Five new deep-sea species of nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Cladobranchia) from the Northeast Pacific

Increased exploration of northeastern Pacific deep-sea habitats has revealed a diverse and often poorly-known invertebrate community, including a number of undescribed species of nudibranchs studied herein. We used morphology to distinguish several new species from their congeners, and generated data where possible for mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear markers (H3) to place them in a phylogenetic context. We described here Tritonia nigritigris sp. nov., Dendronotus claguei sp. nov., Ziminella vrijenhoeki sp. nov., Cuthona methana sp. nov., Aeolidia libitinaria sp. nov. and redescribed Zeusia herculea (Bergh, 1894). Another species of Tritonia is described but not named due to the absence of reproductive system information. Although there are difficulties in collection from deep-sea habitats, only two of our new species are known from single specimens. As with many other deep-sea regions, we expect the number of new species from this region to increase with further exploration. Because the deep regions of the northeast Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the effects of decreasing oxygenation due to climate change, we consider that documenting this fauna has some level of urgency.

Download Full-text

New hexactinellid sponges from deep Mediterranean canyons

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4236.1.6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4236 (1) ◽

pp. 118 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

NICOLE BOURY-ESNAULT ◽

JEAN VACELET ◽

MAUDE DUBOIS ◽

ADRIEN GOUJARD ◽

MAÏA FOURT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Japan Sea ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Rdna Sequences ◽

The Japan Sea ◽

Nw Mediterranean ◽

Manned Submersible ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Hexactinellid Sponges

During the exploration of the NW Mediterranean deep-sea canyons (MedSeaCan and CorSeaCan cruises), several hexactinellid sponges were observed and collected by ROV and manned submersible. Two of them appeared to be new species of Farrea and Tretodictyum. The genus Farrea had so far been reported with doubt from the Mediterranean and was listed as "taxa inquirenda" for two undescribed species. We here provide a proper description for the specimens encountered and sampled. The genus Tretodictyum had been recorded several times in the Mediterranean and in the near Atlantic as T. tubulosum Schulze, 1866, again with doubt, since the type locality is the Japan Sea. We here confirm that the Mediterranean specimens are a distinct new species which we describe. We also provide18S rDNA sequences of the two new species and include them in a phylogenetic tree of related hexactinellids.

Download Full-text

An Integrative Study on Asphondylia spp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Causing Flower Galls on Lamiaceae, with Description, Phenology, and Associated Fungi of Two New Species

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12110958 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 958

Author(s):

Umberto Bernardo ◽

Francesco Nugnes ◽

Simona Gargiulo ◽

Rosario Nicoletti ◽

Andrea Becchimanzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Botryosphaeria Dothidea ◽

Nuclear Markers ◽

Gall Midges ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Two New Species ◽

Morphological Approach ◽

Integrative Study

An integrative study on some species of Asphondylia was carried out. Two species of gall midges from Italy, Asphondylia rivelloi sp. nov. and Asphondylia micromeriae sp. nov. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causing flower galls respectively on Clinopodium vulgare and Micromeria graeca (Lamiaceae), are described and illustrated. The characteristics of each developmental stage and induced galls are described, which allowed the discrimination of these new species in the complex of Asphondylia developing on Lamiaceae plants. Molecular data based on sequencing both nuclear (ITS2 and 28S-D2) and mitochondrial (COI) genes are also provided in support of this discrimination. Phylogeny based on nuclear markers is consistent with the new species, whereas COI phylogeny suggests introgression occurring between the two species. However, these species can also be easily identified using a morphological approach. Phenology of host plants and gall midges are described, and some peculiar characteristics allow the complete and confident discrimination and revision of the treated species. Gall-associated fungi were identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea,Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium spp.

Download Full-text

A new Gammarus species from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (China) with a key to Xinjiang freshwater gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae)

10.3897/arphapreprints.e79364 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kui Zhang ◽

Jun Wang ◽

Yihao Ge ◽

Qiong Zhou

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽

Related Species ◽

The Other ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽

Nuclear Markers ◽

Autonomous Region ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region ◽

Independent Branch

The Gammarus zhouqiongi sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The new species is characterized by pereopods III-IV with long straight setae on posterior margins and inner ramus of uropod III 0.7 times as long as outer ramus. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are discussed. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) sequence differs from the other Gammarus species in Xinjiang by 16.6%-32.4% in K2P distance. The mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear markers (28S, EF1α) show that the new species is an independent branch in the phylogenetic tree. A key to identify Gammarus species in the Xinjiang are also provided.

