| Title | Diversity and evolution of the stygobitic Speleonerilla nom. nov. (Nerillidae, Annelida) with description of three new species from anchialine caves in the Caribbean and Lanzarote |
| Abstract | Anchialine caves have revealed a variety of highly adapted animals including several records of nerillid annelids. However, only one stygobitic lineage, Speleonerilla nom. nov. (previously known as Longipalpa), seems obligate to this environment. We here provide new information on this lineage including the description of three new species, two new records, and the first phylogeny of the genus. All species have been collected from the water column of anchialine caves in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canary Islands, contrary to their benthic and interstitial nerillid relatives. New species were described combining light, scanning electron, and confocal laser scanning microscopy and named after traditional dances from their corresponding countries. Speleonerilla isa sp. n. is morphologically the most divergent species, characterized by the presence of nine segments, two pairs of spermioducts, and parapodial cirri present on all segments. Speleonerilla calypso sp. n. and S. salsa sp. n. are mainly distinguished from S. saltatrix by the presence of one additional pair of nephridia and are diagnosed based on unique combinations of characters including the specific arrangements of trunk ciliation, parapodial cirri, and number of chaetae. Two additional records from anchialine caves in Northeast Cuba and Mexico were not described due to limited available material. Phylogenetic analyses of four molecular markers recovered the East Atlantic S. isa as sister to a clade containing the West Atlantic species, the interrelationship of which did not further reflect the geographical distances within the Caribbean. Evolutionary adaptations are discussed, such as the long ciliated palps and pygidial lobes of Speleonerilla used for swimming and their high tolerance to changing salinities when apparently feeding on bacteria in the halocline of the anchialine cave systems. |
| Source | Marine biodiversity (Print) 49 (5), pp. 2167–2192 |
| Keywords | InterstitialCave faunaMeiofaunaTroglomorphismStygofauna |
| Journal | Marine biodiversity (Print) |
| Editor | Springer, Heidelberg ;, Germania |
| Year | 2019 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12526-018-0906-5 |
| Authors | Worsaae, Katrine; Gonzalez, Brett C.; Kerbl, Alexandra; Nielsen, Sofie Holdflod; Jorgensen, Julie Terp; Armenteros, Maickel; Iliffe, Thomas M.; Martinez, Alejandro |
| Text | 417468 2019 10.1007/s12526 018 0906 5 ISI Web of Science WOS 000496938500009 Interstitial Cave fauna Meiofauna Troglomorphism Stygofauna Diversity and evolution of the stygobitic Speleonerilla nom. nov. Nerillidae, Annelida with description of three new species from anchialine caves in the Caribbean and Lanzarote Worsaae, Katrine; Gonzalez, Brett C.; Kerbl, Alexandra; Nielsen, Sofie Holdflod; Jorgensen, Julie Terp; Armenteros, Maickel; Iliffe, Thomas M.; Martinez, Alejandro Univ Copenhagen; Univ La Habana; Texas A M Univ; Italian Natl Res Council Anchialine caves have revealed a variety of highly adapted animals including several records of nerillid annelids. However, only one stygobitic lineage, Speleonerilla nom. nov. previously known as Longipalpa , seems obligate to this environment. We here provide new information on this lineage including the description of three new species, two new records, and the first phylogeny of the genus. All species have been collected from the water column of anchialine caves in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canary Islands, contrary to their benthic and interstitial nerillid relatives. New species were described combining light, scanning electron, and confocal laser scanning microscopy and named after traditional dances from their corresponding countries. Speleonerilla isa sp. n. is morphologically the most divergent species, characterized by the presence of nine segments, two pairs of spermioducts, and parapodial cirri present on all segments. Speleonerilla calypso sp. n. and S. salsa sp. n. are mainly distinguished from S. saltatrix by the presence of one additional pair of nephridia and are diagnosed based on unique combinations of characters including the specific arrangements of trunk ciliation, parapodial cirri, and number of chaetae. Two additional records from anchialine caves in Northeast Cuba and Mexico were not described due to limited available material. Phylogenetic analyses of four molecular markers recovered the East Atlantic S. isa as sister to a clade containing the West Atlantic species, the interrelationship of which did not further reflect the geographical distances within the Caribbean. Evolutionary adaptations are discussed, such as the long ciliated palps and pygidial lobes of Speleonerilla used for swimming and their high tolerance to changing salinities when apparently feeding on bacteria in the halocline of the anchialine cave systems. 49 Published version Articolo in rivista Springer 1867 1616 Marine biodiversity Print Marine biodiversity Print Mar. biodivers. Print Marine biodiversity. Print alejandro.martinezgarcia MARTINEZ GARCIA ALEJANDRO |
