The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

A revision of the Pyura stolonifera species complex (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), with a description of a new species from Australia

A revision of the Pyura stolonifera species complex (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), with a description of a new species from Australia
A revision of the Pyura stolonifera species complex (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), with a description of a new species from Australia
Pyura stolonifera is a large solitary ascidian found in Africa, Australasia and South America. The taxonomic status of different populations of this species is disputed, especially since there is evidence for several distinct morphological and genetic units that point towards the existence of multiple cryptic species. While some researchers still recognize P. stolonifera as a single species, others treat the different populations as distinct species. Here, we present a revision of the P. stolonifera species complex based on the examination of samples from all regions where there are reliable reports of this taxon. We recognize four species that are both morphologically and genetically distinct, one of which is new to science and is formally described here. This species is morphologically distinct from the other three members of the species complex in terms of the colour and texture of the tunic, the arrangement of the gonads within the gut and the shape of the dorsal tubercle, among other characters. We name the new species Pyura dalbyi after Dr. J.E. Dalby Jr., whose research on its ecology and distribution provided the incentive for examining this species more closely.
pyuridae, pyura dalbyin. sp., ascidian, taxonomy, pyura herdmani, pyura praeputialis, disjunct distribution, southern africa, chile, morocco
1175-5334
27-40
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
Teske, Peter R.
a85ccc74-7aa3-424c-bf48-2caaecbe0e70
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
Teske, Peter R.
a85ccc74-7aa3-424c-bf48-2caaecbe0e70

Rius, Marc and Teske, Peter R. (2011) A revision of the Pyura stolonifera species complex (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), with a description of a new species from Australia. Zootaxa, 2754, 27-40.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Pyura stolonifera is a large solitary ascidian found in Africa, Australasia and South America. The taxonomic status of different populations of this species is disputed, especially since there is evidence for several distinct morphological and genetic units that point towards the existence of multiple cryptic species. While some researchers still recognize P. stolonifera as a single species, others treat the different populations as distinct species. Here, we present a revision of the P. stolonifera species complex based on the examination of samples from all regions where there are reliable reports of this taxon. We recognize four species that are both morphologically and genetically distinct, one of which is new to science and is formally described here. This species is morphologically distinct from the other three members of the species complex in terms of the colour and texture of the tunic, the arrangement of the gonads within the gut and the shape of the dorsal tubercle, among other characters. We name the new species Pyura dalbyi after Dr. J.E. Dalby Jr., whose research on its ecology and distribution provided the incentive for examining this species more closely.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 1 February 2011
Keywords: pyuridae, pyura dalbyin. sp., ascidian, taxonomy, pyura herdmani, pyura praeputialis, disjunct distribution, southern africa, chile, morocco
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 354675
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/354675
ISSN: 1175-5334
PURE UUID: 5ac903d6-9de1-4a5f-864d-5d6c642b2354

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 Jul 2013 11:07
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 15:08

Export record

Contributors

Author: Marc Rius
Author: Peter R. Teske

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×