Download Full-text

A new species of the deep-sea squat lobster genus Eumunida Smith, 1883 (Decapoda: Anomura: Eumunididae) from the Arabian Sea off southwestern India

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4590.4.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4590 (4) ◽

pp. 440 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

TOMOYUKI KOMAI ◽

REKHA DEVI CHAKRABORTY ◽

PURUSHOTHAMAN PARAMASIVAM ◽

MAHESWARUDU GIDDA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Arabian Sea ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Squat Lobster ◽

Kerala State ◽

A New Species ◽

Southwestern India

A new species of the squat lobster genus Eumunida Smith, 1883 (Chirostyloidea: Eumunididae), E. multispina, is described and illustrated primarily on the basis of two male specimens from the Arabian Sea off the Kerala State, southwestern India, at depths of 250–400 m. One specimen from Lakshadweep, previously identified with E. funambulus Gordon, 1930, is also referred to the new species. The new species is morphologically most similar to E. funambulus among the 29 known congeners, but the presence of four epigastric spines and more numerous lateral spines on the carapace (four on the anterolateral and seven to 10 on the branchial margins) immediately distinguish the new species from E. funambulus. Genetic analysis using the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA markers also indicates that the new species is distinct from congenerics for which the sequence data are available.

Download Full-text

New species of Echinoderes (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida) from Mediterranean seamounts and from the deep-sea floor in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, including notes on two undescribed species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4387.3.8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4387 (3) ◽

pp. 541 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

HIROSHI YAMASAKI ◽

BIRGER NEUHAUS ◽

KAI HORST GEORGE

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Glandular Cell ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Trunk Length ◽

Sea Floor ◽

Segment 8 ◽

Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Two new species of Echinoderes from the Eratosthenes Seamount and a deep-sea station near the Sedlo Seamount are described. Echinoderes multiporus sp. nov. from the Eratosthenes Seamount is characterized by a combination of the presence of middorsal acicular spines on segments 4, 6, and 8, ventrolateral tubes on segment 2, lateroventral tubes on segment 5, lateroventral acicular spines on segments 6–9, midlateral tubes on segment 10, and type-2 glandular cell outlets in subdorsal position on segment 2 and in laterodorsal position on segments 4–9. Echinoderes unispinosus sp. nov. from the deep-sea station differs from its congeners by the combination of middorsal acicular spine on segment 4, lateroventral acicular spines on segments 6 and 7, type-2 glandular cell outlets present in midlateral position on segment 1, in subdorsal, laterodorsal, sublateral, and ventrolateral position on segment 2, in lateral accessory position on segment 5, and in sublateral position on segment 8, and densely aligned pectinate fringe teeth of the primary pectinate fringes similar in width on segments 1–10. In addition, the morphological data of two undescribed species from the Anaximenes Seamount and a deep-sea station near the Sedlo Seamount are given. An undescribed species from the Anaximenes Seamount is morphologically similar to Echinoderes unispinosus sp. nov., but differs in the smaller trunk length, the presence of broader pectinate fringe teeth of the primary pectinate fringe on segment 1, and the absence of ventromedial sensory spots on segment 8. Another undescribed species from the deep-sea station differs from its congeners in the pattern of spines, tubes, and type-2 glandular cell outlets and length of middorsal and lateral terminal spines. New names are not given to both undescribed species in this study, because only one specimen is available for each species, and both of the specimens were damaged during the preparation.

Download Full-text

Dissolved oxygen and temperature best predict deep-sea fish community structure in the Gulf of California with climate change implications

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps13240 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 637 ◽

pp. 159-180

Author(s):

ND Gallo ◽

M Beckwith ◽

CL Wei ◽

LA Levin ◽

L Kuhnz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Community Structure ◽

Community Composition ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Fish Community ◽

Demersal Fish ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Explained Variance

