The precise number of Okenia taxa inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, as well as their general taxonomy, varies according to different specialists. So far, eight valid species have been reported from the area: Okenia aspersa (Alder & Hancock, 1845), Okenia cupella (Vogel & Schultz, 1970), Okenia elegans (Leuckart, 1828), Okenia hispanica Valdés & Ortea, 1995, Okenia impexa Er. Marcus, 1957, Okenia leachii (Alder & Hancock, 1854), Okenia mediterranea (Ihering, 1886), and Okenia zoobotryon (Smallwood, 1910). Of these, only three ( O . elegans , O . hispanica , and O . mediterranea ) have their type localities in the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the others were described from different biogeographic areas and later included in the Mediterranean biota. We carried out a review on Mediterranean Okenia species through an integrative approach, based on a wide literature search and a morphological and molecular analysis of available type material and samples collected recently. The present study confirmed the presence of O . aspersa , O . elegans , O . hispanica , and O . mediterranea in the Mediterranean Sea, although leaving remaining questions about some of those taxa. The distribution of O . cupella , O . impexa , and O . zoobotryon is limited to the western Atlantic, and of O . leachii to the eastern Atlantic. All specimens previously identified as O . cupella , O . impexa , and O . zoobotryon by different authors in the Mediterranean Sea were repeatedly misidentified. Thus, we describe Okenia problematica sp. nov. and Okenia longiductis sp. nov., from the “Mediterranean” Okenia cupella/impexa and O . zoobotryon . We also consider here Okenia pusilla Sordi, 1974 a nomen dubium and include a redescription of the holotype of O . cupella . A molecular phylogeny, including all the sequenced Okenia species, was performed in order to evaluate the evolutionary relationships of the newly described species with the other congeneric taxa.
The record of the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina along the south-eastern Apulian coast (south-eastern Italy) is here reported, which represents the first record of the species in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean basin).
A pilot project aimed at testing roe enhancement strategies based on offshore Paracentrotus lividus cultures was conducted off the south‐east coast of Italy (Apulia Region). Adult sea urchins were reared in sea cages located 700 m offshore at a depth of 12 m for 3 months. The animals were fed once a week on two formulated diets, prepared mixing nutrients with agar 20 g/Kg and differing only in terms of the protein source: anchovy flour (Diet A) or krill flour (Diet K). At the end of the rearing trial, the gonad somatic index of sea urchins fed on formulated diets significantly exceeded that of wild sea urchins. Total FAA content in the gonads of wild sea urchins and Diet A‐fed sea urchins was similar, whereas in Diet K‐fed sea urchins it was significantly higher. In terms of fatty acids, the gonads contained SFAs, MUFAs and PUFAs. In visual and sensory assessment of gonads by panel test and electronic nose, the gonads of reared sea urchins were rated as being of better size, while no differences were recorded for coloration, taste and odour. This study shows that under these experimental conditions, commercial‐grade Paracentrotus lividus roe enhancement can be achieved after 3 months in sea cages.
A new sacoglossan species of the genus Elysia Risso, 1818 from southern Italy is described based on its external morphology, color pattern, radular teeth, and reproductive system. Specimens of this new species were previously attributed to Elysia viridis (Montagu, 1804) because of morphological similarity, but maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses based on four genes (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, nuclear 28S rRNA, Histone 3), including 28 additional species of Elysia from the Atlantic, showed that they are distinct. In addition, to determine the identity of these specimens, different species delimitation analyses [Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), General Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC), Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, (bPTP)] were carried out. The molecular results support the validity of this new species of Elysia from the Mediterranean Sea, named Elysia rubeni sp. nov. This new species is characterized by a bright light greenish surface color due to the abundance of kleptoplasts. It can be distinguished by its bright blue specks and minute sparkling yellow dots scattered along the body, as well as its smooth and greyish rhinophores.
The Salento peninsula is a portion of the Italian mainland separating two distinct Mediterranean basins, the Ionian and the Adriatic seas. Several authors have studied the marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) fauna composition living in the Ionian Sea, but to date further knowledge regarding this interesting group of mollusks is still needed. Recent studies have corroborated the peculiarity of the Mediterranean Sea showing high levels of endemism and cryptic diversity. On the other hand, marine sea slugs have been revealed to be important indicators of the marine ecosystem’s health, due to their species-specific diet that consist of a vast variety of sessile and benthic invertebrates. A baseline study of the marine Heterobranchia diversity is therefore a necessary step to reveal the hidden diversity and to monitor the possible presence of alien species. The present study shows results from approximately 600 scientific dives carried out during a nine-year period in all of the main submarine habitats of the studied area, while accounting for the marine Heterobranchia from both the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. With this contribution, the list of marine Heterobranchia inhabiting the Salento Peninsula rises to 160. Furthermore, it also reports, for the first time, the presence of one alien species and three new records for Italian waters. Ecological notes and geographical distribution for each added species are provided together with animal iconography, consisting mainly of in situ photographs, for species identification.
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