The sea anemone Bunodactis octoradiata (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from southern Patagonia: morphological study and new records

Bunodactis Verril, 1899 comprises at present 19 nominal species of sea anemones. The validity of the genus is under discussion. The description of the species, Bunodactis octoradiata Carlgren, 1899, is insufficient for reliable identification, and although subsequent works have provided additional information on the species, its description still needs to be complemented. Herein we describe B. octoradiata based on histological sections of the internal anatomy, and give a complete and detailed description of the external anatomy. The cnidom is composed of spirocysts, basitrichs and microbasic p-mastigophores; their distribution in the organism, sizes and relative abundances are provided. The presence of zooxanthellae is reported for the first time. Bunodactis octoradiata is distributed in groups that vary from 5.6 to 45 ind./m2 in the field. Additionally, our data extends the distribution of the species along the coast of southern Patagonia (47°44'36"-49°15'13"S and 65°50'26"-67°39'45"W).Fil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Longo, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Martin, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Academica San Julian; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Feeding Behavior of Spurilla sp. (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) with a Description of the Kleptocnidae Sequestered from Its Sea Anemone Prey

Feeding behavior of Spurilla sp. (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) with a description of the kleptocnidae sequestered from its sea anemone prey. Zoological Studies 51(7): 905-912. Cnidocysts are sequestered from cnidarian prey by aeolid nudibranchs and stored in the tips of their appendages (cerata). The kleptocnidae of 11 specimens of Spurilla sp. are described in detail. The types and relative abundances of prey cnidocysts in nudibranch cerata were highly variable, suggesting exclusive anemone consumption. Spirocysts and several types of microbasic p-mastigophores, microbasic b-mastigophores, and basitrichs were found in external and internal tissues of sea anemone prey. This is the 1st report of predation of aeolid Spurilla sp. on the sea anemones Antholoba achates, Metridium senile lobatum, and Parabunodactis imperfecta from the rocky intertidal of Patagonia (Chubut Province, Argentina) and on Anthothoe chilensis and Tricnidactis errans at Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Photographs and digital videos of aeolidacean feeding behavior were recorded in situ and in aquaria. The purpose of this study was to provide valuable information on the diet of Spurilla sp. from Argentina using field observations and descriptions of the kleptocnidae.Fil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: García Matucheski, Stella. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Muniain, Claudia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Cnidom variation through distinct developmental stages in the sea anemone Aulactinia marplatensis (Zamponi, 1977) (Cnidaria: Actiniaria)

The cnidae are the exclusive diagnostic structures of phylum Cnidaria. The inventory of all cnidae types of a particular species is called the cnidom. The study of cnidae has been widely addressed in all classes of cnidarians. Particularly in the order Actiniaria (sea anemones), the study of the composition, size and distribution of cnidae is essential to the identification and description of species. In the present study, we examine the cnidom of the sea anemone Aulactinia marplatensis in three different stages of development throughout its life cycle. We found that the composition and abundance patterns are very similar between the adult and juvenile stages, although significant differences in the size capsules were found between both stages and in all cnidae types observed, being bigger those from the adult forms. The planula larvae stage presents a less diverse cnidom in comparison to the juvenile and adult stages; however, it present an exclusive cnidae type (the mesobasic p-mastigophore) which is the biggest in size of all the cnidae types observed in the species. These results highlight the importance of considering the stage of development when cnidae is used as a diagnostic character, and the particular relevance of the study of the cnidom in larval stages.Fil: Garese, Agustin. Laboratorio de Biología de Cnidarios; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: González Muñoz, Ricardo Enrique. Laboratorio de Biología de Cnidarios; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Laboratorio de Biología de Cnidarios; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

New Records of Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Costa Rica

A pesar de ser componentes importantes en los sistemas marino-costeros, las anémonas de mar han sido poco estudiadas en las costas de Costa Rica. En el presente trabajo se dan a conocer registros nuevos de anémonas de mar para las costas del Caribe y Pacífico de Costa Rica, incluyendo el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco. Se han confirmado también la presencia de otras especies que habían sido registradas para Costa Rica, pero sólo en base a observaciones visuales o fotografías. Se actualiza el inventario de este grupo de cnidarios que, junto a los corallimorpharios, está constituido por 16 especies (10 en el Caribe y 6 en el Pacífico e Isla del Coco). Asimismo, se realiza una comparación entre las faunas de anémonas de mar de Costa Rica y Panamá.Despite being important components in coastal marine systems, sea anemones have been poorly studied on both coasts of Costa Rica. In this paper new records of sea anemones are mentioned for the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and the Isla del Coco National Park. Additionally, the presence of other species previously recorded in Costa Rica based on single observations or photos, is reconfirmed. An updated inventory of these cnidarians is provided, and with the corallimorpharians, comprises of 16 species (10 in the Caribbean and 6 in the Pacific and Coco Island). A comparison with the sea anemone fauna of Panama is added.Fil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Excoffon, Adriana Carmen. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas. Laboratorio de Biología de Cnidarios; Argentina;Fil: Cortés, Jorge. Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología; Costa Rica; Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología; Costa Rica

