Naoto Jimi

New species of Trophoniella from Shimoda, Japan (Annelida, Flabelligeridae)

Abstract Trophoniella hephaistos sp. n. was collected from a tank irrigated with seawater pumped directly from Nabeta Bay, Japan. This species is discriminated from other Trophoniella by having dorsal tubercles, a tongue-shaped branchial plate, a tunic covered with large sediment grains dorsally and ventrally, having eyes, and anchylosed neurohooks starting from chaetigers 17–20. This is the first record of Trophoniella from Japanese waters. Identification keys to species of Trophoniella and four gene sequences (COI, 16S, 18S, 28S) of this species are provided. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to clarify phylogenetic position of Trophoniella in Flabelligeridae using four genes.

Designation of a neotype and redescription of Hesione reticulata von Marenzeller, 1879 from Japan (Annelida, Hesionidae)

Abstract The hesionid polychaete Hesione reticulata von Marenzeller, 1879 was described from Enoshima Island, Japan and has been recorded also from the Red Sea. Depending on researchers, it has been regarded as either a distinct species or synonymous with older established ones. The type specimen has been lost. In order to clarify its taxonomic status, Hesione reticulata is herein redescribed, illustrated, and a neotype is proposed based on recent material collected near the type locality. The diagnostic features include the presence of several dorsal, discontinuous longitudinal bands, interrupted by pale segmental spots; prostomium with tiny antennae; a tuberculated dorsal integument; acicular lobes double; and neurochaetal blades with guards approaching the distal tooth. The dorsal color pattern in life enables a clear distinction from similar species such as Hesione intertexta Grube, 1878 amongst others. Mitochondrial COI barcoding sequences are deposited in the DNA Data Bank of Japan. A key to Hesione species from Japan is also included.

Diplocirrus nicolaji (Annelida: Flabelligeridae) from Japan, detailed morphological observation and DNA barcoding

Diplocirrus nicolaji is a flabelligerid worm originally described from shallow waters of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. Later, this species was also recorded from Japan, but detailed data were not provided; thus the occurrence of D. nicolaji in Japan needs to be confirmed based upon additional material. The collection of 20 D. nicolaji individuals from four localities along Japanese coasts (the Sea of Japan and western Pacific Ocean), allowed us to provide detailed morphological observations using stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopy. Partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences were obtained for phylogenetic analysis. Although the morphological analysis detected a few variations in palp length and body colour in ethanol among the local populations, the phylogenetic analysis confirmed their conspecificity with little genetic divergence. This is the first report of D. nicolaji from the western Pacific Ocean and extends its distribution southward.

New annelid species from the deepest known whale-fall environment: Bathykermadeca thanatos sp. nov. (Annelida: Polynoidae)

A new species of polynoid annelids, Bathykermadeca thanatos sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from sunken whale bones in the Nansei-Shoto Trench in the Philippine Sea at a depth of 4974 m. The cetacean-carcass community at the site exceeds the deepest record reported to date. This new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following features: i) there is only one type of neurochaetae, ii) the teeth lack serration and grow inwardly, iii) median antenna extends beyond the tip of frontal filament, iv) nephridial papillae are present in segments 12-15, and v) there are about 50 notochaetae in each parapodium.

A new species of the rare, deep-sea polychaete genus Benthoscolex from the Sea of Kumano, Japan (Annelida, Amphinomidae)

Abstract A new species of amphinomid polychaete, Benthoscolex seisuiae sp. n., is described from the Sea of Kumano, Japan, from depths of 487–596 m. The species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following features: i) palps 1.8 times as long as lateral antennae; ii) branchiae do not reach to the tip of the notochaetae. This is the first record of Benthoscolex from Japan. A partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence from the holotype of B. seisuiae sp. n. is provided for reliable species identification in the future.

Remarkable biodiversity of flabelligerids in Japan: seven new species of Diplocirrus (Annelida: Flabelligeridae) from Japanese waters

Seven new species of Diplocirrus are described from Japan: D. asamushiensis sp. nov., D. imajimai sp. nov., D. mamoi sp. nov., D. ohtsukai sp. nov., D. seisuiae sp. nov., D. tohokuensis sp. nov., and D. toyoshioae sp. nov. These species are distinguished from all the known species of Diplocirrus by the following features: length of the cephalic cage, length of lateral papillae, presence of gonopodial lobe, adhering pattern of sediment particles, length of caruncle, length and morphological feature of branchiae, articles and morphological features of neurochaetae, and swollen area along the body.

A new species and the shallowest record of Flabegraviera Salazar-Vallejo, 2012 (Annelida: Flabelligeridae) from Antarctica

A new species of polychaete, Flabegraviera fujiae sp. nov., is described and the first report of F. mundata (Gravier, 1906) from the shallow water around Syowa Station, Antarctica, is presented. Flabegraviera fujiae sp. nov. resembles F. profunda Salazar-Vallejo, 2012 but is discriminated from the latter by having eyes and an exposed cephalic cage. The specimen of F. mundata was collected from a depth of 8 m, providing the shallowest record of this species to date.

Rare endoparasitic Asteriomyzostomum (Annelida: Asteriomyzostomidae) from Japan, including three new species descriptions and their phylogenetic position within Myzostomida

The rare myzostomid genus Asteriomyzostomum Jägersten, 1940 consists of two species, both parasitizing sea stars. The phylogenetic position of this genus among Myzostomida has not been previously shown using molecular data. In this study, three species of Asteriomyzostomum were collected from the Kumano Sea, Japan, and are described as A. hercules sp. nov., A. jinshou sp. nov., and A. monroeae sp. nov. Additional specimens of the genus Asteromyzostomum Wagin, 1954 were also collected from the Kumano Sea and briefly reported as Asteromyzostomum sp. A molecular phylogeny based on four gene markers (COI, 16S, 18S, H3) suggests that the three families Asteriomyzostomidae, Asteromyzostomidae, and Protomyzostomidae comprise a clade. The resulting topology of the tree indicates that a host change from Crinozoa (sea lilies and feather stars) to Asterozoa (asteroids and ophiuroids) occurred only once in the evolutionary history of Myzostomida.

Marine benthic community in Shirahama, southwestern Kii Peninsula, central Japan

We herein present the results of a survey which assessed the benthic fauna from subtidal to continental shelf depth in the Shirahama area from 2012 to 2016. Our research resulted in the identification of 132 species from 75 families in seven phyla, Cnidaria, Annelida, Tardigrada, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Chordata. This includes 24 newly recorded species to Shirahama. Two species were also new records for Japanese waters. Furthermore, six undescribed species and five potentially undescribed species were recorded. We provide a selection of relevant photos for future taxonomic studies and monitoring of environmental changes.