Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Actiniaria), a new species of sea anemone from the southern Gulf of Mexico

GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ RICARDO; GARESE AGUSTÍN; ACUÑA FABIÁN H.

Marine Biodiversity

Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Año: 2018

1867-1616

Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov, a new species of sea anemone (Actiniaria: Actiniidae) from the rocky intertidal zone of LaGallega reef, Veracruz, Mexico, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by a column that is pale yellowproximally and dark-orange to bright-orange distally, longitudinal rows of verrucae from margin to limbus, and a series ofmarginal projections with acrorhagi. Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. is distinguished from other species of Anthopleura fromthe Gulf of Mexico by several taxonomic characters, such as column coloration, number of tentacles, variable number ofdirective mesenteries and siphonoglyphs, as well as some differences on cnidae. Anthopleura dalyae sp. nov. is the fourthspecies of the genus occurring in shallow intertidal waters associated to coastal and coral reef environments of the region,and the third species of the genus Anthopleura recorded in the southern Gulf of Mexico.