Indo-Pacific Species Research Articles

Patterns of endemicity and range restriction among southern African coastal marine invertebrates

Southern Africa supports a rich marine biota of 12 734 currently described marine species. Although the distribution and overall species-richness patterns of several component taxa are well documented, studies considering range sizes are absent. This study considers range size frequencies and distribution patterns of seven major marine invertebrate taxa. The most commonly observed pattern of size frequency distributions is bimodal, with a predominance of species with either small or large range sizes, and few taxa with intermediate-sized ranges. This pattern is displayed by prosobranch and opisthobranch molluscs, polychaetes and amphipods, and for all invertebrate taxa examined combined. Peaks in small range sizes are likely a reflection of the numerous poorly sampled and/or endemic species in the region, while the high number of species with large range sizes can be attributed to the large proportion of widespread tropical Indo-Pacific species within the regional fauna. Overall, the largest peaks of range-restricted endemic species occurred around False Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban, St Lucia and Maputo Bay. These areas are all situated at or adjacent to recognised biogeographic breaks for invertebrate assemblages, but coincidentally also tend to also be areas of enhanced research and shipping activity. The Cape Point region supports the highest number of endemics, with 73 species restricted to ranges of <100 km and 28 species to ranges <200 km.

Neither a buccinid nor a turrid: A new family of deep-sea snails for Belomitra P. Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Neogastropoda), with a review of Recent Indo-Pacific species

The new family Belomitridae is established for the deep-water buccinoid genus Belomitra P. Fischer, 1883, based onmorphological (shell and radulae) and molecular evidence. The rachiglossate radula is uniquely characterized by amulticuspid rachidian and lateral teeth with very long narrow bases and two small cusps closer to tip. Molecular anal-ysis of a reduced set of Buccinoidea did not resolve the group as a clade, but shows that Belomitridae forms a wellsupported clade within Buccinoidea. Species of Belomitra have adult sizes in the 7–53 mm range; they live in deepwater, mostly in the 500–2,000 meters range, at low and mid latitudes. Eleven valid species described from the Indo-Pacific were originally named in the families Buccinidae, Columbellidae, Cancellariidae, Volutidae, and Turridae.Fourteen new species are described: Belomitra nesiotica n. sp. (Society Islands to Tonga and Fiji in 580–830 m), B.bouteti n. sp. (Society and Tuamotu Islands in 430–830 m), B. subula n. sp. (Solomon Islands to Vanuatu in 760–1110m), B. caudata n. sp. (Sulu Sea in 2300 m), B. gymnobela n. sp. (South Pacific, eastern Indonesia and Philippines in780–2040 m), B. hypsomitra n. sp. (Fiji in 392–407 m), B. brachymitra n. sp. (Fiji in 395–540 m), B. comitas n. sp.(Madagascar and Philippines in 1075–1110 m), B. minutula (Coral Sea in 490 m), B. granulata n. sp. (New Caledoniain 105–860 m), B. reticulata n. sp. (Tonga and Fiji to New Caledonia in 395–656 m), B. decapitata n. sp. (IndianOcean and New Caledonia in 3680–4400 m), B. admete n. sp. (off Sri Lanka in 2540 m), and B. radula n. sp. (Madagascar in 367–488 m).Key-words: Buccinoidea, molecular phylogeny, morphology, anatomy, radula, deep-water fauna

First record of the Indo-Pacific Champsodon nudivittis (Ogilby, 1895) (Perciformes, Champsodontidae) in the Aegean waters (eastern Mediterranean Sea)

On 12 May 2012, two individuals of Champsodon nudivittis were captured off the coasts of Rhodes Island, southeastern Aegean Sea, at 150 m depth. This finding suggests a rapid geographical extension of this Indo-Pacific species along the northeastern Levantine coast of the Mediterranean. With C. nudivittis, the number of Lessepsian fishes recorded in the Aegean Sea is raised to 31.

