Marine Biological Museum Research Articles

First record of the hippolytid shrimp Hippolyteaustraliensis (Stimpson, 1860) (Crustacea, Decapoda) from China.

Two specimens of the genus Hippolyte were examined from the caridean collections of the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences. These specimens were captured in the South China Sea in 1987. Detailed inspection revealed that their morphological features closely match the (re)descriptions of Hippolyteaustraliensis, especially in the presence of a long, distinct lateral carina on the rostrum, a dorsally unarmed rostral border, and four prominent terminal spines on the dactylus of the last three pereiopods. The discovery of Hippolyteaustraliensis in Chinese waters represents a significant expansion of its geographic distribution from the South Pacific to the North Pacific. Furthermore, an additional taxonomical report of H.australiensis is provided since its retrieval in 2001.

Review of Ampharete Malmgren, 1866 (Annelida, Ampharetidae) from China

In this paper, the material of the genus Ampharete Malmgren, 1866 from China Seas (Annelida:Ampharetidae) deposited in the collections of the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) is reviewed and previous identifications reassessed. In total, four species were found among all specimens examined. Material previously attributed to A. acutifrons ( Grube, 1860 ) and A. arctica Malmgren, 1866 had been misidentified and is now confirmed as belonging to A. lindstroemi Hessle, 1917 and A. finmarchica ( Sars, 1865 ), respectively; the presence of A. falcata Eliason, 1955 is also confirmed; A. orientalis ( Annenkova, 1929 ) is recorded for the first time from China.

Review of the genus Loimia Malmgren, 1866 (Annelida, Terebellidae) from China seas with recognition of two new species based on integrative taxonomy.

Specimens of the genus Loimia (Annelida, Terebellidae) deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) together with materials newly collected from China seas were examined. Based on morphological comparisons and molecular analysis, some specimens collected from the coasts of Shandong province and Guangxi province were confirmed as two new Loimia species respectively (Loimia borealis sp. n. and Loimia macrobranchia sp. n.). Morphologically, L. borealis sp. n. is distinguished from previously known species of this genus by having seven equal sized ventral shields, with length five times the width; this species was retrieved as sister to the clades of Loimia arborea Moore, 1903 and Loimia bandera Hutchings, 1990 in the phylogenetic tree, which was reconstructed based on mitochondrial COI gene. Loimia macrobranchia sp. n. differs from congeners by the large size of its first pair of branchiae with a thick main stem and about 18 dendritic branches arranged in two levels. A key to identifying Loimia species found in Chinese seas is given.

Three species of Siphonalia Adams, 1863 (Gastropoda, Buccinidae) from China seas, with descriptions of two new species

Three species of Siphonalia A. Adams, 1863 collected from the East and South China Seas are described and illustrated. Species were identified during re-sorting of the Buccinidae collection in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao. Siphonal ia marybethi Parth, 1996, from South China Sea, is recorded from the coast of China for the first time. Siphonalia leei sp. nov., from off Kueishan Island, Taiwan Island, most closely resembles S. fusoides (Reeve, 1846), but differs from it in having a relatively small spire with a flattened profile, more recurved siphonal canal and much smaller adult shell size. In shape and sculpture S. nanshaensis sp. nov., from the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands), is most similar to S. mikado Melvill, 1888, but that species differs from it in having a more angulate teleoconch whorl with irregularly spaced spiral cords, less constricted shell base, and small parietal tooth on the inner lip.

New records of a genus and a species of Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cycloneritimorpha) from the South China Sea

A neritid species Vittina pennata (von Born, 1778) is reported for the first time from the South China Sea. This is also the first report of this genus from Chinese waters. The specimen was collected from the Sanya Harbor, Hainan Province, China and deposited in Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Detailed descriptions of its shell feature are presented. Differences between this species, Vittina coromandeliana and Neritina pulligera are compared and discussed.

Two species of Hyalinoecia Malmgren, 1867 (Polychaeta: Onuphidae) from the South China Sea, with the first record of Hyalinoecia papillata from China

A taxonomic study of Hyalinoecia species based on the materials deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) yielded two species: Hyalinoecia tubicola (Muller, 1776) and H. papillata Imajima, 1999. Both species were collected from the sandy bottoms in the northern South China Sea. Hyalinoecia tubicola is widely distributed from the coast of Guangdong Province southwards to the Xisha Islands. Hyalinoecia papillata is reported for the first time in the South China Sea. It differs from H. tubicola in having a prolonged, tongue-like prechaetal lobe with papillae along the lateral margins in the first parapodium (vs. auricular prechaetal lobe with smooth margins). The morphological description and illustration of both species are given.

