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First records of Parazoanthidae and Microzoanthidae (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Zoantharia) from the Red Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2014

James Davis Reimer ,
Daisuke Uyeno  and
Michael Lee Berumen
James Davis Reimer*
Affiliation:
Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Daisuke Uyeno
Affiliation:
University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Michael Lee Berumen
Affiliation:
Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole 02543, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.D. Reimer, Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan email: jreimer@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
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Abstract

Here we report on the first records of the families Parazoanthidae and Microzoanthidae and by extension for the suborder Macrocnemina (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Zoantharia) from the Red Sea. Despite a long history of zoantharian research in the region, previous records only reported species of the suborder Brachycnemina, from the genera Zoanthus and Palythoa. Both Parazoanthus sp. and Microzoanthus sp. specimens were first found from the same small coral cave at a reef at Jaz'air Sila, Saudi Arabia, and subsequently observed at another location in the northern Red Sea. Numerous Antipathozoanthus sp. colonies were observed at Marker 9 north of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia in association with antipatharians inside small caves. The Parazoanthus sp. was in association with numerous encrusting sponge species on the roof of the cave, similar to previously reported undescribed species in the Pacific Ocean. Microzoanthus sp. was found on hard rubble on the cave floor. These records represent large range extensions (e.g. thousands of kilometres) for each genus, demonstrating the overall lack of research on the order Zoantharia, especially within the Red Sea.

Keywords

zoantharianParazoanthusAntipathozoanthusspongeMicrozoanthusSaudi Arabia

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Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 7 , 2014 , e7
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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