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

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...
Read more

Purwaceng (Pimpinella pruatjan)

Purwaceng or purwoceng or antanan gunung or Viagra of Java ( Pimpinella pruatjan or Pimpinella priatjan ) are small termas growing horizontally in Apiaceae, growing in villages on Dieng Plateau, Central Java Province, Indonesia, at 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level, the roots have medicinal properties for aphrodisiacs and are usually processed in powder form for a mixture of coffee or milk. P. pruatjan grows flat on the ground but does not propagate, small leaves are reddish green for 1-3 cm in diameter. This plant is only found in Java and grows in high mountain areas. A low population where industrial demand is very high results in increasingly scarce. Another place that is likely to become a purwaceng habitat is the Iyang Mountains and the Tengger Mountains in East Java Province. Efforts to multiply and cultivate have a big problem where these plants have difficulty producing seeds. In vitro propagation research through tissue cultivation has been carried out to overcome ...
Read more

Javanese grasshopper (Valanga nigricornis)

Wooden grasshopper or Javanese grasshopper ( Valanga nigricornis ) is an animal species of Acrididae, grasshoppers that have at least 18 subspecies, insects with very wide diversity in color and size, sexual dimorphism in which females are larger in size and paler in color. V. nigricornis in males has a length of 45-55 millimeters and females 15-75 mm. The head is square and green or yellow or brown or black in color. A pair of antennas has a black color. The eyes are large and gray or white or brownish. The hind legs are very large and have a green or yellow or brown or black color, plain or brindle. The limbs have two rows of large and long spines with black tips facing backward. The wings have a length exceeding the belly, a rough surface and are brown or green or yellow or black in color with pulse lines forming spaces filled with black color. The hind wings are rose red which will be visible when flying. Nymphs are pale green or yellow or brown or blackish in color. Javanese gr...
Read more