An annotated checklist and integrative biodiversity discovery of barnacles (Crustacea, Cirripedia) from the Moluccas, East Indonesia

Abstract

<jats:p>To contribute to the taxonomic knowledge of barnacles in this understudied area, the first checklist of barnacles from the Moluccas is presented, including additional information on morphology, distribution, and substrate as well as molecular data. The species of barnacles from the Moluccas have been determined using morphological analysis and DNA sequences. During 19 field trips conducted between January 2016 and September 2017, 1,513 specimens of 24 species of intertidal and one species of deep-sea barnacles were collected from 51 localities from the islands. Morphological and molecular analysis of the collected material detected members of three families of stalked barnacles and four families of acorn barnacles. In addition to sampling in the field, we also surveyed the literature on barnacles from the Moluccas. In total, our checklist comprises 97 species from the Moluccas including 23 new records, two of them yet to be described species. Results suggest that the Moluccas have a much higher diversity of barnacles than previously known, for example, from the reports of <jats:italic>Challenger</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Siboga</jats:italic> expeditions. For further work, routine application of molecular systematics could aid the detection of cryptic species, while increased sampling of more islands and a taxonomic revision of several groups would likely lead to an even higher number of species than currently known.</jats:p>

Exploring Sponge-Inhabiting Barnacles of Eastern Indonesia Using Micro-Ct Scanning

“…Based on the overview scans showing all barnacle specimens situated in each sponge, we could estimate which parts of the sponge to dissect to obtain a specific barnacle specimen. Morphological characters of the hard body parts (parietes and opercular plates) and soft body parts (mouthparts, six pairs of cirri, and penis) were examined as in Pitriana et al (2020). Species were identified based on Lamarck (1818), Darwin (1854), Krüger (1911), Hoek (1913), Broch (1931), Rosell (1991), and Kolbasov (1993).…”

Molecular characteristics and taxonomic status of morphologically similar barnacles (Amphibalanus) assessed using the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene

“…Balanidae is divided into Balaninae, Amphibalaninae, and Megabalaninae (Pitombo 2004). Nevertheless, Pitriana et al (2020) was only found two families in Mollucas waters, namely Amphibalaninae and Megabalaninae.…”

“…Henry and McLaughlin (1975) stated that the genera are different in denticles in the labrum and in the color pattern of the parietal and sheath in Amphibalanus. In the period in which Amphibalanus belonged to Balanus, a Balanus amphitrite complex was described (Pitriana et al 2020). Later, the Balanus amphitrite complex was further identified and divided into three nominal species: Amphibalanus amphitrite (Pitombo 2004;Chen et al 2014;Shahdadi et al 2014;Pochai et al 2017), A. reticulatus (Pitombo 2004;Pochai et al 2017) and A. variegatus (Pitombo 2004;Horikoshi and Okamoto 2005).…”

“…Amphibalanus amphitrite is characterized by conical to round shells, while Amphibalanus reticulatus has a conical or cylindrical shell, and Amphibalanus variegatus is characterized by steeply conical shells or tubules in crowded populations (Pitriana et al 2020). The similarities in general morphology of these three species might cause misidentification, especially for beginner taxonomists.…”

“…Therefore, it is not easy to differentiate them solely based on their morphology. Chen et al (2014) and Pitriana et al (2020) further stated that the three species of the Balanus amphitrite complex could be differentiated through anatomical analysis of their shell, tergum, cirri, and the color patterns on their shells. The identification of newly collected Balanus amphitrite complexes is becoming more challenging because they have overlapping geographic distributions.…”