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| Blastopathes medusa
Horowitz, Brugler, Bridge & Cowman, 2020
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Abstract
Blastopathes medusa gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, based on morphological and molecular data. Blastopathes, assigned to the Antipathidae, is a large, mythology-inspiring black coral characterized by clusters of elongate stem-like branches that extend out at their base and then curve upward. Colonies are not pinnulate and contain single branches, which could represent new branch cluster formations. Morphological and molecular (mitochondrial DNA and targeted capture of nuclear loci) evidence supporting the establishment of a new genus is discussed. This is the first study to utilize the target capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and exonic loci to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among black corals and to identify and place a new genus and species.
Keywords: taxonomy, systematics, ultraconserved elements, targeted capture, igrN, phylogeny, Kimbe Bay
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| FIGURE 2. Comparison A-B, branching characteristics of Allopathes denhartogi and Blastopathes medusa (A from A. denhartogi holotype RMNH Coel. 31293, B from Blastopathes medusa holotype MTQ G74904); comparison C-D, spine characteristics of A. denhartogi and B. medusa (C from A. denhartogi schizoholotype USNM 1014577, D from B. medusa holotype MTQ G74904). |
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| FIGURE 5. Blastopathes medusa holotype (MTQ G74904): A, branch cluster on stem; B, branch cluster on branch; C, branchlet on branch. |
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| FIGURE 8. Blastopathes medusa paratypes: A-C, in-situ images of colonies showing branch clusters (A from paratype MTQ G74911; B from paratype NMAG 1893; C from paratype MTQ G74913); D, paratype (MTQ G74912): section of terminal branch showing eight rows of compressed spines; E, paratype (NMAG 1893): section of branch showing polyp density and tentacle lengths. |
Jeremy Horowitz, Mercer R. Brugler, Tom C.L. Bridge and Peter F. Cowman. 2020. Morphological and Molecular Description of A New Genus and Species of Black Coral (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia: Antipathidae: Blastopathes) from Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa. 4821(3); 553–569. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4821.3.7
