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| Kodama jujutsu Reid, Sato, Jolly & Strugnell, 2023 |
Abstract
Two new pygmy squid from the Ryukyu archipelago, Japan, are described: Kodama jujutsu, n. gen., n. sp. and Idiosepius kijimuna, n. sp. They differ from all other nominal species in a combination of traits, including the number of tentacular club suckers, shape of the funnel-mantle locking-cartilage, modification of the male hectocotylus and the structure of the gladius and nuchal-locking cartilage, in addition to mitochondrial DNA markers (12S, 16S and COI). They are both known from Okinawa Island and there is some overlap in their distributions. In a molecular phylogeny that includes all nominal Idiosepiidae, Kodama jujutsu, n. gen., n. sp. is sister taxon to a clade containing Xipholeptos Reid & Strugnell, 2018 and Idiosepius Steenstrup, 1881. Xipholeptos and Idiosepius are sister taxa. Idiosepius spp. now includes seven nominal species. In addition, aspects of the behaviour of the new species are described.
Keywords: Pygmy squid, Kodama, Idiosepius, Idiosepius kijimuna, Kodama jujutsu, Ryukyu archipelago
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| Live Idiosepius kijimuna n. sp. attached to vegetation using dorsal adhesive pad. Photo by Brandon Hannan |
Idiosepius kijimuna n. sp.
Etymology: The species name is used for creatures in Okinawan mythology. The Kijimunā are said to be elfin creatures that make their home in the banyan trees that grow over the Ryukyu Archipelago. Their diet consists entirely of seafood and they are excellent fishers. They avoid octopuses at all costs. The name is used as a noun in apposition.
Kodama n. gen.
Etymology: The generic name Kodama refers to a tree spirit in Japanese folklore. It has a reputation of being rounded in shape. The presence of Kodama is a sign of a healthy forest. We have chosen this name to suggest its extension to representing a healthy reef.
Kodama jujutsu, n. sp.
Etymology: The specific name jujutsu is derived from the Japanese word jūjutsu that is a martial art of the same name, translating to ‘gentle art’. The goal of the sport is to control your opponents by grappling them. This pygmy squid has been seeing grappling shrimp in a similar fashion. The name is used as a noun in apposition.
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| Kodama jujutsu n. gen., n. sp. a–h, live animals photographed in the wild. i laboratory reared hatchling, dorsal view. j ventral view same specimen. The large white testis toward the posterior end of the mantle is clearly visible in images c, e and h. Prominent skin tags posterior to the eyes can be seen in c, e, g and h, and the nipple-like posterior tip of the mantle apparent in some postures is shown in a, c, and h. Curling and recurving the arms appears to be a common posture. Photos: a, c, d–h, © Shawn Miller; b © Brandon Hannan; i, j © Jeff Jolly |
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| Kodama jujutsu n. gen., n. sp. a stuck to a hydroid that is being consumed by the nudibranch Bornella anguilla. b side view and c antero-lateral foreshortened view, capturing ovigerous caridean shrimp. Photos: © Brandon Hannan |
Amanda Reid, Noriyosi Sato, Jeffrey Jolly & Jan Strugnell. 2023. Two New Pygmy Squids, Idiosepius kijimuna n. sp. and Kodama jujutsu n. gen., n. sp. (Cephalopoda: Idiosepiidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Marine Biology. 170: 167. DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04305-1
phys.org/news/2023-10-pygmy-squids-corals-japan.html
