The class Solenogastres (sensu Salvini-Plawen, 1967) includes approximately 270 described species, 30% of which can be found off the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe. From the Iberian Peninsula, 36 species are known, and six are cited from the Southern Peninsula from Gorringe Bank to Cabo de Gata. The results of a study of a collection of 81 specimens are presented here. Solenogastres were collected from seafloors off the South Iberian Peninsula during three expeditions: DEEPER [Desarrollo de Estudios de Ecosistemas de Profundidad bajo un Enfoque interdisciplinar] 0409, INDEMARES [Inventario y designación en la Red Natura 2000 en áreas marinas del Estado Español]/Chica 0610-0211 and INDEMARES/Alborán 0911. Analysis of the collected solenogaster specimens resulted in the discovery of a new species, which is described here as Alexandromenia avempacensis sp. nov, along with the identification of four already known species: Unciherpia hirsuta, which had not been reported from the South of the Peninsula before and Neomenia carinata, Anamenia gorgonophila and Dorymenia sarsii, whose presence in this area was already known. New anatomical and ecological data regarding these species are also provided. The anatomical reconstruction of the anterior and posterior body ends of Neomenia carinata is presented in addition to a more detailed and extensive description of its copulatory spicules. A broader and more complete description of the sclerites of this species is also provided. The study of the habitus, hard parts and histological sections of Dorymenia sarsii points towards a synonymy between D. sarsii and D. tortilis. Ecological data related to the accompanying fauna and the type of substratum for each species described is also provided. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EA987A53-FF5D-463F-A072-0EA99BCDA129
So far, of the 292 known species of solenogasters (Mollusca, Aplacophora), 62 belong to the clade Pholidoskepia Salvini-Plawen, 1978. Of these, only two have an abyssal distribution (3500–6000 m depth). Among Pholidoskepia, Dondersiidae Simroth, 1893 is the most diverse family. This study contributes to the knowledge of this family with the description of one new genus and six new species from the abyssal South Atlantic Ocean: Dondersia ? foraminosa sp. n., Nematomenia divae sp. n., Nematomenia brasiliensis sp. n., Nematomenia ? guineana sp. n., Helluoherpia vieiralaneroi sp. n. and Inopinatamenia (gen. n.) calamitosa sp. n. Specimens were collected during DIVA (Latitudinal Gradients of Deep-Sea BioDIVersity in the Atlantic Ocean) expeditions in the Guinea (DIVA 2 Me 63/2, 2005) and Brazil (DIVA 3 Me 79/1, 2008) Basins. Specimens were characterized based primarily on the sclerites and internal anatomy, which was studied using histology. The importance of the radula and mantle sclerites for taxonomy is emphasized. Amended diagnoses for the family and some genera within this family are provided. This contribution increases the described diversity of Dondersiidae to ten genera and 38 species and highlights the need for more study of solenogasters in the deep sea.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.