Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism
Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism
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DOI：
10.11646/zootaxa.5072.4.2
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发表时间：
2021-12-01
期刊：
影响因子：
0.9
通讯作者：
Mcfadden, Catherine S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Benayahu, Yehuda;Ekins, Merrick;Mcfadden, Catherine S.
重新描述了现存最古老的 xeniid 软珊瑚类型材料 Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg，1834 年。对印度太平洋蟾蜍科分子和形态特征的综合分析支持了该属七个新种的描述。该属内种间形态变异的程度是广泛的；菌落由不同厚度的结壳膜产生，该结壳膜可以是垫状的，也可以具有带状延伸或不规则形状的低丘。息肉可以与膜分开产生，也可以排列成息肉簇，在不同水平上发芽形成小分支群。所有物种的骨片都是均匀的椭圆形片状，在整个群体中大量存在。遗传结果表明，Sympodium 物种表现出有限的地理范围和区域特有性，具有不同的基因型（分子操作分类单位），每个基因型大多发现于印度-太平洋的一个地点。结果强调了将经典分类学与重新检查原始旧类型材料和分子系统发育分析相结合的重要性，以便划定物种边界并识别生物多样性模式。
The oldest existing type material for any of the xeniid soft corals, Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg, 1834, is re-described. An integrated analysis of molecular and morphological characters of Indo-Pacific Xeniidae support the description of seven new species of that genus. The extent of interspecific morphological variation within the genus is extensive; colonies arise from an encrusting membrane of variable thickness that can be either mat-like or may have ribbon-like extensions or irregularly shaped low mounds. The polyps can either arise separately from the membrane or may be arranged into clusters of polyps that bud off at different levels to form small branched groups. The sclerites of all species are uniformly ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony. The genetic results suggest that Sympodium species demonstrate restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism, with distinct genotypes (molecular operational taxonomic units) each mostly found at a single Indo-Pacific location. The results emphasize the importance of integrating classical taxonomy with a re-examination of original old type material and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in order to delineate species boundaries and to recognize biodiversity patterns.