A new member of the genus Antarctonemertes (Hoplonemertea, Nemertea) from Antarctic waters

• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2298-1
• Publication Date: 2018-03-09T04:41:45Z
• Authors: Sergi Taboada; Carlos Leiva; Juan Junoy; Frances Alexander; Ana Riesgo
• Keywords: Hydrozoa; Cosmopolitan distribution

The phylum Nemertea is an important component of the benthic ecosystems Southern Ocean, but its biodiversity still relatively poorly known in Antarctic waters. There are few common and well-known nemertean species occurring shallow waters, these include congeneric Antarctonemertes valida (Bürger, 1893) riesgoae Taboada et al., 2013, two small brooding hoplonemerteans whose females lay eggs inside cocoons. A third member genus, belgica 1904), was reported only original description. Here we document existence a fourth genus originally described as Tetrastemma unilineatum Joubin, 1910. Our phylogenetic analysis resulted into placement new robustly supported clade –Antarctic Antarctonemertes– containing other (A. A. riesgoae), pairwise COI molecular distances between three ranged from 5.2 to 6.2% (p distance). 104 sequences showed star-like haplotype networks, studies on invertebrates. unilineata comb. nov. similar shape relatives most prominent morphological character dorsal mid-longitudinal band present along body. We also presence cocoon built by nov., shared with congeners analysed here. Although four appear overlap their distribution, riesgoae, sympatry West shores while has been mainly found East sub-Antarctic Islands.