New Myzostomids (Annelida) in Symbiosis with Feather Stars in the Shallow Waters of the South China Sea (Hainan Island)

Abstract

This research delves into the molecular and morphological characteristics of myzostomid worms associated with common shallow-water feather stars (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulidae) in the coastal waters near Sanya, Hainan Island. Through the examination of specimens collected at depths of up to 10 m using scuba diving techniques, we describe three new species (Myzostoma ordinatum sp. nov., M. scopus sp. nov., and M. solare sp. nov.) and report the first record of Myzostoma polycyclus Atkins, 1927 in the South China Sea. The absence of overlap with the seven previously documented Myzostomida species in the shallow waters of Hong Kong and Shenzhen reveals significant gaps in our understanding of marine biodiversity in the South China Sea. These findings, combined with an analysis of available molecular data, underscore the potential existence of unexplored and diverse symbiotic relationships among marine invertebrates within the region.