Hidden in plain sight, Chaetopterus dewysee sp. nov. (Chaetopteridae, Annelida) – A new species from Southern California

We describe a long-unnamed Chaetopterus Cuvier, 1830 species from southern California, using a combination of DNA barcoding and detailed morphological investigation employing high-resolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT). Chaetopterus dewysee sp. nov. is not only one of the most dominant annelids...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ekin Tilic, Greg W. Rouse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Consortium of European Natural History Museums 2020-05-01
Series:European Journal of Taxonomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/935
Description
Summary:We describe a long-unnamed Chaetopterus Cuvier, 1830 species from southern California, using a combination of DNA barcoding and detailed morphological investigation employing high-resolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT). Chaetopterus dewysee sp. nov. is not only one of the most dominant annelids in the benthic communities of the shallow end of the La Jolla submarine canyon, but also a well-established model for studying bioluminescence and has a published transcriptome. The description and naming of this southern Californian Chaetopterus is a step towards the much-needed revision of the group’s taxonomy and towards resolving the confusion over the ʻcosmopolitanʼ Chaetopterus variopedatus species complex. Micro-CT data showing details of both internal and external anatomy has been made freely available as the first annelid cybertype.
ISSN:2118-9773