A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues,Mauritius, western Indian Ocean

Collections of echinoderms were made from the intertidal, lagoon and reef slopes of Rodrigues over a period of 3 weeks in September to October, 2001. A total of 74 species are reported here, including three species of Crinoidea, 10 species of Asteroidea, 17 species of Ophiuroidea, 15 species of Echinoidea and 29 species of Holothurioidea. These findings include 10 new records for the Mascarene Islands (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues), four species (two in the asteroid genus ‘Asterina’, one in the ophiuroid genus Amphioplus and one species in the holothurioid genus Actinopyga) that remain unnamed due to the need to clarify unresolved taxonomic issues, and one species of crinoid which could not be identified because only the distal parts of four arms were collected. In the dendrochirotid holothurioid family Psolidae, the little-known species Psolus appendiculatus (de Blainville) 1821 Blainville, H. M. de. 1821. Holothuries. Dictionaire des Sciences Naturelles, 21: 310–319.  [Google Scholar], P. boholensis Semper, 1868 and P. complanatus Semper, 1868 are referred to the genus Psolidium Ludwig, 1887. Despite its seniority, P. appendiculatus is treated as a (senior) synonym of the better known and described species Psolidium ornatum (Perrier, 1893). In the dendrochirotid holothurioid family Phyllophoridae, Thyonidiella cherbonnieri nom. nov. is proposed for misidentified specimens of Semperiella tenera (Ludwig, 1875) in the western Indian Ocean, and Semperiella Heding and Panning, 1954 Heding, S. G and Panning, A. 1954. Phyllophoridae. Eine bearbeitung der polytentaculaten dendrochiroten Holothurien des zoologischen Museums in Kopenhagen. Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensis, 13: 7–209, 102 figures [Google Scholar] is reduced to the synonymy of Thyonidiella Heding and Panning, 1954 Heding, S. G and Panning, A. 1954. Phyllophoridae. Eine bearbeitung der polytentaculaten dendrochiroten Holothurien des zoologischen Museums in Kopenhagen. Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensis, 13: 7–209, 102 figures [Google Scholar]. In the apodid holothurioid family Chiridotidae the species Chiridota eximia Haacke, 1880 Haacke W 1880 Holothurien in K. A. Möbius and F. Richter (eds) Beitrage zur Meeresfauna der Insel Mauritius und des Seychelles (Berlin: Gustav Fischer), pp.?46–48  [Google Scholar] is reduced to the synonymy of C. rigida Semper, 1868.

Given the small size of the area of shallow water around Rodrigues that has been sampled, the relatively small range of marine habitats present and the geographic isolation, this is an impressive diversity. The biogeography of the 69 identified species of Rodrigues is discussed.     

The Polyplacophora (Mollusca) collected during the First International Marine Biodiversity Workshop for Rodrigues (western Indian Ocean), with the description of a new species

A total of seven species of Polyplacophora, namely Parachiton hylkiae mauricejayi Schwabe, 2002 Schwabe E 2002 A new subspecies of the genus Parachiton Thiele, 1909 Thiele J 1909 Revision des Systems der Chitonen. I. Teil Zoologica Stuttgart 22, 1–70, pls?1–6  <!--${googleScholarLinkReplacer: %00empty%00 book +Zoologica+Stuttgart+ author%3DJ+Thiele 1909 ++%0AThiele+++J+++++1909++++Revision+des+Systems+der+Chitonen.+I.+Teil++++Zoologica+Stuttgart+++++++22%2C+1%E2%80%9370%2C+pls%E2%80%891%E2%80%936+ %00empty%00 %00null%00}--> from the Indian Ocean Of Sea and Shore 24(4), 220–223  [Google Scholar], Callochiton deshayesi Thiele, 1909 Thiele J 1909 Revision des Systems der Chitonen. I. Teil Zoologica Stuttgart 22, 1–70, pls?1–6  [Google Scholar], Callistochiton barnardi Leloup, 1981, Lucilina indica (Leloup, 1981), Onithochiton maillardi (Deshayes, 1863 Deshayes G. P 1863 Catalogue des mollusques de l'Ile de la Réunion (Bourbon) in L. Maillard (ed.) Notes sur l'Ile de la Réunion (Paris: Dentu), pp.?1–144, pls?28–41  [Google Scholar]), Choneplax indica Odhner, 1919 Odhner N. H. J 1919 Contribution à la faune malacologique de Madagascar Arkiv för Zoologi 12(6), 1–52, pls?1–4  [Google Scholar] and Cryptoconchus oliveri n. sp., were collected during a survey of marine biodiversity at Rodrigues. For all the species taxonomically relevant characters are described, and for the first time are illustrated in detail using SEM photography. The taxonomic status of Lucilina indica (Leloup, 1981) is clarified, and it is rejected from the synonymy of Lucilina carnosa (Kaas, 1979 Kaas P 1979 The chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) of Mozambique Annales of the Natal Museum 23(3), 855–879  [Google Scholar]).     

