Methyl Green Staining Pattern Research Articles

Description of a new Promastobranchus species (Annelida, Capitellidae) from Chinese coasts, with molecular evidence for intraspecific variation in the number of thoracic chaetigers.

Promastobranchus Gallardo, 1968 is a small genus in the polychaete family Capitellidae, and the available records are largely reported from the Indo-West Pacific region. Although Gallardo (1968) and Green (2002) noted that Promastobranchus species had intraspecific variation in the number of thoracic chaetigers when they described the two previously known species, this variation has not been corroborated using molecular evidence. In this study, a new Promastobranchus species, Promastobranchusvariabilissp. nov., is described based on 29 specimens collected from the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. The new species is mainly characterized by having a tessellated epithelium in the anterior thorax, nine teeth in three rows above the main fang in the abdominal hooks, four pairs of genital pores located on the intersegmental grooves between chaetigers 9 and 13, and its unique methyl green staining pattern. Comparisons of multiple gene markers (16S, 18S, 28S, and H3) revealed no genetic divergence (K2P < 0.003) among these type specimens with 9-13 thoracic chaetigers. In other words, the new species exhibited morphological variability in the number of thoracic chaetigers during ontogeny, and this character was unsuitable to differentiate Promastobranchus species as the ranges overlap among Promastobranchus species. This is the third Promastobranchus species known in the world, and it is now recorded along the Fujian coast.

Notomastusbermejoi, a new species of Capitellidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from the Gulf of California, with morphological remarks on species with hooks in thoracic chaetigers.

Notomastusbermejoi sp. nov. from the Gulf of California shelf is described, illustrated, and compared with its congeners bearing hooded hooks in thoracic chaetigers. This new species is characterized by the presence of a prostomial palpode, only notopodia in the first chaetiger, hooded hooks in neuropodia of chaetiger 11, and its distinct methyl green staining pattern consisting of: chaetigers 1-4 slightly stained, chaetigers 5-10 with green bands encircling the segments, and a darker, solid, green band encircling the body in chaetigers 11-12. It is mainly distributed in the central Gulf of California in fine sand bottoms (62-96%) at 32-106.4 m depth, tolerating a wide range of temperature (13.2-17.59 °C), dissolved oxygen (0.8-4.93 ml/L), and organic carbon (3.0-7.2%). The type material and original descriptions of Notomastus species with hooks in thoracic chaetigers were examined; an identification key and tables with morphological distinctive characteristics, methyl green staining patterns, and geographic distribution of these close species are provided.

Two new deep-sea species of Capitella (Annelida: Capitellidae) from sunken wood in the Northeast Pacific.

Natural and experimental wood falls harbor a rich and abundant macrofaunal community in the deep-sea. Two undescribed capitellids have been collected from wood species bundles deployed at 3,100 m at the Deadwood 2 site in Monterey Bay and several other locations in the northeastern Pacific. Capitella blakei sp. nov. is a widely distributed deep-sea capitellid in the northeastern Pacific occurring from the Monterey canyon north to the Endeavour segment of the San Juan de Fuca Ridge, a range of almost 1,400 km. It belongs to a group of Capitella species having only individuals with male external characteristics, chaetigers 17 with notopodial and neuropodial capillaries and is readily distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a peristomium clearly separated from prostomium, deep lateral and ventral grooves, and methyl green staining pattern. Capitella multibranchiata sp. nov. is unique in the genus by the presence of branchiae on abdominal notopodial and neuropodial segments. The adult morphology of both species is described and compared to their most apparently related congeners. Our results have shown a greater diversity of deep-sea Capitella than previously known. The wide geographical distribution of C. blakei sp. nov. on wood habitats indicates that these wood falls may be functioning as ecological and evolutionary stepping-stones between the enriched sediments of vents and seeps.