Ascidian introductions through the Suez Canal: The case study of an Indo-Pacific species

Although marine biological invasions via the Suez Canal have been extensively documented, little is known about the introduction of non-indigenous ascidians (Chordata, Ascidiacea), a group containing particularly aggressive invasive species. Here, we used a multidisciplinary approach to study the introduction of the ascidian Herdmania momus into the Mediterranean Sea. We reviewed its taxonomy and global distribution, and analyzed how genetic variation is partitioned between sides of the Suez Canal. The taxonomic revision showed that H. momus currently has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. Genetic data indicated two well-differentiated colonization histories across the eastern Mediterranean. Our findings suggest that the range expansion of H. momus has been greatly facilitated by the combined effect of human-mediated transport and the species’ ability to adapt to different environments. The integrative approach presented here is critical to attain a holistic understanding of marine biological invasions, especially when studying groups with a poorly resolved taxonomy.

Molecular data illuminate cryptic nudibranch species: the evolution of the Scyllaeidae (Nudibranchia: Dendronotina) with a revision of Notobryon

Scyllaeidae represents a small clade of dendronotoid nudibranchs. Notobryon wardi Odhner, 1936, has been reported to occur in tropical oceans from the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific to temperate South Africa. The systematics of Notobryon has not been reviewed using modern systematic tools. Here, specimens of Notobryon were examined from the eastern Pacific, the Indo-Pacific, and from temperate South Africa. Additionally, representatives of Scyllaea and Crosslandia were studied. Scyllaeidae was found to be monophyletic. Notobryon was also found to be monophyletic and is the sister group to Crosslandia plus Scyllaea. The molecular data also clearly indicate that within Notobryon, at least three distinct species are present, two of which are here described. Genetic distance data indicate that eastern Pacific and South African exemplars are 10–23% divergent from Indo-Pacific exemplars of Notobryon wardi. Scyllaea pelagica has been regarded as a single, circumtropical species. Our molecular studies clearly indicate that the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific populations are distinct and we resurrect Scyllaea fulva Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 for the Indo-Pacific species. Our morphological studies clearly corroborate our molecular findings and differences in morphology distinguish closely related species. Different species clearly have distinct penial morphology. These studies clearly reinforce the view that eastern Pacific, Indo-Pacific, and temperate biotas consist largely of distinct faunas, with only a minor degree of faunal overlap. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 311–336.

Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea).

This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current status regarding the global diversity of the echinoderm class Ophiuroidea, focussing on taxonomy and distribution patterns, with brief introduction to their anatomy, biology, phylogeny, and palaeontological history. A glossary of terms is provided. Species names and taxonomic decisions have been extracted from the literature and compiled in The World Ophiuroidea Database, part of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Ophiuroidea, with 2064 known species, are the largest class of Echinodermata. A table presents 16 families with numbers of genera and species. The largest are Amphiuridae (467), Ophiuridae (344 species) and Ophiacanthidae (319 species). A biogeographic analysis for all world oceans and all accepted species was performed, based on published distribution records. Approximately similar numbers of species were recorded from the shelf (n = 1313) and bathyal depth strata (1297). The Indo-Pacific region had the highest species richness overall (825 species) and at all depths. Adjacent regions were also relatively species rich, including the North Pacific (398), South Pacific (355) and Indian (316) due to the presence of many Indo-Pacific species that partially extended into these regions. A secondary region of enhanced species richness was found in the West Atlantic (335). Regions of relatively low species richness include the Arctic (73 species), East Atlantic (118), South America (124) and Antarctic (126).

Sponge Farming Trials: Survival, Attachment, and Growth of Two Indo-Pacific Sponges,Neopetrosiasp. andStylissa massa

Sponges, an important part of the reef ecosystem, are of commercial value for public aquaria, pharmacology and chemistry. With the growing demand for sponges, natural resources are at risk of being overexploited. Growing of sponges in artificial or semi natural farms is an alternative. In this study different farming methods were tested on two Indo-Pacific sponge species,Neopetrosiasp. andStylissa massa. Survival, growth and attachment ability were observed with different substrates (suspended ropes, coral boulders and artificial substrate), two types of aquaria with different water volume and two different field sites in Indonesia. The two species responded differently to their individual locations and environmental stresses. Survival, growth and attachment rates ofNeopetrosiasp. at the field site are depending on the cultivation method, we found highest volume increment (27–35%) for a horizontal line in the field. Whereas the volume increase forS. massadid not show any differences for the different transplantation methods,Neopetrosiasp. generally showed higher rates thanS. massa. Further aquaria experiments, for example, on nutrient supply, should be tested to receive more detailed data about sponges, particularly because almost all fragments of both species showed a decline or steady state in mean length.

