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The sea anemone Nemanthus californicus (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Nemanthidae) from Costa Rica: re-description and first record outside the type locality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2009

A.C. Excoffon*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
F.H. Acuña
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina Researcher of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
J. Cortés
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Ciudad de la Investigación, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: A.C. Excoffon, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina email: excoffon@mdp.edu.ar
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Abstract

The occurrence of Nemanthus californicus on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the first record outside the type locality in Baja California, is reported. A re-description of its anatomy and notes on its biology are provided. Nemanthus californicus settled on the antipatharian Myriopathes panamensis with the pedal disc surrounding the branch in part or totally, and showed traces of asexual reproduction, an expected adaptation to colonize the black coral. Damage to colonies was significant, causing the death of the black coral. This type of relationship could be parasitism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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References

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