Abstract
ABSTRACT We re-assess the taxonomic status of Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841 from Southern Brazil based on estuarine specimens from Paranagua Bay (Parana) and Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina), and literature records. Owenia caissara sp. n. is diagnosed by a branchial crown with five pairs of tentacles, branched close to the base of the crown, rectilinear collar with a pronounced lateral slit, two ventrolateral ocelli partially covered by the collar, up to 23 hooks on a single row in the first abdominal segment, regularly curved nuchal shape, regularly moderate teeth curvature, and long and thin scales with oval transition. The description of Owenia caissara sp. n. reinforces the idea that Owenia fusiformis sensu lato is a complex of closely related species that can be distinguished on the basis of both macro- and micro- morphological traits.
Highlights
Species of Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841 are found from the intertidal zone to 2,000 m deep (Dauvin and Thiébaut 1994)
The cosmopolitan distribution of O. fusiformis has been questioned and rejected by many authors based on re-evaluations of the dispersal potential of the mitraria larvae and on more detailed analyses of morphological traits (Blake 2000, Koh and Bhaud 2001, Koh et al 2003, Guizien et al 2006, Martin et al 2006, Ford and Hutchings 2010)
Following the recent trend of taxonomic reassessments of the genus and hoping to address a taxonomical identity crisis, we began to re-evaluate Owenia from Southern Brazil, describing a new species based on the morphological analysis of estuarine populations collected from the Paranaguá Bay and Babitonga Bay
Summary
Species of Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841 are found from the intertidal zone to 2,000 m deep (Dauvin and Thiébaut 1994). The cosmopolitan distribution of O. fusiformis has been questioned and rejected by many authors based on re-evaluations of the dispersal potential of the mitraria larvae and on more detailed analyses of morphological traits (Blake 2000, Koh and Bhaud 2001, Koh et al 2003, Guizien et al 2006, Martin et al 2006, Ford and Hutchings 2010). After comparing specimens from California and locations near the type locality of O. fusiformis, he revalidated O. collaris Hartman, 1955 and described a new species, O. johnsoni Blake, 2000 He suggested that conventional diagnostic characters should be supplemented with analysis of the neuropodial rings. Following the recent trend of taxonomic reassessments of the genus and hoping to address a taxonomical identity crisis, we began to re-evaluate Owenia from Southern Brazil, describing a new species based on the morphological analysis of estuarine populations collected from the Paranaguá Bay (state of Paraná) and Babitonga Bay (state of Santa Catarina)
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