Morphological and Molecular Revision of Zoanthus (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) from Southwestern Japan, with Descriptions of Two New Species

Abstract

No clear method of identifying species in the zoanthid genus Zoanthus has been established, due in part to the morphological plasticity of this genus (e.g., in polyp and colony form, oral disk color, tentacle number). Previous research utilizing the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) as a phylogenetic marker indicated that Zoanthus spp. in Japan may consist of only one or two species, despite a bewildering variety of observed morphotypes. Here we have utilized not only COI but also mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA (mt 16S rDNA) in order to clarify the extent of Zoanthus species diversity in southern Japan. Our molecular genetic results clearly show the presence of three monophyletic Zoanthus species groups with varying levels of morphological plasticity, including the new species Z. gigantus n. sp. and Z. kuroshio n. sp. We describe all three species found in this study, and identify potential morphological characters (coenenchyme and polyp structure as well as polyp external surface pigmentation patterns) useful in Zoanthus species identification. A morphological dichotomous key is provided to assist in field species identification.

Molecular diversity of coral reef-associated zoanthids off Qeshm Island, northern Persian Gulf

“…Initial identification was carried out based on in situ photographs ( Fig. 2) with the support of published literature (Burnett et al 1997;Ryland and Lancaster 2003;Reimer 2007;Reimer et al 2006a). …”

“…mutuki from Sphenopidae family. Of these three species, two are identified species which have been widely distributed in the western and eastern Pacific Ocean; i.e., Great Barrier Reef (Burnett et al 1997;Ryland and Lancaster 2003), New Caledonia (Sinniger 2006), Japan (Reimer et al 2004(Reimer et al , 2006aReimer 2007), Galapagos , Singapore (Reimer and Todd 2009) and Indian Ocean (Herberts 1972), while the remaining species, Palythoa cf. mutuki did not molecularly match with any of the previously reported sequences.…”

“…The mitochondrial markers have been successfully utilized in examining zoanthid taxa (Sinniger et al 2010). Applying mt16S rDNA as a DNA marker has aided in identification and reorganization of zoanthids species, genera and families (Reimer et al 2006a(Reimer et al , 2006b(Reimer et al , 2006cReimer and Todd 2009;Sinniger and Haussermann 2009;Sinniger et al 2010;Swain 2009).…”

Implications for different diversity levels of Symbiodinium spp. (Dinophyceae, Suessiales) within closely related hosts: zoanthids (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Anthozoa) as a case study

“…Much recent work has focused on understanding the diversity of zoanthids using molecular techniques (e.g., Reimer et al 2004;Sinniger et al 2005;Reimer et al 2007a). Zoanthus and Palythoa are commonly seen in the sub-tropical waters of southern Japan (Reimer et al 2006a(Reimer et al , 2007c.…”

Research activies of the Research Program for Marine Biology and Ecology from 2004 to 2008.

“…(Reimer et al, 2006a;2007a;2008a;Sinniger and Haeussermann, 2008). Additionally, we have developed several reliable markers, both nuclear and mitochondrial, along with zoanthid-specific primer sets, and begun large-scale investigations of worldwide zoanthid diversity (Reimer et al, 2008b;2009a;Reimer and Todd 2009).…”