The marine red algae of Rodrigues (Mauritius,Indian Ocean)

This paper reports on the red algae of Rodrigues, collected in the framework of the Shoals of Capricorn Programme (10 September to 5 October 2001). In total 68 species are reported, of which 65 represent new records for the island. Although most taxa represent rather common species, which are generally widespread in the Indian and western Pacific Ocean, some are of special interest to algal systematists and biogeographers. Renouxia antillana is reported for the first time for the Indian Ocean. The presence of Renouxia also constitutes the first record of the order Rhodogorgonales for the entire Indian Ocean. A few species have interesting distribution patterns. Halydictyon sp. is restricted in its distribution to South Africa, Mauritius and Australia. Despite these interesting records, the red algal flora of Rodrigues is most remarkable by the absence of several ‘ubiquitous' species.     

The marine green and brown algae of Rodrigues (Mauritius,Indian Ocean)

The marine benthic green and brown macroalgae of Rodrigues, collected during an expedition in October 2001, are documented and 18 of the 60 taxa of Chlorophyta (53 species) and 18 species of Phaeophyceae are illustrated. Fifty taxa of green and 12 taxa of brown algae are added to the existing species list of the island. Turf algae and smaller epiphytic species are not or are only sporadically included in this study. All records are listed with bibliographic, biogeographic, taxonomic and nomenclatural comments. Infrageneric identification keys are included. The new combination Caulerpa mexicana var. exposita is proposed and the discovery of a new Udotea species is mentioned. The algal flora of Rodrigues is of a typical Indian Ocean composition but appears to be relatively poor when compared to the nearby island of Mauritius.     

Cryptic bivalves with descriptions of new species from the Rodrigues lagoon

This paper describes a number of new taxa in the Arcidae, Philobryidae, Mytilidae, Galeommatidae, Kelliidae, Cyamiidae, Carditidae, Thraciidae and Clavagellidae. A further 17 species are included as new to the malacofauna of Rodrigues. Most of the species included came from cryptic habitats, of which the most interesting are apparently cavernicolous and similar to those described from southern Japan. Other species were described from crevice or algal turf communities. The most understudied group is the Galeommatoidea with four species described as new and a further five with as yet unresolved taxonomy.     

A checklist of the corals of the island state of Rodrigues,Mauritius

The aim of this study was to create an inventory of the coral species which occur in the shallow waters around Rodrigues island. The stony corals of Rodrigues island have received limited study. Corals were recorded, photographed and collected from reef slopes and lagoons by scuba diving and snorkelling during October 2001. A collection of previously collected corals in Rodrigues was also studied. A total of 130 named species in 40 genera of hard corals (125 species in 37 genera of zooxanthellate Scleractinia) were found during the present survey, together with eight unidentified species; 47 species of coral were new records for Rodrigues, 37 of which were new reports for the southern Mascarene archipelago; 23 species represented extensions of their known ranges, including two species that were previously considered endemic to other areas. The number of species found is similar to that previously reported from Mauritius (134), and significantly more than reported in earlier studies of Rodriguan corals (up to 89 species). This also complements recent reports for Rodrigues (132 species) and Mauritius (163 species).     

Annotated checklist of the marine Bivalvia of Rodrigues

This checklist illustrates and comments on the 109 species of marine bivalve currently known from Rodrigues. The fauna appears impoverished when compared to those of Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles. Low habitat diversity is postulated as the cause of impoverishment rather than the relatively young geological age of Rodrigues.     

The extent of coral bleaching in Rodrigues, 2002

The reefs of Rodrigues were some of the few reef areas in the Indian Ocean to escape the mass coral bleaching event of 1997–1998. However, during the last 2 weeks of February 2002 Rodrigues experienced sea-water temperatures over 30°C, clear skies and calm seas. Rapid assessments of the degree of coral bleaching and coral mortality were carried out at 22 sites around the coast of Rodrigues during March 2002. The surveys showed that the bleaching event in Rodrigues was not widespread, occurring at less than one-third of the sites surveyed and that coral mortality was restricted to sites in the north and west of the island. Where mortality did occur, it was severe, affecting up to 75% of corals at some sites. Coral species most vulnerable were Acropora cytherea and Acropora abrotanoides, which suffered up to 100% mortality. These colonies were still standing and had been very recently overgrown with turf algae. At present the reefs around Rodrigues are in good health, however, they are being impacted by over-fishing and sedimentation, and proposed developments have the potential to cause further damage to the reefs. It is likely that stressed corals will recover from bleaching events more slowly. It is therefore important that the coral reefs in Rodrigues are adequately protected from human impacts in order to increase their chances of surviving future bleaching events.     