Oogenesis and spawning of Pomatoleious kraussii (Baired, 1865) (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Suez Bay

Oogenesis of the serpulid polychaete Pomatoleious kraussii an Indo-Pacific species introduced in Suez Bay was investigated. Worms were monthly collected from hard substrates in the intertidal zone at National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (N.I.O.F.) station in the bay. The study lasted from January to December 2004. Sex ratio was found one male for 2.13 female. The longest length of P. kraussii was 23 mm and the mean length was 14.71 mm. Oogenesis of the worm was divided into two previtellogenic, two vitellogenic and ripe stages. Spawning period lasted for about 11 months, from late February to early December, with a peak from October to December. The maximum diameter of ripe oocyte of P. kraussii is 63.75 μm.

Production of a reference transcriptome and transcriptomic database (PocilloporaBase) for the cauliflower coral, Pocillopora damicornis

BackgroundMotivated by the precarious state of the world's coral reefs, there is currently a keen interest in coral transcriptomics. By identifying changes in coral gene expression that are triggered by particular environmental stressors, we can begin to characterize coral stress responses at the molecular level, which should lead to the development of more powerful diagnostic tools for evaluating the health of corals in the field. Furthermore, the identification of genetic variants that are more or less resilient in the face of particular stressors will help us to develop more reliable prognoses for particular coral populations. Toward this end, we performed deep mRNA sequencing of the cauliflower coral, Pocillopora damicornis, a geographically widespread Indo-Pacific species that exhibits a great diversity of colony forms and is able to thrive in habitats subject to a wide range of human impacts. Importantly, P. damicornis is particularly amenable to laboratory culture. We collected specimens from three geographically isolated Hawaiian populations subjected to qualitatively different levels of human impact. We isolated RNA from colony fragments ("nubbins") exposed to four environmental stressors (heat, desiccation, peroxide, and hypo-saline conditions) or control conditions. The RNA was pooled and sequenced using the 454 platform.DescriptionBoth the raw reads (n = 1, 116, 551) and the assembled contigs (n = 70, 786; mean length = 836 nucleotides) were deposited in a new publicly available relational database called PocilloporaBase http://www.PocilloporaBase.org. Using BLASTX, 47.2% of the contigs were found to match a sequence in the NCBI database at an E-value threshold of ≤.001; 93.6% of those contigs with matches in the NCBI database appear to be of metazoan origin and 2.3% bacterial origin, while most of the remaining 4.1% match to other eukaryotes, including algae and amoebae.ConclusionsP. damicornis now joins the handful of coral species for which extensive transcriptomic data are publicly available. Through PocilloporaBase http://www.PocilloporaBase.org, one can obtain assembled contigs and raw reads and query the data according to a wide assortment of attributes including taxonomic origin, PFAM motif, KEGG pathway, and GO annotation.

A new guest in Ilıca Bay (Çeşme–Izmir–Turkey), Coscinospira acicularis

Indo-Pacific originated foraminifera species Coscinospira acicularis individuals were found among a rich peneroplid assemblage around a submarine spring in Ilica Bay on the west coast of Karaburun Peninsula (Izmir, Turkey). This constitutes the first observation of this species in the Mediterranean. The submarine spring is located at a depth of 2.5 m and has a temperature of 28.4°C. It is possible that the special ecological conditions created by the warm waters of the spring might have enhanced the establishment of this thermophilic species. Although the Suez Canal is considered to be the major vector for the introduction of Indo-Pacific species into the Mediterranean, its abundance in Ilica Bay and lack of observation on the eastern Mediterranean coasts suggests that shipping is the most probable mode of introduction for this species.

