A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan

By

Tu, Tzu-Hsuan
Dai, Chang-Feng

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-3-16

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1089

Pages

37--51

Subjects

28S rDNA , Anthothelidae , cox2-IGR-cox1 , molecular phylogeny , msh1 , northwestern Pacific , northwestern Pacific , Scleraxonia

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1089.77273

 

Abstract

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of 132 octocoral species reveals a close relationship between specimens collected from the intertidal pools of the Datan Algal Reef, Taoyuan, Taiwan, and Erythropodium caribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860), but the two species have distinct morphological features. On the basis of morphological differences in polyps and sclerites, we identify and describe a new Erythropodium species: E. taoyuanensissp. nov. The distinct identifying features of E. taoyuanensissp. nov. include the upright contractile polyps from thin encrusting membranes and abundant 6-radiate sclerites. Using an integrative approach, we present the findings of morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses to demonstrate that E. taoyuanensissp. nov. is distinct from other Erythropodium species. Our study contributes to the knowledge of octocoral biodiversity in marginal habitats.