On the phylogeny of Ischyroceridae (Amphipoda,Senticaudata, Corophiida), with the description of a new genus and eight new species from deep‐sea Brazilian waters

The family Ischyroceridae is analysed herein by cladistic methods based on morphological characters, using both PAUP 4.0b and TNT. The data matrix of 41 characters × 32 terminal taxa was constructed using DELTA. Based on the results, we comment on the phylogenetic relationships of certain genera and their synapomorphic characters, also discussing the phylogenetic position of M yersius gen. nov. , which appeared as the sister group of Bathyphotis. In addition, Pseudischyrocerus crenatipes is removed to Bathyphotis, for which a new diagnosis is provided. A taxonomic study with the Ischyroceridae collected on the continental slope (depth, 700–2000 m) in the Campos Basin (20.5–24°S, 40–41°W) was also performed. Samples were collected in November–December 2002 and July–August 2003 using a box core device. As a result, a new genus and eight new species are described: B onnierella campensis sp. nov. , B onnierella laurensi sp. nov. , M yersius denticaudatus gen. et sp. nov. , N otopoma lowryi sp. nov. , N otopoma teresae sp. nov. , P seudericthonius bousfieldi sp. nov. , P seudericthonius concavus sp. nov. , and P seudischyrocerus caecus sp. nov. The genus Bonnierella is recorded for the first time from Brazilian waters, and the subspecies Bonnierella linearis linearis and Bonnierella linearis californica are elevated to species rank. Keys to the genera of Ischyroceridae used in the cladistic analysis and the world species of Notopoma are given. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Two peculiar new genera of Typhloplanoida from the Western Indian Ocean

Three new species and two new genera of Typhloplanoida from the Western Indian Ocean are described. Feanora brevicirrus gen. et.sp. n. is a member of the Trigonostomidae von Graff, 1905 sensu Den Hartog, 1964. It has a cirrus, paired ovovitellaria and an undifferentiated afferent duct. An excentric bursa opens in the fecundatorium and a large ovoid vesicle enters the afferent duct in its distal part. Gaziella pileola gen. et sp. n. and G. lacertosa sp.n. are two new members of the Promesostomidae Den Hartog, 1964. They have a long cirrus, ovovitellaria and a long muscular female duct with two excentrically placed sperm-receiving vesicles. Their most striking feature is the proboscis-like structure. Feanora and Gaziella are provisionally considered as genera incertae sedis within the resp. families.     

Systematic revision of the genus Everettia Godwin‐Austen, 1891 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Dyakiidae) in Sabah,northern Borneo

The species of the snail genus Everettia in the Malaysian state of Sabah are superficially similar and difficult to distinguish by their shells. This paper presents new data on the taxonomy and distribution of Everettia in Sabah that have accumulated since the revision by Godwin‐Austen in 1891. By using morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches, we reveal at least seventeen species of Everettia in Sabah, of which eleven are new to science, namely: Everettia layanglayang sp. nov. , Everettia lapidini sp. nov. , Everettia paulbasintali sp. nov. , Everettia occidentalis sp. nov. , Everettia jasilini sp. nov. , Everettia safriei sp. nov. , Everettia interior sp. nov. , Everettia jucundior sp. nov. , Everettia planispira sp. nov. , Everettia monticola sp. nov. , and Everettia dominiki sp. nov. , and one new subspecies, namely, Everettia corrugata williamsi ssp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and 16S, and nuclear ITS‐1 sequences demonstrates the monophyly of most of the morphologically well‐defined species. Our results show that certain aspects of classical morphology‐based taxonomy for Everettia species, especially with regard to the unique combination of shell surface sculptures, animal head colour, and mantle pigmentation, are solid. A dichotomous key to the Sabah species and subspecies of Everettia is provided. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 515–550.     

Some considerations when comparing SABAP 1 with SABAP 2 data

Jouanin's Petrel Bulweria fallax mainly occurs in the western Indian Ocean. Prior to our study there were only two records from east of 82° E. We show that small numbers of Jouanin's Petrels are regular visitors to the eastern Indian Ocean, occurring to 15° N 90° E in the Bay of Bengal and 15° S 123° E off northern Australia. Although seasonal coverage is limited, they have been recorded east of 80° E from April–July and October–December, but not in February–March. Most sightings are from oceanic waters at least 20 km offshore where depths exceed 500 m.     

