Solenogastres (Mollusca) from expeditions off the South Iberian Peninsula, with the description of a new species

Abstract

The class Solenogastres (sensu Salvini-Plawen, 1967) includes approximately 270 described species, 30% of which can be found off the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe. From the Iberian Peninsula, 36 species are known, and six are cited from the Southern Peninsula from Gorringe Bank to Cabo de Gata. The results of a study of a collection of 81 specimens are presented here. Solenogastres were collected from seafloors off the South Iberian Peninsula during three expeditions: DEEPER [Desarrollo de Estudios de Ecosistemas de Profundidad bajo un Enfoque interdisciplinar] 0409, INDEMARES [Inventario y designación en la Red Natura 2000 en áreas marinas del Estado Español]/Chica 0610–0211 and INDEMARES/Alborán 0911. Analysis of the collected solenogaster specimens resulted in the discovery of a new species, which is described here as Alexandromenia avempacensis sp. nov, along with the identification of four already known species: Unciherpia hirsuta Garcia-Alvarez, Salvini-Plawen and Urgorri, 2001, which had not been reported from the South of the Peninsula before and Neomenia carinata Tullberg, 1875, Anamenia gorgonophila (Kowalevsky, 1880) and Dorymenia sarsii (Koren & Danielssen, 1877), whose presence in this area was already known. New anatomical and ecological data regarding these species are also provided. The anatomical reconstruction of the anterior and posterior body ends of Neomenia carinata is presented in addition to a more detailed and extensive description of its copulatory spicules. A broader and more complete description of the sclerites of this species is also provided. The study of the habitus, hard parts and histological sections of Dorymenia sarsii points towards a synonymy between D. sarsii and D. tortilis Scheltema & Schander, 2000. Ecological data related to the accompanying fauna and the type of substratum for each species described is also provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EA987A53-FF5D-463F-A072-0EA99BCDA129

Keywords:

• Alexandromenia
• Dorymenia
• Neomenia
• Aplacophora
• Neomeniomorpha
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the expedition leaders (DEEPER 0409: Juan Gil Herrero; INDEMARES/Chica: Luís Miguel Fernández; INDEMARES/Alborán: Serge Gofas) for the material provided as well as the captains and crew of the R/V Emma Bardán, Cornide de Saavedra and Isla de Alborán and other colleagues that offered their invaluable assistance during the expeditions. Dr Christiane Todt provided helpful comments during the drafting of this report and graciously allows us to include some of her own observations. This is a contribution to the collection Who are the ‘Aculifera’? in memory of Christoffer Schander.