The sea anemone Nemanthus californicus (Cnidaria, Actiniaria, Nemanthidae) from Costa Rica: redescription and first record outside the type locality

EXCOFFON, A. C.; F. H. ACUÑA AND J. CORTÉS

Marine Biodiversity Records

Cambridge Journals

Lugar: Plymouth; Año: 2009 vol. 2 p. 1 - 5

1755-2672

The purpose of this paper is to report the occurrence of Nemanthus californicus on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, being the first record outside the type locality in Baja California. A re-description of its anatomy and notes on its biology are added. We observed N. californicus settled on the antipatharian M. panamensis with the pedal disc surrounding the branch in part or totally, and found traces of asexual reproduction, an expected adaptation to colonize the black coral. Damage to colonies was significant, causing the death of the black coral. This type of relationship could be parasitism.