Skip to main content

A gorgonian Nanji sea plume (Pseudopterogorgia nanjiensis) from subtidal zone of Nanji Islands

A gorgonian Nanji sea plume (Pseudopterogorgia nanjiensis) in subtidal zone of Nanji Islands

NEWS - During a benthic biodiversity expedition in the subtidal zone of the Nanji Islands in the East China Sea, researchers identified two specimens of Pseudopterogorgia as new species based on morphology and molecular features. Nanji sea plume (Pseudopterogorgia nanjiensis) most closely resembles P. fredericki in its irregular branching shape and unclear scaphoid.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on mtMutS-COI gene sequences, delineated a monophyletic clade that includes all species of Pseudopterogorgia. Within this clade, P. nanjiensis shows close phylogenetic affinity to P. fredericki Williams & Vennam 2001 and P. australiensis Ridley 1884.

Members of the genus Pseudopterogorgia Kükenthal 1919 are widely distributed in shallow waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The location of P. nanjiensis is in the intertidal zone of the Nanji Islands with a water depth of 14 meters. This species is named based on the type location of the Nanji Islands and the colonies attached to rocky substrates with a water temperature of 18C and pH 8.13.

The genus Pseudopterogorgia is characterized by a pinnate or irregular branching structure, the absence of anastomoses and C-shaped or scaphoid-like sclerites present in the coenenchyma. Based on the branching structure and sclerite shape, this specimen is undoubtedly included in this genus.

P. nanjiensis, P. fredericki and P. australiensis are characterized by the absence of anastomoses and the presence of scaphoid-like sclerites in the coenenchyma. However, P. nanjiensis can be distinguished from P. fredericki based on sclerite morphology and is easily distinguished from P. australiensis based on irregular branching shape.

The addition of the new species P. nanjiensis found in the Nanji Islands, so there are currently a total of 8 valid species in Pseudopterogorgia. The precise phylogenetic placement of the genus Pseudopterogorgia remains essentially equivocal, mainly due to the low support values assigned to the corresponding nodes in the mtMutS-COI tree.

The 28S rDNA tree shows high support values for most internal branches, but the systematic position of Pseudopterogorgia remains unresolved. This uncertainty arises from the inclusion of sequences representing only 7 of the total 13 genera currently recognized within Gorgoniidae and is further compounded by the fact that many of these genera show polyphyletic or paraphyletic relationships.

The authors therefore suggest the need for further genomic data to achieve greater resolution. Such data should include a more complete collection of 28S rDNA sequences and potentially include highly conserved elements plus exons (UCE+exons).

Original research

Sun T, Xu Y, Xu K, Chen S, Xie S, Zhan Z (2024). A new gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia nanjiensis sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Gorgoniidae) from the Nanji Islands, China. ZooKeys 1213: 237-249, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1213.126841

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Lolot (Piper sarmentosum)

Lolot pepper ( Piper sarmentosum ) is a species of plant in Piperaceae, perennial herb, erect or lodging, creeping rhizome, up to 120 cm long, branched, enlarged branches, cylindrical stems, brown or green, often grooved, growing on the forest floor and shade. P. sarmentosum has leaf stalks up to 15 cm long, up to 13 cm wide, green, alternately arranged, heart-shaped, pointed tips and flat margins. The leaves have 5 main veins from the base of the blade, linear and slightly curved to the tip, glands on the upper surface and many fine pinnate veins. The upper side is shiny green, the lower side is pale green. The flowers are white. The fruit grows in the upper armpit of the leaf, is slightly oval and green. The leaves are used as a medicine for asthma, malaria, stomach ache, tinea versicolor, toothache, difficulty urinating, aches and pains, maintaining stamina, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and so on. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiosperma...
Read more

East Indian globe thistle (Sphaeranthus indicus)

Gorakhmundi or gorakh mundi or mundi buti ka phool or mundi booti ka phool or sembung delan or East Indian globe thistle ( Sphaeranthus indicus ) is a species of plant in Asteroideae, a perennial, multi-branched, strong fragrance with erect stems, winged and toothed wings, growing wild in rice fields forming colonies, dense open rugs in the tropics. S. indicus has alternating sitting leaves, oval, narrow at the base, toothed and serrated, 1-3 cm long and green. Leaves 2-7 cm long, 1-3 wide, broad and deep wings, continuing into a large bone in the center of the leaf to a sharp tip and several lateral veins. The flower is round, grows at the tip, has a large and long stalk, is purple in color, 8-15 mm in size, consists of many tiny flowers, green or red or purple and has pale purple stamens. Head ovate-ellipsoid and 12-15 mm long. Phyllaries are white and have purple crest. Female flowers have a corolla tube 2-2.5 mm long. The bisexual flowers are 2.3-3 mm long and the hardened pa...
Read more

Sausage tree (Kigelia africana)

Sausage Tree ( Kigelia africana ) is a species of tree in the Bignoniaceae family, growing up to 24 meters tall with low, spreading branches. The bark is dark gray to light brown, up to 6 mm thick, scaly, creamy white underside, and the branches are marked with lenticels. The wood is light brown or yellowish. This tree grows at elevations of 0-3000 meters. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem and are divided into several pairs of minor leaflets and a single minor leaflet at the tip. Each leaflet is up to 50 cm long and has 3-6 pairs of opposite minor leaflets. The minor leaflets are oval to narrow and pointed, 7-20 cm long and 4-12 cm wide. The margins are smooth, sometimes slightly serrated. The upper side is glossy green, the underside pale green, smooth or finely hairy. The central vein is sunken on the upper side, with 7-12 pairs of prominent lateral veins visible below. The inflorescences hang from flexible branches up to 7.5 meters long. The flowers are bell-shap...
Read more