A new genus and species of Caprellidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Kiribati

ABSTRACT

Luisacaprella eliae gen. nov, sp. nov. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Caprellidae) is described bwct ased on specimens collected from Kiribati, Pacific Ocean. The new genus is close to Aciconula but can be mainly distinguished by the following characteristics: (1) pereonites 6 and 7 are fused in Luisacaprella gen. nov. while they are separated in Aciconula; (2) the setal formula of mandibular palp is 2-x-1 in Luisacaprella and 1-x-1 in Aciconula; (3) pereopods 3 and 4 are two-articulate in males and females of Luisacaprella, whereas there is sexual dimorphism in Aciconula, and males have pereopods 3 and 4 two-articulate while females have pereopod 3 two- or three-articulate and pereopod 4 four-articulate. The new species L. eliae is additionally characterised by its tiny size (<3 mm). The new taxon was collected from dead branching coral of shallow waters (3–32 m). Further studies targeting small caprellids which could easily be overlooked from substrates such as sediments and dead corals are needed to properly understand the global caprellid diversity of tropical and temperate areas.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F5A24BE-A7AC-4D3C-A087-F7284F84A2DC     

Apodidymochelia,a new genus of gammaridean amphipod from the tropical Atlantic Ocean (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Didymochellidae)

Apodidymochelia castellata, new genus, new species is the second genus and fourth species in the rare and poorly known family Didymocheliidae. Apodidymochelia is separated from Didymochelia primarily on mandible structure. This record extends the known range of the family into the Atlantic Ocean.     

A new genus and two new species of cirolanid isopod Crustacea from the northern Indian Ocean

A new genus of cirolanid isopod Atarbolana, and two new species, Atarbolana exoconta and Cirolana manorae, are described. Atarbolana is distinguished from related cirolanid genera by having a projecting clypeus, pleon with three free tergites, and cylindrical uropod exopod.

Cirolana manorae is most similar to Cirolana bovina Barnard, and new figures are given for that species.     

Contribution to knowledge of the genus Haploops,a new location for Haploops lodo (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae) from the bathyal North Atlantic Ocean with a complement to the description of the species

Over the last two decades, several works on the family Ampeliscidae have been published, in particular about three of the four genera in the family: Ampelisca, Byblis, and Haploops. Recently, additional material collected during the BIOFAR sampling around the Faeroe Islands and during the BIOICE sampling around Iceland, in the Bay of Biscay and the EUMELI 2 campaign along the African coasts were examined. The genus Haploops was numerous (>3500 individuals), and within this material were interesting specimens. Six of them, found at four stations about 100 km off Mauritania, have been recognized as Haploops lodo (Barnard, 1961 Barnard, J. L. 1961. Gammaridean amphipoda from depths of 400 to 6000 m.. Galathea Report, 5: 23–128.  [Google Scholar]) a bathyal and abyssal species previously seen only in the Pacific ocean offshore of the American coasts. In this article, an Atlantic H. lodo specimen representative of the Atlantic specimens is compared to the holotype. The geographical and bathymetric distribution of H. lodo in the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are discussed.     

A new superfamily,family, genus and species of marine amphipod,Protodulichia scandens,from Japan (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Corophiida)

ABSTRACT

In this study, the new amphipod superfamily Protodulichioidea and family Protodulichiidae are established. Both belong to the infraorder Corophiida but is different from all known superfamilies and families. Amphipods included in the new superfamily and family are characterised by having a triangular head with large eyes, extremely long pereopod 7, and uropod 3 with a short peduncle and slender rami bearing a few robust setae. Protodulichia scandens gen. et sp. nov. is fully described here and its mast-building behaviour is also recorded.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F6613B27-D954-4E4C-86CB-9FC5E9624334     

An enigma from Australia: a new variation on the corophioid theme (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Aetiopedes gracilis gen. et sp. nov. (Amphipoda : Isaeidae) is described from southern Australian (Tasmanian, Victorian) shallow coastal sand habitats. The taxon superficially resembles an ampeliscoid having antenna 2 markedly longer than antenna 1 and peraeopods 3–4 with long, slender dactyls. The possibility is raised that glandular peraeopods may be a synapomorphy associating Ampeliscoidea with Corophioidea as sister groups. The structure of peraeopods 3–4 (merochelate), labrum (toothed) and telson (shortened) are all autapomorphies peculiar to the new taxon. Within the Isaeidae, Aetiopedes appears to be closest to Amphideutopus. The relationships of these taxa are discussed in relation to the hypotheses of Barnard & Thomas (1987) on the systematics of the Neomegamphopidae.     

Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Two Niphargus species, Niphargus khayyami sp. nov. and Niphargus khwarizmi sp. nov., are morphologically analysed and described. Both species are found in western Iran, which represents the easternmost border of the distributional area for this subterranean amphipod genus. We were unable to attribute N. khayyami sp. nov. to any of 80 Niphargus species that were analysed for 28S ribosomal DNA sequences; sequencing of N. khwarizmi sp. nov. failed. Niphargid findings from west Asia recorded in 5 years imply that almost one half of the range of this large freshwater amphipod genus is still unexplored. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E9E7CC9-83E2-419F-A394-57197305E1EF