Cnidom in Ceriantharia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): new findings in the composition and micrometric variations of cnidocysts

Background: Like all cnidarians, the subclass Ceriantharia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) is known for producing cnidocysts, which mainly serve for prey immobilization, predator defense, and locomotion. Aim: The present study aimed to understand the variability of the cnidom, i.e., the inventory of all cnidocyst types, in the ceriantharians (tube anemones) Ceriantheomorphe brasiliensis (10 individuals) and Cerianthus sp. (seven individuals). Methods: In each individual, 30 intact cnidocysts of each identified type were measured in the following parts of tube anemones: marginal tentacles (four from each individual), labial tentacles (four from each individual), column, actinopharynx and metamesenteries. Each of these structures was divided into three levels (high, middle, and low) and the cnidom was analyzed. Statistical descriptive parameters (mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum) of the sizes of all types of cnidocysts were calculated. The normality of the data for cnidocyst length was assessed using a Shapiro-Wilk test (a = 0.05). Based on the acceptance or rejection of the normality, either linear models or generalized linear models were used to evaluate variations in cnidocyst lengths. The normality of the cnidocyst length was tested by Shapiro-Wilk, and due to its rejection, generalized linear mixed models were applied to test the cnidocyst lengths variations. Results: The analysis of Ceriantheomorphe brasiliensis revealed 23 categories of cnidocysts, thereby expanding the understanding of its cnidome. The cnidoms of Ceriantheomorphe brasiliensis and Cerianthus sp. presented intraspecific variations, both qualitatively and in the lengths of cnidocysts. The cnidoms of the two species studied also showed qualitative intra-individual variations between different levels (high, middle, low) within each structure of the tube anemone (tentacles, actinopharynx, column and metamesenteries). Some cnidocyst types, such as atrichs from the column of C. brasiliensis, presented a length gradient along the column, from larger lengths at the “low” level to smaller lengths at the “high” level. Conclusions: The cnidom of a tube anemone could be better described if samples are taken at different levels of the structures, as observed in C. brasiliensis. In addition, we can conclude that the cnidocyst lengths of both C. brasiliensis and Cerianthus sp. present intraspecific variation, which is coincident with that observed in actiniarian sea anemones. Moreover, as main conclusion, this work also proved that individuals of tube anemone species could present qualitative intra-structure variations in both the cnidom and cnidocyst lengths. This characteristic appears as an exception in cnidom variations, and has so far not been recorded even in the most studied actiniarian sea anemones. Finally, the intra-structure cnidocyst variations could reveal different functions of the different levels of a particular body part of the organisms.Fil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Goes Correa, Fabiola. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Stampar,Nascimento Stampar, Sérgio. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

The spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus (Ives, 1891), on an unusual scleractinian host

The spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus (Ives, 1891), forms symbioses with sea anemones that may serve as cleaning stations for reef fishes [1]. This Caribbean palaemonid shrimp has usually been reported in symbiotic association with several species of actiniarian hosts, such as Condylactis gigantea (Weinland, 1860) and Bartholomea annulata (Le Sueur, 1817), or even with some corallimorpharians and a scyphozoan jellyfish [2]. During a field survey at Alacranes coral reef (26 June 2016; 2227.14? N, 8945.79? W; 13 m depth) on the Campeche Bank, Yucatán Peninsula, México, two spotted shrimps were observed swimming and walking above the polyps of the head coral Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus, 1767). Because none of the usual hosts of P. yucatanicus were detected nearby, we hypothesize that the shrimps were using the scleractinian coral as a host. Some other shrimp species commonly associated with actiniarians were previously reported to be living on stony corals, such as Ancylomenes holthuisi (Bruce, 1969) on Heliofungia actiniformis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833) in New Guinea [3], and Periclimenes rathbunae Schmitt, 1924 on Dendrogyra cylindrus Ehrenberg, 1834 in Curaçao [4]. The observation (see Figure 1) of Montastraea cavernosa hosting Periclimenes yucatanicus is the second report of a palaemonid shrimp in association with a scleractinian coral in the Atlantic Ocean. The ecological implications of this association are unknown but could be related to a low local availability of usual hosts.Fil: González Muñoz, Ricardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Reimer, James D.. University Of The Ryukyus; JapónFil: Simões, Nuno. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Méxic

First records of Anthopleura nigrescens (Verrill, 1928) and Telmatactis panamensis (Verrill, 1869) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria) from Parque Nacional Coiba, Pacific coast of Panama