Two new species of Protocirrineris (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae) from Brazil

Introduction: Brazil has more than 8 000 km of coastline but its marine invertebrates are still poorly known. The cirratulid polychaetes have been an especially neglected group because of its challenging taxonomy. Objective: to describe a new species of Protocirrineris. Methods: In a recent survey in two of the largest Brazilian bays, Todos os Santos Bay and Camamu Bay, 84 specimens of four morphotypes of the multitentaculate genus Protocirrineris were collected. Because of the lack of modified chaetae, the taxonomy of Protocirrineris is challenging and only two of these morphotypes are herein described as new species. Results: These two new species are characterized by having tentacular filaments in two groups over chaetigers 3-4 and first branchiae present from chaetiger 1. They differ from each other in relation to the nature of the achaetigerous region, posterior region, ultrastructure of capillary chaetae and methyl green staining pattern. Two incomplete specimens are also considered as Protocirrineris, and brief descriptions are given. Conclusions: The genus Protocirrineris is cited for the first time in Brazil. Four new morphotypes were found in two large estuaries of Brazil, and two new species are formally described.

Timareteposteria, a new cirratulid species from Korea (Annelida, Polychaeta, Cirratulidae).

A new cirratulid species, Timareteposteriasp. n., is described from the intertidal habitats of the eastern coast of South Korea. The new species is closely related to Timareteluxuriosa (Moore, 1904) from southern California based on morphological similarity of the branchial and tentacular finalents and the noto- and neuropodial spines. However, T.posteriasp. n. differs from the latter based on the following characteristics: 1) evenly divided peristomium into three annulations; 2) 2–4 neuropodial spines originating in the posterior chaetigers alternated by a few capillaries; and 3) complete shift in branchial finalents located about one-third between the notopodium and the dorsal midline. The new species has a methyl green staining pattern (MGSP) distinct from other Timarete species. Detailed description and illustrations of the new species are provided with molecular information based on the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S). This study also includes a key and discussion of known Timarete species from East Asia.

Two new species of Aphelochaeta (Annelida: Polychaeta: Cirratulidae)from Korean waters.

Two new cirratulid polychaetes of the genus Aphelochaeta collected from Korean waters are reported here along with detailed descriptions and illustrations. Aphelochaeta petila n. sp. is readily distinguished from its congeners by the following characteristics: non-expanded anterior and posterior ends of the body; non-moniliform segments in the abdomen; peristomium with three annulations and an indistinct dorsal crest; both the dorsal tentacles and the first branchiae attached on the peristomium; presence of only a pair of branchiae on chaetiger 1; and the ventrum of the thoracic region with transverse dark blue stripes on the chaetigers 6-16 with methyl green staining. Aphelochaeta intinctoria n. sp. is characterized by a combination of the following features: a rounded prostomium; a peristomium with a dorsal crest; a non-expanded thoracic region; dorsal tentacles on the peristomium and the first pair of branchiae on chaetiger 1; and the thoracic region lacking a distinct methyl green staining pattern. These two new species from Korean waters also differ in details of chaetal ultrastructure.

A new species of Decamastus Hartman, 1963 (Polychaeta: Capitellidae) from the Gulf of California, with remarks on its habitat

This is the first report of Decamastus Hartman, 1963 in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, since two previous records were misidentified. Based on individuals from the continental shelf of the Gulf of California, Decamastus okuilin sp. n. is described, illustrated, and compared with the other species of the genus. The new species can be distinguished by the presence of a palpode in the anterior end of the prostomium, the first chaetiger bearing only notopodia, abdominal hooded hooks with more than 20 small teeth arranged in at least four rows above the main fang, and a methyl green staining pattern characterized by a uniformly light green staining in chaetigers 7–10 and dark speckles encircling segments in chaetigers 11 and 12. Its habitat is characterized by variations in dissolved oxygen, depth (44 to 94 m), and sandy bottoms. The methyl green staining pattern of D. gracilis Hartman, 1963, the other species found in the Pacific, is also described and illustrated.

Cosmopolitan or Cryptic Species? A Case Study of Capitella teleta (Annelida: Capitellidae).

Capitella teleta Blake et al., 2009 is an opportunistic capitellid originally described from Massachusetts (USA), but also reported from the Mediterranean, NW Atlantic, and North Pacific, including Japan. This putatively wide distribution had not been tested with DNA sequence data; intraspecific variation in morphological characters diagnostic for the species had not been assessed with specimens from non-type localities, and the species status of the Japanese population(s) was uncertain. We examined the morphology and mitochondrial COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) gene sequences of Capitella specimens from two localities (Ainan and Gamo) in Japan. Specimens from Ainan and Gamo differed from C. teleta from Massachusetts in methyl-green staining pattern, shape of the genital spines, and shape of the capillary chaetae; we concluded that these characters vary intraspecifically. Species delimitation analyses of COI sequences suggested that worms from Ainan and Massachusetts represent C. teleta; these populations share a COI haplotype. The specimens from Gamo may represent a distinct species and comprise a sister group to C. teleta s. str.; we refer to the Gamo population as Capitella aff. teleta. The average Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distance between C. teleta s. str. and C. aff. teleta was 3.7%. The COI data indicate that C. teleta actually occurs in both the NW Atlantic and NW Pacific. Given the short planktonic larval duration of C. teleta, this broad distribution may have resulted from anthropogenic dispersal.

The genusNotomastus(Polychaeta: Capitellidae) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, with the description of three new species

Several surveys of polychaetes from intertidal and deep water habitats in the Gulf of California, Mexico have yielded nine species of Notomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae), three being undescribed species: Notomastus landini n. sp., Notomastus lobulatus n. sp. and Notomastus fauchaldi n. sp. Standardized descriptions are provided for all species including details of epithelial texture, position of lateral organs, shape of noto-and neuropodial lobes, the shape of hooded hooks and the methyl green staining pattern. In addition, a key to all Notomastus species included in the Gulf of California is provided.

The description of a new species Polymastigos javaensis n.sp. (Annelida: Capitellidae) from the Segara Anakan mangroves, Central Java, Indonesia.

A new species, Polymastigos javaensis n. sp., is described from sandy clay sediment (0-30 cm depth) of the Segara Anakan mangroves. The species is described based on the distribution of capillaries and hooks, and the form of the prostomium, thorax, abdomen, lateral organs, genital pores, branchiae and pygidium. Methyl green staining pattern was applied to examine the similarity between the material of this study and Green's material. Polymastigos javaensis n. sp. is the second species belonging to the genus Polymastigos, after P. reishi Green, 2002. It differs from P. reishi in the form of abdominal segments and hooks, and the methyl green staining pattern. A key to distinguish the two species is provided in this paper.

A new species and two new records of Cirratulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Guam, Mariana Islands

Polychaetes from the Mariana Islands of Guam and Saipan have been characterized in previous studies but a thorough taxonomic study of the cirratulids has only been possible recently. Here we report on two new records,Caulleriella pacificaandChaetozone flagellifera, and a new species,Monticellina lueldredgei, sp. nov. The speciesC. pacificais newly recorded for the western Pacific whileC. flagelliferais reported for the first time since its original description. The new speciesM. lueldredgeiis unique in the genus with respect to the ultrastructure and segmental origin of the modified capillaries as well as for the distinctive methyl green staining pattern.

A new species of Protocirrineris (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae) from Hawaii including a redescription of the New Zealand Protocirrineris nuchalis

Protocirrineris mascaratus sp. nov., is described from intertidal reef flats in Oahu, Hawaii. It is unique among its congeners by the segmental origin of the feeding tentacles and branchiae in addition to the very distinct methyl green staining pattern on the anterior end. A redescription of Protocirrineris nuchalis based on syntypes and a comparative table of all valid species within Protocirrineris is presented.

Bitentaculate Cirratulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the northwestern Pacific Islands with description of nine new species.

Thirteen cirratulid species from the Hawaiian, Mariana and Marshall Islands are described. Nine species are new to science: Aphelochaeta arizonae sp. nov., Aphelochaeta honouliuli sp. nov., Caulleriella cordiformia sp. nov., Chaetozone michellae sp. nov., Chaetozone ronaldi sp. nov., Monticellina anterobranchiata sp. nov., Monticellina hanaumaensis sp. nov., and Tharyx tumulosa sp. nov., from Oahu, Hawaii and Aphelochaeta saipanensis sp. nov., from Saipan in the Mariana Islands. Dodecaceria fewkesi and Monticellina nr. cryptica are newly recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. Dodecaceria laddi is widely distributed in the western Pacific and material collected from the Hawaiian, Mariana and Marshall islands is described. We provide SEM photographs for all species in addition to line drawings and methyl green staining pattern photographs for the new species.

Generic revision of &lt;em&gt;Notodasus&lt;/em&gt; Fauchald, 1972 (Polychaeta: Capitellidae) with descriptions of four new species from the coasts of Mexico

The capitellid genus Notodasus Fauchald, 1972 is emended and its previously known species are redescribed. Since the original descriptions of N. magnus Fauchald, 1972, N. dexterae Fauchald, 1973, and N. arenicola Hartmann-Schroder, 1992 omitted important morphological details and were either incomplete or misleading, these species are redescribed based upon examination of type materials. Four new species are described from tropical localities in Mexico: Notodasus harrisae n. sp., N. hartmanae n. sp., N. kristiani n. sp. and N. salazari n. sp. Standardised descriptions are provided for all species including the methyl green staining pattern, the epithelial texture and the shape of hooded hooks. A key for all described species is provided.

&lt;p class="HeadingRunIn"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Two new species of &lt;em&gt;Aphelochaeta &lt;/em&gt;(Polychaeta: Cirratulidae) from deep water off northern California&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Two new species belonging to the genus Aphelochaeta (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae) are described from continental slope sediments off northern California. Specimens were collected during extensive monitoring of the San Francisco Deep Ocean Disposal Site off the Farallon Islands from 1996 to 2004. The genus Aphelochaeta is one of the more speciose genera collected from depths of 2400–3200 m. A. bullata sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of four peristomial annulations, a pronounced dorsal crest, and elongated, natatory-like simple capillaries in the noto- and neuropodia of the thoracic region. A. guttata sp. nov. has a unique methyl green staining pattern consisting of speckles all over the body, thoracic segments that are swollen ventrally, and weakly inflated posterior segments. Comparison is made with the type species A. monilaris (Hartman, 1960) and other continental shelf and slope species from California. Morphological characters important for differentiation of these species are discussed; these include characters related to the peristomium, shape of abdominal segments and methyl green staining patterns. The generic definition is emended to include numbers of asetigerous peristomial annulations.

&lt;p class="HeadingRunIn"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Capitella teleta&lt;/em&gt;, a new species designation for the opportunistic and experimental &lt;em&gt;Capitella&lt;/em&gt; sp. I, with a review of the literature for confirmed records&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

This paper provides a morphological description of Capitella teleta sp. nov., an opportunistic capitellid that is also commonly used as an experimental polychaete under the provisional designation Capitella sp. I. The species is widely distributed along the east and west coasts of North America and also reported from Japan and the Mediterranean. The species belongs to a group having distinct sexual dimorphism, yet with hermaphrodites occurring under certain conditions. Morphologically, C. teleta has a long, narrow body, with all thoracic segments similar except for sexual modifications on setigers 8–9; the prostomium/peristomium combined are long, narrow and about 2.5 times as long as setiger 1. Capillary setae are present in noto- and neuropodia of setigers 1–7; setigers 8–9 have hooded hooks in noto- and neuropodia of females; genital spines replace notopodial hooks in males. A methyl green staining pattern is limited to some thoracic setigers of females; males lack a distinct staining pattern. The cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequence is presented. Relationships of C. teleta with the type-species, C. capitata and other known species including siblings identified in laboratory culture are discussed. The syntype of Ancistria acuta Verrill, 1874, the only known species of Capitella described from New England was examined and determined to be incertae sedis. C. teleta is a highly opportunistic species and appears to be the same as the C. capitata identified from southern California as the “polluted zone indicator” by D.J. Reish in the late 1950s. An appendix with over 200 published references to research conducted on C. teleta is included.

