2008/07/16 by Ingo Burghardt, Michael Schrödl, Heike Wägele · 3 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies #Cephalopods and Marine Biology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/mollus/eyn016
openalex publication_date 2008/07/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/23
Three new Phyllodesmium species, Phyllodesmium lizardensis n. sp. from Lizard Island (Australia), P. lembehensis n. sp. from Sulawesi (Indonesia) and P. koehleri n. sp. from the Philippines, are described. Phyllodesmium lizardensis n. sp. and P. lembehensis n. sp. are associated with octocorals of the family Xeniidae and are similar to other Xeniidae-feeding Phyllodesmium species. Nevertheless, unique combinations of cerata morphology and colour, tooth and jaw morphology, the position of the anal papilla, as well as the special digestive glandular branching system within the cerata clearly distinguish these new species from described ones. Phyllodesmium koehleri n. sp. probably feeds on octocorals of the genera Lemnalia or Paralemnalia; it shows a cactus-like cerata morphology that is unique among Phyllodesmium species. In vivo measurements of photosynthetic activities in P. lizardensis n. sp. and P. lembehensis n. sp. indicate a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae at least for some days. These results are discussed in comparison to the Xeniidae-feeding species P. jakobsenaeBurghardt & Wägele, 2004 and P. rudmaniBurghardt & Gosliner, 2006. Histological investigation of the digestive diverticula within the cerata of all new species also suggests a relatively high efficiency of the symbiosis.