We report two species of sea anemones, Anthopleura nigrescens (Verrill, 1928) and Telmatactis panamensis (Verrill, 1869), for the first time from Parque Nacional Coiba, a large, protected area in the Pacific off Panama. In addition, we describe the external anatomical taxonomic characters and provide images of live specimens of each species. The number of sea anemones species known for Panama is updated to 57. This work constitutes the first study in the documentation of sea anemones of Coiba Island

Diversity, host specificity and biogeography in the Cladocorynidae (Hydrozoa, Capitata), with description of a new genus

The hydrozoan family Cladocorynidae inhabits tropical to temperate waters and comprises the two genera Pteroclava and Cladocoryne. Pteroclava lives in association with some octocorals and hydrozoans, whereas Cladocoryne is more generalist in terms of substrate choice. This work provides a thorough morpho-molecular reassessment of the Cladocorynidae by presenting the first well-supported phylogeny of the family based on the analyses of three mitochondrial and four nuclear markers. Notably, the two nominal genera were confirmed to be monophyletic and both morphological and genetic data led to the formal description of a new genus exclusively associated with octocorals, Pseudozanclea gen. nov. Maggioni & Montano. Accordingly, the diagnosis of the family was updated. The ancestral state reconstruction of selected characters revealed that the symbiosis with octocorals likely appeared in the most recent common ancestor of Pteroclava and Pseudozanclea. Additionally, the presence of euryteles aggregation in the polyp stage and the exumbrellar nematocyst pouches with euryteles represent synapomorphies of all cladocorynid taxa and probably emerged in their most recent common ancestor. The analysis of several Pteroclava krempfi colonies from Indo-Pacific and Caribbean localities associated with several host octocorals revealed a high intra-specific genetic variability. Single- and multi-locus species delimitations resulted in three to five species hypotheses, but the statistical analysis of morphometric data showed only limited distinction among the clades of P. krempfi. However, P. krempfi clades showed differences in both host specificity, mostly at the octocoral family level, and geographic distribution, with one clade found exclusively in the Caribbean Sea and the others found in the Indo-Pacific.Fil: Maggioni, Davide. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Danwei Huang. National University Of Singapore; SingapurFil: Hoeksema, Bert W.. University of Groningen; Países BajosFil: Arrigoni, Roberto. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn; ItaliaFil: Seveso, Davide. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Galli, Paolo. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Berumen, Michael L.. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Arabia SauditaFil: Montalbetti, Enrico. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Pica, Daniela. Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare; ItaliaFil: Torsani, Fabrizio. Università Politecnica Delle Marche; ItaliaFil: Montano, Simone. Università degli Studi di Milano; Itali

Biometry of sea anemone and corallimorpharian cnidae: statistical distribution and suitable tools for analysis

Many studies have dealt with data on the sizes of cnidae within different groups of anthozoans, such as Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia, and Zoantharia. Statistical treatments of these data have been variable, according to the evaluation of the normality and hence the use of parametric or nonparametric tests. The normality of cnidocyst size data was assumed or proved by some authors who used parametric tests to make comparisons. Other authors carried out nonparametric tests, or even proposed alternative analytical methods, such as the use of generalized linear models. Despite controversy about the statistical distribution of cnidae sizes, there has never been an attempt to study the normality of cnidocyst size data involving a significant volume of samples, using several specimens from various different species and using the same statistical approach. The objective of this paper is to evaluate statistical adjustment to a normal distribution of cnidocyst length from four sea anemone and one corallimorpharian species. The cnidoms of all species are detailed and the hypothesis of no intraspecific variation of cnidae sizes tested as a study case. Normality was accepted in 36.42 % (SD = 17.91) of all data sets of all cnidocyst types analyzed from all studied species, while for the rest it was rejected. The evidence suggests that both normal and non-normal data sets are possible, although non-normality is slightly more frequent. Intraspecific variation of cnidocyst sizes is shown in 96.82 % of the analyzed data sets. This paper provides a simple and detailed methodology to perform comparisons of cnidae size data.Fil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Carrizo, Sabrina Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Actiniaria), a new species of sea anemone from the southern Gulf of Mexico

Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov, a new species of sea anemone (Actiniaria: Actiniidae) from the rocky intertidal zone of La Gallega reef, Veracruz, Mexico, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by a column that is pale yellow proximally and dark-orange to bright-orange distally, longitudinal rows of verrucae from margin to limbus, and a series of marginal projections with acrorhagi. Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. is distinguished from other species of Anthopleura from the Gulf of Mexico by several taxonomic characters, such as column coloration, number of tentacles, variable number of directive mesenteries and siphonoglyphs, as well as some differences on cnidae. Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. is the fourth species of the genus occurring in shallow intertidal waters associated to coastal and coral reef environments of the region, and the third species of the genus Anthopleura recorded in the southern Gulf of Mexico.Fil: González Muñoz, Ricardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin