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Title: | Carlgren’s hesitation allayed: Redescription and systematics of heteranthus verruculatus Klunzinger, 1877 (Cnidaria, Actiniaria), with a redefinition of Heteranthidae Carlgren, 1900 | Authors: | Liang Yap, N.W. Randolph Quek, Z.B. Tan, Ria Nugroho, Dharma Arif Lee, Jen Nie Berumen, Michael Lee Tan, Koh Siang Huang, Danwei |
Keywords: | Actinioidea Indo-west pacific Longitudinal fission Phymanthus Taxonomy Zooxanthellate |
Issue Date: | 27-Nov-2020 | Publisher: | Brill Academic Publishers | Citation: | Liang Yap, N.W., Randolph Quek, Z.B., Tan, Ria, Nugroho, Dharma Arif, Lee, Jen Nie, Berumen, Michael Lee, Tan, Koh Siang, Huang, Danwei (2020-11-27). Carlgren’s hesitation allayed: Redescription and systematics of heteranthus verruculatus Klunzinger, 1877 (Cnidaria, Actiniaria), with a redefinition of Heteranthidae Carlgren, 1900. Contributions to Zoology 90 (2) : 155-182. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10015 | Rights: | Attribution 4.0 International | Abstract: | Species boundaries delineating tropical sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) of the zooxanthellate genus, Heteranthus Klunzinger, 1877, are unclear. There are currently two valid Heteranthus species: type species Heteranthus verruculatus Klunzinger, 1877, first reported from Koseir, Egypt, and H. insignis Carlgren, 1943, from Poulo Condore, Vietnam. In describing the latter from a single, poorly preserved specimen, zoologist Oskar Carlgren expressed apprehension with traits he had used to establish this species. Carlgren’s doubts persisted later in writing when he found a similar-looking sea anemone from the Great Barrier Reef. Crucial details to positively identify either species have since remained limited. Here, we re-diagnosed Heteranthus and re-described its type species based on observations of specimens we have obtained from Singapore and Pulau Ambon (Indonesia), and of museum material collected elsewhere across the Indo-West Pacific region (n > 180). Supported by molecular phylogenetic evidence, the family Heteranthidae Carlgren, 1900 was reinstated and re-diagnosed. Heteranthus verruculatus is encountered in the lower intertidal region amongst seagrass, in rocky crevices, or coral rubble. It occurs as solitary individuals or in clonal clusters, well-camouflaged against the substratum. Individuals were observed to frequently propagate by longitudinal fission, resulting in a varied appearance. Type material of H. verruculatus and H. insignis were re-examined and as we found no differences between them, the two were synonymised. We inferred that Carlgren probably misinterpreted cnidae and histological data in defining H. insignis as a distinct species. This revision clarifies the taxonomy and geographic range of H. verruculatus, an Indo-West Pacific species that is found from the Red Sea to subtropical Australia and Hawaii. © Nicholas Wei Liang Yap et al., 2020. | Source Title: | Contributions to Zoology | URI: | https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/233794 | ISSN: | 1383-4517 | DOI: | 10.1163/18759866-bja10015 | Rights: | Attribution 4.0 International |
Appears in Collections: | Elements Staff Publications |
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