First Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora) from Puerto Rico: descriptions of two new species and notes on their coral hosts

By

Cobo, M Carmen
Breusing, Corinna
Quattrini, Andrea M.
Herrera, Santiago
Strong, Ellen E

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-26

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1261

Pages

115--140

Subjects

Biodiversity , Caribbean Sea , ROV exploration , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1261.164889

 

Abstract

<br> Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora) are a unique and understudied group of marine invertebrates of evolutionary and ecological significance. Their diversity remains underestimated due to frequent lack of identification by non-specialists, limited molecular data, and the complexity of their taxonomy. Here we present the first Solenogastres from Puerto Rico, expanding the group’s known geographic distribution in the Caribbean Sea. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we describe two new species,<br> Dorymenia gummi<br> sp. nov.<br> and<br> Strophomenia boricua<br> sp. nov.<br> , and document their associations with coral hosts. These findings offer new insights into the ecology and biodiversity of these elusive mollusks.<br>