Sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia, Ceriantharia, Zoanthidea) from marine shallow-water environments in Venezuela: new records and an updated inventory

Ricardo González-Muñoz,Martin Rada,Gabriela Carrasquel,Carlos Hernández-Ortíz,Enio Mendez,Iván Hernández,Nuno Simões,Edlin J Guerra-Castro,Juan J Cruz-Motta,Aldo Croquer,Carlos Lira,Sheila M Pauls

doi:10.1186/s41200-016-0016-7

Abstract

This study compiles the diversity of sea anemones in different shallow habitats (i.e. rocky shores, coral reefs, mangroves and sandy bottoms) in several locations of Venezuela, including the most important marine reserves of Venezuela: Morrocoy National Park, Mochima National Park, Archipielago de Los Roques National Park, Laguna de La Restinga National Park, Isla de Cubagua, and Chichiriviche de la Costa. Twenty-six species of sea anemones sensu lato were documented, from which only two actiniarian species are newly recorded in Venezuela. In addition, specimens of the scientific collection of the Museo Oceanologico Hermano Benigno Roman, of Isla de Margarita, Venezuela, were examined and its taxonomic status updated. The diversity of sea anemones in Venezuela is updated to 44 species. An illustrated guide of living specimens and short descriptions of the external anatomy of the specimens is included to facilitate sea anemone species identification in the field and to provide a base line for ecological studies that require accurate identification to species level.

Highlights

This study compiles the diversity of sea anemones in different shallow habitats in several locations of Venezuela, including the most important marine reserves of Venezuela: Morrocoy National Park, Mochima National Park, Archipiélago de Los Roques National Park, Laguna de La Restinga National Park, Isla de Cubagua, and Chichiriviche de la Costa
We identified 18 species of Actiniaria, one species of Ceriantharia, one species of Corallimorpharia, and six species of Zoanthidea; we confirmed the identification and updated the current taxonomic status of the sea anemone specimens in the collection of the Museo Oceanológico Hermano Benigno Román (MOHBR), including those from Agudo (1987) vouchered at the MOHBR
We found 24 of the 47 sea anemones species documented by Agudo (1987) while two actiniarian species, Anthopleura pallida and Telmatactis vernonia, are documented for the first time in Venezuela

Summary

Introduction

This study compiles the diversity of sea anemones in different shallow habitats (i.e. rocky shores, coral reefs, mangroves and sandy bottoms) in several locations of Venezuela, including the most important marine reserves of Venezuela: Morrocoy National Park, Mochima National Park, Archipiélago de Los Roques National Park, Laguna de La Restinga National Park, Isla de Cubagua, and Chichiriviche de la Costa. In this study we examined specimens of sea anemones sensu lato (i.e. orders Actiniaria, Ceriantharia, Corallimorpharia, and Zoanthidea) sampled during November 2012 in several shallow coastal and coral reefs environments along six locations, four of which are marine reserves in Venezuela (Fig. 1). We identified 18 species of Actiniaria, one species of Ceriantharia, one species of Corallimorpharia, and six species of Zoanthidea; we confirmed the identification and updated the current taxonomic status of the sea anemone specimens in the collection of the MOHBR, including those from Agudo (1987) vouchered at the MOHBR. We provided photographs for these 26 species in the lab or in natural habitats to guide identifications These species do not represent all species of sea anemones found or reported in Venezuela, but they do represent those that are either more abundant or conspicuous. The major aim of this publication is to inventory the most common anemones in Venezuela and to provide an aid distinguishing these species to facilitate further biological and ecological research requiring species-level resolution

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion