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| Endolobactis simoesii González-Muñoz, Rodríguez, Durán-Fuentes & Acuña, 2025 |
Abstract
A new genus and species of sea anemone belonging to the family Actiniidae, Endolobactis simoesii gen. et sp. nov., is described. A comprehensive description is provided, including information on its external and internal anatomical features, cnidome, and size ranges and distribution of cnidae, accompanied by images of live specimens and their histological characteristics. The most distinctive feature of E. simoesii gen. et sp. nov. is the frond-like marginal projections located on exclusively endocoelic lobes. This contrasts with other genera in Actiniidae that exhibit similar marginal projections, which are commonly referred to as a “marginal ruff.” In addition, E. simoesii gen. et sp. nov. has more mesenteries proximally than distally. These and other differences between E. simoesii gen. et sp. nov. and other genera within Actiniidae with similar features are discussed in detail. With the inclusion of E. simoesii gen. et sp. nov., the number of documented sea anemone species along the Mexican Atlantic coast increases to 24.
Coelenterata, Actiniidae, sea anemone, Endolobactis simoesii
Endolobactis simoesii gen. et sp. nov.
Ricardo GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ, Estefanía RODRÍGUEZ, Jefersón DURÁN-FUENTES and Fabián H. ACUÑA. 2025. Endolobactis simoesii gen. et sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Actiniaria), A New Species of Sea Anemone from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Zootaxa. 5722(3); 391-407. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5722.3.5 [2025-11-20]
