Redescription of Pelagia benovici into a new jellyfish genus, Mawia, gen. nov., and its phylogenetic position within Pelagiidae (Cnidaria : Scyphozoa : Semaeostomeae)

Abstract

This study provides new and additional data on morphology and a phylogenetic analysis of the recently described species Pelagia benovici Piraino, Aglieri, Scorrano & Boero, 2014 from the Northern Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea). Comprehensive morphological analyses of diagnostic characters, of which the most significant are marginal tentacles anatomy, basal pillars, gonad pattern, subgenital ostia and exumbrellar sensory pits, revealed significant differences from the currently known genera Sanderia, Chrysaora and Pelagia in the family Pelagiidae. A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA) and nuclear ribosomal genes (28S rRNA, ITS1/ITS2 regions), together with cladistic analysis of morphological characters, positioned Pelagia benovici as a sister taxon with Sanderia malayensis, and both share a common ancestor with Chrysaora hysoscella. Pelagia benovici does not share a direct common ancestor with the genus Pelagia, and thus we propose it should not belong to this genus. Therefore, a new genus Mawia, gen. nov. (Semaeostomeae : Pelagiidae) is described, and Pelagia benovici is renamed as Mawia benovici, comb, nov.

Peer Review #1 of "Multigene phylogeny of the scyphozoan jellyfish family Pelagiidae reveals that the common U.S. Atlantic sea nettle comprises two distinct species (Chrysaora quinquecirrha and C. chesapeakei) (v0.1)"

“…That notwithstanding, in agreement with both Piraino et al 2014and Avian et al (2016), our analyses show M. benovici to be a close relative of Sanderia malayensis (Figures 4-7). Given the stark morphological differences between Sanderia and Mawia (Piraino et al 2014;Avian et al 2016), this relationship is more than a bit surprising. Our working hypothesis for the relationships within Pelagiidae (Figure 7, 9 Manuscript to be reviewed molecular data (Dawson & Martin 2001;Dawson 2003;.…”

“…Based on established generic definitions, Piraino et al (2014) placed an undescribed, presumably non-indigenous Mediterranean pelagiid, Pelagia benovici, in the genus Pelagia. However, Avian et al (2016) created the novel genus Mawia for this new species (Mawia benovici) based on fine-scale morphological characters (tentacle, gonad and basal pillar morphology) and molecular differences from other pelagiid genera included in a lightly sampled phylogenetic analysis of Pelagiidae. Not long after Agassiz erected Dactylometra, Dactylometra quinquecirrha served to cast doubt on pelagiid generic discrimination.…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed for a Dactylometra clade based on tentacle and lappet number, but noted that this would require many Chrysaora species to have their own genera. A robust phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships within Pelagiidae based on comprehensive taxon sampling is an important step toward removing taxonomic confusion at the genus and species-levels, including assessing the taxonomic status of the new genus Mawia (Avian et al 2016) and clarifying taxonomic questions related to C. quinquecirrha.…”

Uncertainties and validation of alien species catalogues: The Mediterranean as an example

“…Based on additional morphological and a phylogenetic data, Pelagia benovici Piraino, Aglieri, Scorrano & Boero, 2014, a jellyfish recently described from the Northern Adriatic, has been assigned to the genus Mawia [renamed as Mawia benovici (Piraino, Aglieri, Scorrano and Boero, 2014) (Avian et al, 2016)].…”

Multigene phylogeny of the scyphozoan jellyfish family Pelagiidae reveals that the common U.S. Atlantic sea nettle comprises two distinct species (Chrysaora quinquecirrhaandC. chesapeakei)

“…The geographically widespread mauve stinger ( Pelagia noctiluca ) forms dense aggregations that heavily impact aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism along the North Sea and Mediterranean Sea ( Canepa et al, 2014 ). Recently, a species found for the first time in the Mediterranean was described and assigned first to the genus Pelagia ( Piraino et al, 2014 ), but later to the novel genus Mawia , based on molecular and morphological data ( Avian et al, 2016 ). Blooms of the jellyfish Chrysaora fulgida (previously identified as Chrysaora hysoscella ) have increased over past decades in the Northern Benguela current on the west coast of Africa, coinciding with decreased fish catches and general breakdown of beneficial trophic interactions as compared to nearby ecosystems not jellyfish-dominated ( Lynam et al, 2006 ; Flynn et al, 2012 ; Roux et al, 2013 ).…”