Leptonotus vincentae,a new pipefish species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathinae) from the south-west Atlantic Ocean near northern Patagonia

A new species of pipefish Leptonotus vincentae sp. nov. (Syngnathidae) is described on the basis of 12 specimens found in shallow waters (<2 m depth) of San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. The species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: dorsal-fin rays 30–33, pectoral-fin rays 12–13, trunk rings 18–19, tail rings 43–46, subdorsal rings (2–4) + (5.5–8) = (8.5–10), head length 13–14% standard length, snout length 35–55% head length and snout depth 21–30% in snout length. Although this species has often been mistaken for Leptonotus blainvilleanus, most diagnostic characters of the two species differ. Both species are clearly distinguished by their snout length. L. blainvilleanus has a relatively longer snout than L. vincentae sp. nov. The new species is similar to a south-west Pacific species, Leptonotus elevatus. However, L. vincentae sp. nov. differs from this species in that it exhibits a lower number of dorsal-fin rays and a relatively longer head.     

New representatives of the genus Ancorabolina George, 2006 (Copepoda,Harpacticoida, Ancorabolidae) including remarks on ancorabolid phylogeny

Four new species of Ancorabolina George, 2006 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Ancorabolidae) are described: Ancorabolina belgicae sp. nov. (from the Porcupine Seabight, north‐east Atlantic Ocean), Ancorabolina anaximenesi sp. nov. and Ancorabolina galeata sp. nov. (both from Anaximenes Mountain, eastern Mediterranean Sea), and Ancorabolina divasecunda sp. nov. (from Cape and Guinea Basins, south‐east Atlantic Ocean). Furthermore, the generic diagnosis for Ancorabolina is provided and the position of the taxon within Ancorabolidae is discussed. The characters originally employed to allocate Ancorabolina to the subfamily Ancorabolinae Sars, 1909, are critically evaluated and two true autapomorphies for a monophyletic Ancorabolinae (including Ancorabolina) are recognized. Two autapomorphies supporting Ancorabolina are proposed: (1) cephalothorax posteriorly with pair of ventrolateral cuticular processes turned backwards and (2) loss of the third setal element subapically on the antennary endopod. The urgent need for a phylogenetic re‐evaluation of the paraphyletic subfamily Laophontodinae Lang, 1944 is stressed and evidenced by three characters widespread in this subfamily but also present in Ancorabolina. This may be an indication of a closer relationship of Ancorabolina with certain members of Laophontodinae. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 16–55.     

Molecular taxonomy and naming of five cryptic species of Alviniconcha snails (Gastropoda: Abyssochrysoidea) from hydrothermal vents

Large symbiont-hosting snails of the genus Alviniconcha (Gastropoda: Abyssochrysidae) are among the dominant inhabitants of hydrothermal vents in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. The genus was originally described as monotypic, but unique DNA sequences for mitochondrial genes revealed six distinct evolutionary lineages that we could not distinguish based on external morphology. Subsumed under the name Alviniconcha hessleri Okutani & Ohta, the distinct allopatric and sympatric lineages have been assigned placeholder epithets that complicate scientific communications. Based on the present multi-gene sequence data, we hereby describe five Alviniconcha species (in the order of their discovery) – A. kojimai sp. nov., A. boucheti sp. nov., A. marisindica sp. nov., A. strummeri sp. nov. and A. adamantis sp. nov. Thus, we restrict application of the name A. hessleri to specimens that are genetically similar (≥95% for COI) to those found at localities in the Mariana Trough. Single distinct Alviniconcha species inhabit vent fields along the Central Indian Ridge, the Mariana volcanic arc, and the Mariana back-arc basin, whereas vents in the Manus, Fiji and Lau back-arc basins may host two or three additional species. Formal recognition of these species facilitates future attempts to assess their physiological differences and symbiont associations. Furthermore, their reported distributions have significant biogeographic implications, affecting estimates of the diversity within and overlap among Indo-Pacific vent localities.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1E4B2E71-9F1D-479E-9A9A-22A9E303AAE5     

Description of a new family,new genus,and two new species of deep‐sea Forcipulatacea (Asteroidea), including the first known sea star from hydrothermal vent habitats

Based on a phylogenetic analysis of undescribed taxa within the Forcipulatacea, a new family of deep‐sea forcipulatacean starfishes, Paulasteriidae fam. nov., is described from deep‐sea settings. Paulasterias tyleri gen. et sp. nov. was observed at recently documented hydrothermal vents on the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean. A second species, Paulasterias mcclaini gen. et sp. nov. was observed in deep‐sea settings in the North Pacific, more distant from hydrothermal vents. Both species are multi‐armed (with between six and eight arms), with a fleshy body wall, and a poorly developed or absent adoral carina. Here, we include discussions of pedicellariae morphology, feeding biology, and classification. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Small snails in a big place: a radiation in the semi‐arid rangelands in northern Australia (Eupulmonata,Camaenidae, Nanotrachia gen. nov.)

