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Type: Article
Published: 2016-12-21
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Integrative taxonomic re-description of Halisarca magellanica and description of a new species of Halisarca (Porifera, Demospongiae) from Chilean Patagonia 

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Rue Vautier 29, B–1000, Bruxelles, Belgium Université Libre de Bruxelles, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B–1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
Aix Marseille University, Avignon University, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France, Chemin de la Batterie des Lions, 13007, Marseille, France Saint-Petersburg State University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Embryology, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Iowa State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, 251 Bessey Hall, 2200 Osborn Dr., Ames, IA 50011-4009, USA
Porifera Chilean Patagonia Chondrillida cytology Halisarcidae new species SEM TEM ultrastructure Verongiomorpha

Abstract

A series of recent expeditions in fjords and canals of Southern Chilean Patagonia allowed the re-collection of Halisarca magellanica Topsent, 1901 and the discovery of a new species, Halisarca desqueyrouxae sp. nov. The material studied was collected at depths ranging from 3 to 30 m at latitudes comprised between 42° and 49°S. Both species share the same habitat and show a morphological plasticity, but differ in their colour. Halisarca magellanica is bright pink to whitish with three morphs whereas H. desqueyrouxae sp. nov. is light brown to beige with two morphs. An extensive investigation in TEM and SEM reveals several differences among cell types with inclusions between both species. Three distinct spherulous cells occur. Type 1 is shared by both species, Type 2 is occasional in H. magellanica but absent from H. desqueyrouxae sp. nov. Type 3 is rare in H. magellanica and occurs abundantly in half of the specimens of H. desqueyrouxae sp. nov. Granular cells are shared by both species but do not occur in all specimens. Microgranular cells are characteristic of H. magellanica. Both species also clearly differ by their endobiotic bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis of cox1 sequences places H. magellanica as a sister group to all other previously published Halisarca species sequences (9.1–9.7% difference) except H. harmelini, while H. desqueyrouxae sp. nov. is placed as a sister group to H. dujardini (2.3% difference).

 

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