Notes on Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Southern Mozambique, with the Description of a New Species

The Caecidae found in shallow water sediment samples in Inhaca Island and Maputo Bay are described and illustrated. Three species are recorded: Caecum chinense, which is the most common; Caecum sepimentum, which was represented by a couple of specimens only; and Caecum inhacaense, a new species here described. The operculum of C. chinense is described and illustrated by SEM for the first time. The type specimens of the Indo-Pacific species Caecum amputatum Hedley, 1899, C. attenuatum Folin, 1879, C. berberense Ladd, 1972, C. chinense Folin, 1868, C. sepimentum Folin, 1868, C. maculatum Habe, 1963 and C. vertebrale Hedley, 1899 are illustrated. C. maculatum and C. berberense are newly synonymised under Caecum sepimentum.

Crocodilian phylogeny inferred from twelve mitochondrial protein-coding genes, with new complete mitochondrial genomic sequences for Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus novaeguineae

We report complete mitochondrial genomic sequences for Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus novaeguineae, whose gene orders match those of other crocodilians. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes support monophyly of two crocodilian taxonomic families, Alligatoridae (genera Alligator, Caiman, and Paleosuchus) and Crocodylidae (genera Crocodylus, Gavialis, Mecistops, Osteolaemus, and Tomistoma). Our results are consistent with monophyly of all crocodilian genera. Within Alligatoridae, genus Alligator is the sister taxon of a clade comprising Caiman and Paleosuchus. Within Crocodylidae, the basal phylogenetic split separates a clade comprising Gavialis and Tomistoma from a clade comprising Crocodylus, Mecistops, and Osteolaemus. Mecistops and Osteolaemus form the sister taxon to Crocodylus. Within Crocodylus, we sampled five Indopacific species, whose phylogenetic ordering is (( C. mindorensis, C. novaeguineae), ( C. porosus, ( C. siamensis, C. palustris))). The African species C. niloticus and New World species C. acutus form the sister taxon to the Indopacific species, although our sampling lacks three other New World species and an Australian species of Crocodylus.

Molecular and morphological evidence for the taxonomic status of a newly reported species of Albula (Albuliformes: Albulidae) from Korea and Taiwan

To clarify the taxonomic status of five specimens of Albula collected from Korea and Taiwan (Albula sp.), genetic differences among them and other congeneric species were investigated based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences. All five specimens of Albula sp. showed identical haplotypes and strongly supported a monophyletic group on phylogenetic analysis. The genetic differences between Albula sp. and ten other species of Albula ranged from 0.100 to 0.164. These values were almost equal to or exceeded the interspecific differences among the latter ten species (0.038–0.206). Morphological comparisons of Albula sp. and another four Indo-Pacific species, A. argentea, A. glossodonta, A. oligolepis and A. virgata, are also presented. Albula sp. could be distinguished from the latter four species in their numbers of pored lateral-line scales, anal fin rays and vertebrae, as well as in several proportional measurements.

A new species of deep-sea Dendronotus Alder &amp; Hancock (Mollusca:Nudibranchia) from California, with an expanded phylogeny of the genus

Dendronotus patricki, sp. nov. is a new species collected from a whalefall in the Monterey Canyon, California. This new species is characterised by having a small number of dorsal appendages compared with similarly sized species of Dendronotus Alder &amp; Hancock, 1845. Anatomically, D. patricki, sp. nov. has a small prostate with just a few alveoli, a very small seminal receptacle situated near the distal end of the vagina, and a relatively short and small ampulla. The rachidian radular teeth of D. patricki, sp. nov. are unique among Dendronotus as they have a well differentiated, conical cusp with very small denticles on either side, but most denticles are located on the sides of the teeth, rather than on the sides of the cusp. Dendronotus patricki, sp. nov., is genetically distinct from other species of Dendronotus for which sequence data are available. A phylogenetic analysis of Dendronotus based on COI, 16S, and H3 sequence data reveals that D. patricki, sp. nov. forms a polytomy with Dendronotus orientalis (Baba, 1932) and a clade of the shallow temperate and cold water species. The tropical Indo-Pacific species D. regius Pola &amp; Stout, 2008 is the sister group to all other Dendronotus species.

First record of the Indo-Pacific slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus (Günther, 1874) (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) in the Mediterranean

The slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus was recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean near Tel-Aviv, Israel on 27 May 2011. This Indo-Pacific species evidently reached the Mediterranean by crossing the Suez Canal.

