Abstract
Larvaceans in the genus Bathochordaeus are large, often abundant filter feeders found throughout much of the world ocean. The first described species, Bathochordaeus charon, was reported over 100 years ago by Chun. However in the time since, few specimens have matched Chun’s original description, resulting in ambiguity on the validity of B. charon as a species. Specimens of Bathochordaeus charon were identified based on morphological traits, molecular data and observations made on high definition video. The first records of Bathochordaeus charon from the northeast Pacific Ocean off central California and Oregon, USA are reported. Morphology and molecular data clearly distinguish B. charon from its congener, B. stygius. This paper establishes the first review of Bathochordaeus charon since its original description, extends the range of this species to the northeast Pacific Ocean, and provides the first molecular evidence for two species of Bathochordaeus.
Highlights
Larvaceans in the genus Bathochordaeus are large, often abundant filter feeders found throughout much of the world ocean
Specimens were collected with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) remotely operated vehicle (ROV) using either detritus samplers or gentle suction (Robison 1995), and preserved in 5 % formalin buffered with sodium tetraborate
In March of 2013 a large and fecund specimen was hastily collected by the ROV Doc Ricketts as the vehicle was ascending for recovery
Summary
Larvaceans in the genus Bathochordaeus are large, often abundant filter feeders found throughout much of the world ocean. Chun (1900) provided the first description of a very large larvacean from specimens collected during the Valdivia expedition (1898–1899). He named the new species Bathochordaeus charon after the mythical figure who ferries the souls of the dead across the river Styx. During the Valdivia expedition two individuals were collected from the South Atlantic and two smaller specimens, from the Indian Ocean. When he studied them later, Lohmann (1914) placed the two largest Valdivia specimens in the family Oikopleuridae. Three features struck Garstang (1936, 1937) as different: the Bermuda specimens lacked the prominent “obconical gill-pouches”
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