The sea anemone Bunodactis octoradiata (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from southern Patagonia: morphological study and new records of its distribution

GARESE, A.; LONGO, M. V.; MARTIN, J. P.; ACUÑA, F. H.

ZOOLOGIA (CURITIBA)

SOC BRASILEIRA ZOOLOGIA

Lugar: Curitiba; Año: 2014 vol. 31 p. 475 - 481

1984-4670

Bunodactis Verril 1899 comprises at present 19 nominal species of sea anemones and is taxonomically unsolved, as the validity of the genus is under discussion. Thedescription of the type species, Bunodactis octoradiata Carlgren, 1899 is poor and sparsely detailed. Subsequent works provided additional information on the species, but the description still requires complement. For this reason this sea anemone species is described based on histological sections of the internal anatomy, and a complete and detailed description of the external anatomy. The cnidom is composed by spirocysts, basitrichs andmicrobasic p-mastigophores; their distribution in the organism, sizes and relative abundances are provided. The presence of zooxanthellae is reported for the first time. We found a grouped distribution of the species and a density from 5.6 to 45 individuals per m2 in the field. Additionally its distribution is expanded along the coast of southern Patagonia (47º 44´ Sto 49º 15´ - 65º 50´ W to 67º 39´ W).