Diversity of Sternaspidae (Annelida: Terebellida) in the South China Sea,with descriptions of four new species.

Sternaspidae is one of the most common groups of polychaetes in the South China Sea, where however, the knowledge of its diversity and distribution is insufficiently understood and reports of the European species Sternaspis scutata are misidentifications. Based on the examination of material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we made a comprehensive investigation on the sternaspid polychaetes in the northern South China Sea. Five species belonging to two genera are described: Petersenaspis salazari sp. nov., Sternaspis radiata sp. nov., S. spinosa Sluiter, 1882, S. sunae sp. nov. and S. wui sp. nov. A taxonomic key to ten species of Sternaspidae found in the South China Sea is provided.

A new species of Linopherus (Annelida, Amphinomidae) from Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.

Linopherus beibuwanensis sp. n. is described based on six specimens deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, collected from the Beibu Gulf (Tokin Gulf), South China Sea. The new species differs from all other Linopherus species by the shape of prostomium and caruncle. The posterior margin of prostomium is bilobed; the caruncle arises medially and confluently from the posterior margin of the prostomium, joining together with prostomium. A key to distinguish the known species of the genus is provided.

A new species of Lataxiena Jousseaume, 1883 (Gastropoda: Muricidae) from the East and South China Seas

A new muricid gastropod species, Lataxiena lutescena sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The new species was recognized during reidentification of the Muricidae collection in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao. The specimens of the new species were collected from the East and South China Seas off Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan Provinces. Lataxiena lutescena sp. nov. is similar to Lataxiena blosvillei (Deshayes, 1832) in general shape, but can be distinguished from the latter by the shell sculpture and radular characteristics. Lataxiena lutescena sp. nov. also resembles Lataxiena bombayana (Melvill, 1893), but differs from that species in the shell shape and anal notches and in lacking short spines on the shell.

Pseudoamphicteis sinensis sp. nov., a new species of Ampharetidae (Polychaeta) from China.

A new species of the ampharetid genus Pseudoamphicteis, P. sinensis sp. nov., is described based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao). The new species is widely distributed from depths of 7-103 m in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. It is distinguished from the only other known species of this genus Pseudoamphicteis papillosa Hutchings, 1977 by its grooved branchiae. The genus has not previously been reported from China.

Agononida Baba and de saint Laurent, 1996 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheoidea: Munididae) from Chinese waters

The present paper reports five species of squat lobster, genus Agononida Baba and de Saint Laurent, 1996, of which A. squamosa (Henderson, 1885) and A. cf. variabilis (Baba, 1988) were not previously reported in Chinese waters. All the specimens are kept in the Marine Biological Museum collection in the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao. To date, there have been 11 species of this genus recorded from China's seas. A key to those species is provided in this paper.

Three new records of deep-water goniasterids (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Goniasteridae) from China seas

In this paper, three deep-water species of the family Goniasteridae, Ceramaster misakiensis (Goto, 1914), Nymphaster arthrocnemis Fisher, 1913 and Pontioceramus grandis Fisher, 1911, are recorded for the first time from Chinese waters based on collections deposited in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The specimens examined were collected during the period 1956 to 1978 from the East China and South China Seas at depths of 184 to 472 m. Diagnosis, detailed figures, and the geographic distributions are provided. A revised list of Goniasteridae recorded from Chinese waters is proposed.

First report of the genus Lysippe Malmgren, 1866 (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) from Chinese waters

The ampharetid genus Lysippe Malmgren, 1866 is reported for the first time from Chinese waters. The identification was based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao). A new species, Lysippe trichobranchia sp. nov. is described. The new species is widely distributed in shallow waters of the Bohai Gulf, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea at depths of 10-40 m.

Two new species of Eunice Cuvier, 1817 (Polychaeta, Eunicidae) from the coral reefs of Hainan Island with a key to 16 species of Eunice from China seas.

