characters used to delimit P. pinnulatus, clarifies its geographical distribution, and contributes to an ongoing revision of the genus Phymanthus.

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Research Article Wed, 17 Apr 2019 02:08:39 +0300
Description of three new species of Scolanthus (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria, Edwardsiidae): first records of the genus from Japan https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/25243/ ZooKeys 794: 1-21

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.794.25243

Authors: Takato Izumi, Toshihiko Fujita

Abstract: Scolanthus is one genus of Edwardsiidae, a speciose family of burrowing worm-like sea anemones characterized by lacking a physa-like aboral end and by possessing nemathybomes on the whole body except at the distal end. This genus has been recorded worldwide, but there have been no specimens collected from Japan. In this study, we discovered four Scolanthus species in Japan for the first time: Scolanthus armatus (Carlgren, 1931) and Scolanthus kopepe sp. n. from the Ogasawara Islands, Scolanthus ena sp. n. from Ena Bay, Kanagawa, and Scolanthus isei sp. n. from Sugashima Island, Mie.

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Research Article Thu, 1 Nov 2018 17:33:40 +0200
A sea anemone of many names: a review of the taxonomy and distribution of the invasive actiniarian Diadumene lineata (Diadumenidae), with records of its reappearance on the Texas coast https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/19848/ ZooKeys 706: 1-15

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.706.19848

Authors: Zachary B. Hancock, Janelle A. Goeke, Mary K. Wicksten

Abstract: Diadumene lineata (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) is a prolific invader of coastal environments around the world. First described from Asia, this sea anemone has only been reported once from the western Gulf of Mexico at Port Aransas, Texas. No subsequent sampling has located this species at this locality. The first record of the reappearance of D. lineata on the Texas coast from three locations in the Galveston Bay area is provided, and its geographic distribution and taxonomic history reviewed.

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Short Communication Wed, 4 Oct 2017 05:20:18 +0300