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Issue: Vol. 5837 No. 2: 23 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-23
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5837.2.5
Page range: 309-324
Abstract views: 109
PDF downloaded: 43

A new soft coral species, Aquaumbra aranea sp. nov. (Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea: Aquaumbridae), from Fiordland, Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity; University of Oldenburg (HIFMB); Oldenburg; Germany; Alfred Wegener Institute; Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI); Bremerhaven; Germany; Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM); Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg; Oldenburg; Germany
Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity; University of Oldenburg (HIFMB); Oldenburg; Germany; Alfred Wegener Institute; Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI); Bremerhaven; Germany; Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM); Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg; Oldenburg; Germany
Marine Biodiversity; Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ); Wellington; New Zealand
Senckenberg am Meer; Meeresforschung; Wilhelmshaven; Germany; Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften der Universität Bremen (MARUM); University of Bremen; Bremen; Germany
Coelenterata Species delimitation mtMutS 28S rDNA species description integrative taxonomy

Abstract

We describe Aquaumbra aranea sp. nov. Korfhage & Freiwald, a new species of soft coral discovered in Fiordland, Aotearoa (New Zealand). This new species represents an extension of this previously monotypic genus Aquaumbra Breedy, van Ofwegen & Vagas, 2012. The discovery expands the known morphological and geographic diversity of the genus and its family Aquaumbridae. Aquaumbra aranea sp. nov. is morphologically distinguished from Aquaumbra klapferi Breedy, van Ofwegen & Vargas, 2012 and the sister genera Elbeenus Alderslade, 2002 by having a distinct sclerite composition and the presence of diverse sclerites. Its characteristic spider-web-like surface reticulation further differentiates it from the previously described species. Although mtMutS does not distinguish A. aranea sp. nov. from A. klapferi, and 28S rDNA provides only limited resolution, this pattern is consistent with previous findings in Octocorallia, where commonly used markers often fail to discriminate closely related species due to low substitution rates and limited resolution. We therefore interpret the observed morphological differentiations as taxonomically significant and sufficient to justify species recognition. Our findings underscore the potential for additional biodiscovery in coastal habitats in the Southwest Pacific.

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How to Cite

Korfhage, S.A., Baums, I.B., Schnabel, K.E. & Freiwald, A. (2026) A new soft coral species, Aquaumbra aranea sp. nov. (Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea: Aquaumbridae), from Fiordland, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Zootaxa, 5837 (2), 309–324. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5837.2.5