First record of Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea, Diadematidae) from Lebanon, Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean basin is facing a high invasion rate of mainly Indo-Pacific species entering through the Suez Canal. The needlespined urchin, Diadema setosum, was first documented in the Mediterranean in 2006 off southern Turkey. The new record of D. setosum in September 2009 represents the first evidence of its presence in Lebanese coastal waters.

Diversity of conotoxin types from Conus californicus reflects a diversity of prey types and a novel evolutionary history

Most species within the genus Conus are considered to be specialists in their consumption of prey, typically feeding on molluscs, vermiform invertebrates or fish, and employ peptide toxins to immobilize prey. Conus californicus Hinds 1844 atypically utilizes a wide range of food sources from all three groups. Using DNA- and protein-based methods, we analyzed the molecular diversity of C. californicus toxins and detected a correspondingly large number of conotoxin types. We identified cDNAs corresponding to seven known cysteine-frameworks containing over 40 individual inferred peptides. Additionally, we found a new framework (22) with six predicted peptide examples, along with two forms of a new peptide type of unusual length. Analysis of leader sequences allowed assignment to known superfamilies in only half of the cases, and several of these showed a framework that was not in congruence with the identified superfamily. Mass spectrometric examination of chromatographic fractions from whole venom served to identify peptides corresponding to a number of cDNAs, in several cases differing in their degree of posttranslational modification. This suggests differential or incomplete biochemical processing of these peptides. In general, it is difficult to fit conotoxins from C. californicus into established toxin classification schemes. We hypothesize that the novel structural modifications of individual peptides and their encoding genes reflect evolutionary adaptation to prey species of an unusually wide range as well as the large phylogenetic distance between C. californicus and Indo-Pacific species.

Combined analysis of four mitochondrial regions allowed the detection of several matrilineal lineages of the lessepsian fishFistularia commersoniiin the Mediterranean Sea

The bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii) is an Indo-Pacific species that in the last ten years colonized a large part of the Mediterranean basin. The aim of this study was to sequence some portions of the mitochondrial DNA (D-loop II, 16S, 12S and Cyt b) of this fish from different localities of the Mediterranean Sea, in order to evaluate the level of its genetic variability in this area. The genetic analysis performed on specimens from seven localities of Sardinia, Tunisia and Libya revealed the presence of at least five mitochondrial lineages. The results obtained, compared with previous studies, indicate that the use of a sufficient number of mitochondrial regions may allow a more accurate estimate of genetic variability in lessepsian invasions.

A Second Indo-Pacific Species of Thrissina

A Second Indo-Pacific Species of Thrissina

Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species

The 19 Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae) that live at or below 200 m are reviewed. Included are: Ophichthus aphotistos, O. brachynotopterus, O. echeloides, O. exourus, O. genie, O. kunaloa, O. megalops, O. mystacinus, O. serpentinus, O. urolophus, and nine new species which are described: O. alleni from 115–200 m off eastern Australia; O. aniptocheilos from 391–421 m off Tonga; O. congroides from 300 m off the Tuamotu Islands; O. hirritus from 600 m off the Seychelle Islands; O. humanni from 254–300 m off Vanuatu; O. ishiyamorum from 258–400 m off the Gulf of Aden, Somalia; O. lentiginosus from 400 m off Vanuatu and New Caledonia; O. microstictus from 362–450 m off Tonga, Fiji, and possibly New Caledonia; and O. tomioi from 300– 423 m off the Philippines, Marquesas, Fiji, and the Seychelle Islands. The range and depth distributions of the following are expanded to include: O. brachynotopterus to New Caledonia and Vanuatu between 541–580 m; O. mystacinus to Tonga, Fiji, and the Philippines between 371–824 m; and O. urolophus to Western Australia and Indonesia between 40– 420 m. An identification key is provided. Characteristics and the behavior of species of the subgenus Coecilophis, to which all treated species except O. aphotistos belong, is discussed. Ophichthys madagascariensis Fourmanoir (1961) is proposed to be a junior synonym of Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson 1848).