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Discovery of a New Sea Spider Belonging to the Genus Pycnogonum (Pycnogonida: Pycnogonidae) in the Mesophotic Zone of Jejudo Island, Korea - PubMed

  • ️Sun Jan 01 2023

Discovery of a New Sea Spider Belonging to the Genus Pycnogonum (Pycnogonida: Pycnogonidae) in the Mesophotic Zone of Jejudo Island, Korea

Damin Lee et al. Zool Stud. 2023.

Abstract

A new species of the genus Pycnogonum was discovered in the mesophotic zone of Munseom Islet, Jejudo Island, Korea. Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) bifurcatum sp. nov. is the first case of sea spiders in Korean fauna not only included in the subgenus Nulloviger but also collected in the mesophotic zone of Munseom Islet. The new species is morphologically close to Pycnogonum (Pycnogonum) asiaticum and P. (N.) carinatum, sharing the granular integument, the dorsomedian tubercles on the trunk, and the post-ocular tubercle. The new species can be easily distinguished from the congeners by combination of the following characteristics: the prominent dorsomedian tubercles on the trunk, the lateral processes 1-3 touching each other, and the small auxiliary claws. A key is provided to distinguish 12 species of the subgenus Nulloviger morphologically, and molecular data of the new species are provided for species identification and further studies.

Keywords: Molecular data; Munseom Islet; Nulloviger; Sea spider; Subgenus.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Type locality of Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) bifurcatum sp. nov. in Korea. Red circle indicating the collection site near Munseom Islet.

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

Periphytic organisms on the hard substrata in the mesophotic zone of Munseom Islet. Images were recorded by GoPro between 50–60 m water depth.

Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) bifurcatum sp. nov., male (holotype). A, trunk, dorsal view; B, trunk, lateral view; C, trunk, anterodorsal view; D, leg 3, lateral view, arrow indicating bifurcated spine. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.

Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) bifurcatum sp. nov., male (holotype). A, trunk, dorsal view; B, trunk, ventral view; C, trunk, anterodorsal view; D, leg 4, lateral view; E, granules; F, gonopore. Scale bars: A–D = 1 mm; E = 50 μm.

Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.

Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) carinatum, male (holotype; NMV J48800; , A, B), female (NMV J48806; C, D). A, trunk, dorsal view; B, distal parts of leg 3, circle indicating absence of auxiliary claws; C, trunk, anterodistal view; D, trunk, ventral view. Scale bars: A, C, D = 1 mm; B = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.

Distribution of Pycnogonum species belonging to the subgenus Nulloviger. Parenthesis indicating collecting water depth.

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