In:
Zoosystematics and Evolution, Pensoft Publishers, Vol. 100, No. 3 ( 2024-06-19), p. 841-850
Abstract:
Caudofoveata is a class of worm-like molluscs (aplacophorans) that typically have an infaunal lifestyle, burrowing in soft bottoms in a wide range of marine habitats from shallow to deep waters. Here, we describe a very large new species of caudofoveate from South China Sea methane seeps growing up to 154 mm in length: Chaetoderma shenloong sp. nov. It is the first caudofoveate to be named from a chemosynthetic ecosystem and the first aplacophoran mollusc associated with seeps. Our new species stands out from other Pacific Chaetoderma species by its large size, a wide body relative to its length, a barely sclerotised radula, and the presence of isosceles-triangular sclerites. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene placed it within a paraphyletic clade comprising Chaetodermatidae and Limifossoridae, in line with a previous phylogenetic analysis. This also revealed that C. shenloong sp. nov. is conspecific with a Chaetoderma sp. whose whole genome was recently sequenced and assembled but remained undescribed until now. The most closely related species with an available COI sequence was C. felderi , the largest caudofoveate species recorded. Our discovery suggests caudofoveates may be present in other seeps globally but so far neglected; a potential example is C. felderi from the Gulf of Mexico, where seeps are abundant but whose exact habitat remains unclear.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1860-0743
,
1435-1935
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409.figure1
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409.figure2
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409.figure3
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409.figure4
DOI:
10.3897/zse.100.125409.figure5
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Pensoft Publishers
Publication Date:
2024
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2420116-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1430702-9
SSG:
12