Revision of Chone Krøyer, 1856 (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) from the eastern central Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea with descriptions of two new species

A neotype specimen is designated for Chone acustica (Claparede, 1870) with a full description. The original descriptions of Chone arenicola Langerhans, 1880 and Chone collaris Langerhans, 1880, both from Madeira, did not include some details and incomplete or misleading information was provided, so both species are redescribed. Amendments to the description of Chone longiseta Giangrande, 1992 are also given together with the methyl green staining pattern of Chone usticensis Giangrande et al. 2006. Two new species are described: Chone gambiae sp. nov., from the Gulf of Naples and Chone dunerificta sp. nov., from the Gulf of Salerno. This study shows the distribution of Chone duneri Kroyer, 1856, and Chone filicaudata Southern, 1914, to be restricted to the Arctic seas and North Atlantic Ocean, respectively. Records from the Mediterranean Sea are found to be erroneous.

New species and records of deep-water Cirratulidae (Polychaeta) from off Northern California

Polychaetes of the family Cirratulidae are among the most important macrofaunal invertebrates in deep-sea benthic communities off northern California. The genus Chaetozone includes several species that are among the dominant species in depths of 2400-3200 m. Four of the most common species of Chaetozone are described in this paper. Of these four species, only C. spinosa Moore, 1903 has been previously described. Three other species are new to science. C. brunnea , n. sp. has a short, triangular-shaped prostomium, brown body colour, and an enlarged “stomach” which distends the body in a characteristic pattern. C. allanotai , n. sp. has a unique methyl green staining pattern that provides a means to readily identify juveniles and fragmented adults. A third new species, C. palaea , n. sp has posterior spines that are unusually broad, providing a spectacular armature. These species are compared with the type species, C. setosa from the Arctic. New details concerning segmentation of the anterior end, morphology of the nuchal organs, and posterior spines, represent a suite of characters that, in combination, will be used in a phylogenetic analysis of cirratulid polychaetes.

Opheliidae (Polychaeta) collected by the R/V &lt;em&gt;Hero&lt;/em&gt; and the USNS &lt;em&gt;Eltanin&lt;/em&gt; cruises from the Southern Ocean and South America

Opheliid polychaetes collected by the United States Antarctic Research Program and additional material from South America were made available for study through the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA. The Opheliidae from Antarctic seas were treated by Hartman (1966, 1967, 1978), who summarized earlier work and also described several new species. Of the five genera she recorded, two ( Travisia and Kesun ) have since been synonymized and one, Ammotrypane, has been referred to Ophelina ; Hartman’s records therefore encompass four genera, three of which are represented in the present collections. No representatives of Euzonus ( Thoracophelia ) were found. The following species were recorded from Antarctica in the present study: Ophelia algida n. sp., Ophelina breviata (Ehlers, 1913), Ophelina cf. cylindricaudata (sensu Hartmann-Schroder and Rosenfeldt, 1989), Ophelina nematoides (Ehlers, 1913), Ophelina scaphigera (Ehlers, 1900), Ophelina cf. setigera (Hartman, 1978), Ophelina syringopyge (Ehlers, 1901), Travisia antarctica Hartman, 1967 (emended 1978), Travisia kerguelensis McIntosh, 1885, Travisia kerguelensis gravieri Monro, 1930, Travisia palmeri n. sp. and Travisia tincta n. sp. The new species of Ophelia is distinguished by having branchiae starting on chaetiger 2 (rather than on or after chaetiger 8 as in most species of this genus). Travisia palmeri has 22 chaetigers and is distinguished by long branchiae. Travisia kerguelensis gravieri is raised to full species status and renamed T. monroi . Travisia tincta n. sp., distinguished by a distinctive Methyl Green staining pattern and long branchiae, is described from off Peru.