A taxonomic study of Eunice species based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) including recently collected specimens from coastal regions of Hainan Island, yielded two new species: Eunice hainanensis n. sp. and E. carrerai n. sp. Both species were collected from dead coral rocks in the reefs of the coastal region of Hainan Island, northern South China Sea. Eunice hainanensis has translucent bidentate subacicular hooks and branchiae present over an extensive region of the body. Within the Eunice group possessing these characters, the new species highly resembles E. schizobranchia Claparède, 1870 in having a numerous chaetigers and a very late start of branchiae (348-570 chaetigers with branchiae from chaetigers 69-72 vs. 731 chaetigers with branchiae from chaetiger 67). However, the two species differ by the presence of the maxillary plate VI (MxVI) in the new species (vs. absent in the latter). Besides, E. hainanensis is much smaller (1.7-1.9 mm vs. 5 mm in maximal width). Eunice carrerai belongs to the Eunice group that has dark bidentate subacicular hooks and branchiae present over an extensive region of the body. It can be distinguished from similar congeners that have the branchiae starting from chaetigers 3-4 and prostomial appendages with moniliform articulations by a combination of characters such as the presence of MxVI, notopodial articulations limited to anterior chaetigers, peristomial cirri articulated and extending to anterior edge of first peristomial ring. A key to 16 species of Eunice identified from China seas in the material examined with notes on their distribution is provided. The major characters of these species are briefly summarized.

Review of Anobothrus (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) from China

We reviewed ampharetid genus Anobothrus Levinsen, 1884 in China seas based upon material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao). The genus includes A. glandularis (Hartmann-Schroder, 1965), A. gracilis (Malmgren, 1866), A. mironovi Jirkov, 2008 and A. nataliae (Jirkov, 2008). A. glandularis and A. mironovi are recorded for the first time in Chinese waters. A key to Chinese species of Anobothrus is given.

A new species of Nassarius (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from the western Pacific Ocean

This paper describes a new species of Nassarius from the South China Sea, which was recognized when re-sorting the collection of Nassariidae in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China. The shells were collected during several investigations, including the National Comprehensive Oceanic Survey in 1958-1959, and the China-Vietnam Co-Investigation on Marine Resource of the Beibu Gulf during 1959-1962. The morphology of the shell and the radula places the new species of Nassarius within the subgenus Zeuxis. It is named Nassarius (Zeuxis) nanhaiensis sp. nov.

Two new records of Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from China seas

This paper reports two species of the family Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia), Otopleura nitida (A. Adams, 1854) and Rugadentia manzakiana (Yokoyama, 1922). The former was from the South China Sea and the latter was from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The study was based on the collections deposited in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is for the first time that these species have been recorded in China seas. In the current contribution, we describe and illustrate these two species, and compare them with similar species.

A new species and new recorded species of Lumbrineridae Schmarda, 1861 (Annelida: Polychaeta) from China

Based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao), a new species, Lumbrineris sinensis sp. nov, as well as Augeneria albidentata (Ehlers, 1908), which is recorded for the first time from coastal water of China, are reported in the present paper. The specimens examined were collected during 1958 to 1960 from the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea at depths of 4 to 182 m.

Eranno carrerai sp. nov., a new polychaete worm (Lumbrineridae) from coastal waters of China

In this paper, a new polychaete species, Eranno carrerai sp. nov. from coastal areas of China, is described based on specimens deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, collected during 1957 to 1976 from the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea at depths of 9–210 m.

Reports of Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from Chinese waters, with descriptions of two new species

Eighteen species of the galatheid genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 from Chinese waters are reported in the present paper based on material in the collection of the Marine Biological Museum (MBM) in the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao (IOCAS), including two new species (G. babai n. sp., G. sinensis n. sp.) and eight species new to Chinese waters (G. anepipoda Baba, 1990, G. consobrina De Man, 1902, G. coralliophilus Baba & Oh, 1990, G. guttata Osawa, 2004, G. inconspicua Henderson, 1885, G. pilosa De Man, 1888, G. ternatensis De Man, 1902, and G. whiteleggii Grant & McCulloch, 1906). Galathea babai n. sp. can be distinguished from all the other congeneric species by the presence of a strong median protogastric spine. Galathea sinensis is distinguished from its nearest congener, G. multilineata, by having more numerous transverse striae on the carapace, the lateral margin of the carapace with only one instead of four spines behind the posterior cervical groove, the P1 fingers distally ending in incurved spines that cross when occluded (instead of being spooned), and a much shorter cheliped (especially the carpus length relative to breadth). To date, 26 species of Galathea Fabricius, 1793 have been recorded from Chinese waters, including the two new species.