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An integrative study of Anemonia viridis (Forsskål, 1775) and Aiptasia couchii (Cocks, 1851) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from the North Adriatic Sea

Zoomorphology volume 140, pages 421–435 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Although the biometric investigation of the cnidome represents an essential diagnostic feature to successfully identify cnidarian species, further efforts are needed to fully characterize eventual differences. Important model actiniarians, such Anemonia viridis and Aiptasia spp., are commonly used for scientific purposes; however, their identification is often difficult, and the description of their cnidome is, therefore, essential. To contribute to this necessity, specimens of Anemonia viridis and Aiptasia couchii from the North Adriatic Sea were collected to acquire data (i.e. length, width, size range, length/width ratio) about cnidae from different tissues (i.e. column, tentacles, actinopharynx, mesenteries, and acrorhagi/acontia). Four types of cnidae were observed in each species. A. viridis shows microbasic b-mastigophores, microbasic p-mastigophores, holotrichous isorhizas, and spirocysts, whereas A. couchii harbored basitrichs, microbasic p-mastigophore, microbasic p-amastigophore and spirocysts. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses were also performed using three mitochondrial markers to confirm the correct classification of the specimens here analysed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Red Sea Research Centre (RSRC), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia

    S. Arossa

  2. Dipartimento Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente (Di.S.V.A.), Università’ Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy

    C. Cerrano, M. Barucca, F. Carducci, S. Puce & C. G. Di Camillo

  3. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy

    C. Cerrano

  4. Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro, Urbino, Italy

    C. Cerrano

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  1. S. Arossa
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  3. M. Barucca
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Contributions

CC and CGD conceived of the presented idea. SA wrote the first draft of the paper. SA and CGD performed sampling, analysis of samples and data. SA prepared the tables and supplementary materials. CGD prepared the display figures. MB and FC performed molecular and phylogenetic analyses. SP contributed to improving the paper. All authors contributed to read, to revise and to approve the final version of the manuscript.

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Arossa, S., Cerrano, C., Barucca, M. et al. An integrative study of Anemonia viridis (Forsskål, 1775) and Aiptasia couchii (Cocks, 1851) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from the North Adriatic Sea. Zoomorphology 140, 421–435 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-021-00539-z

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