Cephalodiscus planitectus sp. nov. (Hemichordata: Pterobranchia) from Sagami Bay, Japan.

ABSTRACT

We describe here a new pterobranch, Cephalodiscus planitectus sp. nov. This pterobranch was collected from rocky slopes, at 100-300 m depth, off Jogashima Island, Sagami Bay, Japan. The tubaria of this new species have unique morphological features that differentiate it from known species. The tubaria are usually isolated from one another and have a completely flat and smooth surface that is devoid of erect features and projecting spines. Each has a simple, non-branched tubular cavity that is usually inhabited by a mature animal and its asexually budding offspring. The zooids have three pairs of tentaculated arms. A single bud is produced on the dorsal side of the stalk in adult zooids. In one instance, a live embryo was observed rotating at the bottom of a tubarium. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that C. planitectus is a sister group to all other Cephalodiscus species analyzed to date.