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Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae)

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Abstract

Efforts to culture and conserve acroporid corals in aquaria have led to the discovery of a corallivorous polyclad flatworm (known as AEFW – Acropora-eating flatworm), which, if not removed, can eat entire colonies. Live observations of the AEFW, whole mounts, serial histological sections and comparison of 28S rDNA sequences with other polyclads reveal that this is a new species belonging to the family Prosthiostomidae Lang, 1884 and previously monospecific genus Amakusaplana (Kato 1938). Amakusaplana acroporae is distinguished from Amakusaplana ohshimai by a different arrangement and number of eyes, a large seminal vesicle and dorsoventrally compressed shell gland pouch. Typical of the genus, A. acroporae, lacks a ventral sucker and has a small notch at the midline of the anterior margin. Nematocysts and a Symbiodinium sp. of dinoflagellate from the coral are abundantly distributed in the gut and parenchyma. Individual adults lay multiple egg batches on the coral skeleton, each egg batch has 20–26 egg capsules, and each capsule contains between 3–7 embryos. Embryonic development takes approximately 21 days, during which time characteristics of a pelagic life stage (lobes and ciliary tufts) develop but are lost before hatching. The hatchling is capable of swimming but settles to the benthos quickly, and no zooxanthellae were observed in the animal at this stage. We suggest that intracapsular metamorphosis limits the dispersal potential of hatchlings and promotes recruitment of offspring into the natal habitat. The evolutionary and ecological significance of retaining lobes and ciliary tufts in the embryo are discussed. Camouflage, high fecundity and possible dispersal dimorphisms probably explain how Amakusaplana acroporae can cause Acropora sp. mortality in aquaria where natural predators may be absent.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Greg Rouse, Fernando Nosratpour, Bruce Wilfong, Alan Flojo and Randy Donowitz for providing additional AEFW specimens. We thank Bernhard Egger and Peter Ladurner for providing samples of Prosthiostomum siphunculus and Macrostomum lignano, respectively. We thank John Chuk for help with collection and identification of Australian polyclad species, Nicolette Craig of Practical Fish Keeping magazine and Mary Hagerdorn for helpful discussion. This work was funded by a Smithsonian Marine Science Network fellowship to KAR and a Smithsonian Link Foundation Fellowship to JAG. Smithsonian Marine Station contribution number 842.

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  1. K. A. Rawlinson

    Present address: Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL, 34949, USA

    K. A. Rawlinson

  2. Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK

    J. A. Gillis

  3. 9901 Jay Lane, Bristow, VA, 20136, USA

    R. E. Billings Jr.

  4. Department of Biology, University of Houston, Science and Research Building II, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX, 77204, USA

    E. H. Borneman

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Correspondence to K. A. Rawlinson.

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Rawlinson, K.A., Gillis, J.A., Billings, R.E. et al. Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae). Coral Reefs 30, 693–705 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-011-0745-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-011-0745-3

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