Natural gradient systems can be used to examine the vulnerability of deep-sea communities to climate change. The Gulf of California presents an ideal system for examining relationships between faunal patterns and environmental conditions of deep-sea communities because deep-sea conditions change from warm and oxygen-rich in the north to cold and severely hypoxic in the south. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ‘Doc Ricketts’ was used to conduct seafloor video transects at depths of ~200-1400 m in the northern, central, and southern Gulf. The community composition, density, and diversity of demersal fish assemblages were compared to environmental conditions. We tested the hypothesis that climate-relevant variables (temperature, oxygen, and primary production) have more explanatory power than static variables (latitude, depth, and benthic substrate) in explaining variation in fish community structure. Temperature best explained variance in density, while oxygen best explained variance in diversity and community composition. Both density and diversity declined with decreasing oxygen, but diversity declined at a higher oxygen threshold (~7 µmol kg-1). Remarkably, high-density fish communities were observed living under suboxic conditions (<5 µmol kg-1). Using an Earth systems global climate model forced under an RCP8.5 scenario, we found that by 2081-2100, the entire Gulf of California seafloor is expected to experience a mean temperature increase of 1.08 ± 1.07°C and modest deoxygenation. The projected changes in temperature and oxygen are expected to be accompanied by reduced diversity and related changes in deep-sea demersal fish communities.

Download Full-text

New Species and New Records of Sponge-Inhabiting Barnacles (Cirripedia, Balanidae, Acastinae) from Australia

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13070290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 290

Author(s):

Andrew M. Hosie ◽

Jane Fromont ◽

Kylie Munyard ◽

Diana S. Jones

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Records ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Similar Species ◽

Diverse Group ◽

Undescribed Species

The subfamily Acastinae contains a diverse group of barnacles that are obligate symbionts of sponges and alcyonacean and antipatharian corals. Integrating morphological and genetic (COI) data to compare against known species, this paper reports on nine species of sponge-inhabiting barnacles of the subfamily Acastinae, including three undescribed species (Acasta caveata sp. nov., Euacasta acutaflava sp. nov., and E. excoriatrix sp. nov.) and three species previously not recorded in Australian waters (A. sandwichi, Pectinoacasta cancellorum, and P. sculpturata). The new species are distinguished from similar species by a suite of morphological characters as well as genetic distances. A lectotype for Pectinoacasta cancellorum is designated. Sponge hosts were identified for all specimens where possible and are represented by 19 species from eight families and five orders.

Download Full-text

Climate change and a poleward shift in the distribution of the Pacific white-sided dolphin in the northeastern Pacific

Endangered Species Research ◽

10.3354/esr00252 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 13-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

CJ Salvadeo ◽

D Lluch-Belda ◽

A Gómez-Gallardo ◽

J Urbán-Ramírez ◽

CD MacLeod

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

The Pacific ◽

Northeastern Pacific ◽

Poleward Shift

Download Full-text

A review of the genus Forficuloecus Conci (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), with descriptions of four new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1859.1.3 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1859 (1) ◽

pp. 49 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ROGER D. PRICE ◽

KEVIN P. JOHNSON ◽

RICARDO L. PALMA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Chewing Louse ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Mitochondrial Coi Gene ◽

Genetic Distinctiveness

Ten species, including four new species, of the chewing louse genus Forficuloecus Conci, 1941, are recognized from Australasian parrots, and a key is given for their identification. The new species and their type hosts are: F. cameroni ex the Red-winged Parrot, Aprosmictus erythropterus (J.F. Gmelin, 1788); F. banksi ex the Mulga Parrot, Psephotus varius Clark, 1910; F. wilsoni ex the Northern Rosella, Platycercus venustus (Kuhl, 1820); and F. josephi ex the Bourke's Parrot, Neopsephotus bourkii (Gould, 1841). Partial sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene support the genetic distinctiveness of these new species.

Download Full-text

Orbiniella nuda new species (Orbiniidae) and nine new records of other sedentariate polychaetous annelids from Washington and British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z74-011 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 69-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Katharine D. Hobson

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

New Species ◽

Pacific Ocean ◽

New Records ◽

Descriptive Information ◽

Northeastern Pacific

Orbiniella nuda, new species, is newly described from Washington. Naineris quadricuspida, Pygospio elegans, Pherusa negligens, Asclerocheilus beringianus, Euzonus williamsi, Barantolla americana, Decamastus gracilis, Mediomastus capensis, and Stygocapitella subterranea are newly recorded from Washington or from Washington and British Columbia. Most of these species have not previously been reported from the cold temperate northeastern Pacific Ocean. In addition, new descriptive information is provided for some species.

Download Full-text