Continuing the revision of the Camaenidae in the Australian Monsoon Tropics, we employed comparative analyses of morphological features (with a focus on shell and penial anatomy) and genetic markers (with a focus on mitochondrial COI and 16S sequences) to address the systematic relationships of land snails from the Victoria River District, Northern Territory, and adjacent East Kimberley (Western Australia). These analyses revealed that the species under study represented the previously undescribed genus Nanotrachia. This genus differs from all other camaenid genera known from north‐western Australia most conspicuously by its small, flat, and ribbed shell. Six species are identified as members of the new genus, four of them new species ( Nanotrachia costulata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia carinata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia coronata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia levis sp. nov. ). Two further species have already been described previously but assigned to different genera. These species, Ordtrachia intermedia (as the type species of Nanotrachia) and Mouldingia orientalis, are here transferred to Nanotrachia. Like other camaenids from the Australian Monsoon Tropics, species of Nanotrachia are characterized by essentially allopatric distributions, regional endemism, and a patchy distribution across their range. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Genetic and morphological differentiation of Porphyra and Pyropia species (Bangiales,Rhodophyta) coexisting in a rocky intertidal in Central Chile

A recent molecular taxonomic study along the Chilean coast (18° S–53° S) described 18 candidate species of bladed Bangiales of which only two were formally described. Few studies focused on local genetic and morphological diversity of bladed Bangiales and attempted to determine their intertidal distribution in contrasting habitats, and none were performed in Chile. To delimit intertidal distributions of genetic species, 66 samples of bladed Bangiales were collected at Maitencillo (32° S) in four zones: a rocky platform, a rocky wall, and two boulders zones surrounded by sandy and rocky bottoms, respectively. These samples were identified based on sequences of the mitochondrial COI and chloroplast rbcL markers. We also collected 87 specimens for morphological characterization of the most common species, rapidly assessing their putative species identity using newly developed species‐diagnostic (PCR‐RFLP) markers. Eight microscopic and two macroscopic morphological traits were measured. We described and named three of four species that predominate in Maitencillo (including Pyropia orbicularis): Pyropia variabilis Zapata, Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia, sp. nov., Porphyra luchea Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia sp. nov., and Porphyra longissima Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia, sp. nov. With the exception of Po. longissima restricted to boulders surrounded by sandy bottom, and a morphotype of Py. variabilis restricted to rocky walls, the other species/morphotypes have overlapping intertidal distributions. Except for Po. longissima, which is clearly differentiated morphologically (longest and thinnest blades), we conclude that morphology is not sufficient to differentiate bladed Bangiales. Our findings underscore the importance of refining our knowledge of intrinsic and environmental determinants on the distribution of bladed Bangiales.     

DNA barcoding and morphology reveal exceptional species diversity of Scoparia (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from the Hailuogou Glacier area,China

The genus Scoparia from the Hailuogou Glacier area in the south‐eastern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau of south‐western China is studied, nine species are revealed by combining DNA barcoding (658 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI) and morphology. Studies show that Scoparia species from the Hailuogou Glacier area are 37.5% as many as all the previously known congeners in China. Six species are described as new to science: S coparia simplicissima Li sp. nov. , S coparia tribulosa Li sp. nov. , S coparia longispina Li sp. nov. , S coparia gibbosa Li sp. nov. , S coparia globosa Li sp. nov. , and S coparia annulata Li sp. nov. The female of Scoparia metaleucalis is described for the first time herein. All species are either diagnosed or described and illustrated, and a map of China showing the topography and localities where Scoparia species are recorded is also provided, including the species number of all the recorded localities. The results reveal the exceptional species diversity of Scoparia from the Hailuogou Glacier area, as well as demonstrate that the integration of DNA barcoding and morphological approaches is highly effective for indentifying scopariine moths in the Hailougou glacier area. All the studied specimens are deposited in the Insect Museum, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

A new family of Gonyleptoidea from South America (Opiliones,Laniatores)

A new family of Laniatores, Gerdesiidae fam. nov., is proposed based on molecular and morphological evidence. Data also indicate that this new family is the sister family of Tricommatidae. Gerdesiidae fam. nov. has a disjunct distribution, occurring in northern South America (Peru, Brazilian Amazon) and at a spot in south‐eastern Brazil (Minas Gerais State). The new family is composed of two genera: Gerdesius Roewer, 1952 (type genus) and G onycranaus gen. nov. (type species G onycranaus androgynus sp. nov. ). We propose the synonymy of Huralvioides H. Soares, 1970 with Gerdesius Roewer, 1952 based on molecular and morphological evidence. Three new species are described: G erdesius mapinguari sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus, Reserva Km 41); G onycranaus androgynus sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Conceição do Mato Dentro); and an obligate cave‐dwelling species, G onycranaus pluto sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Morro do Pilar). © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Review of the Acanthopagrus latus complex (Perciformes: Sparidae) with descriptions of three new species from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean

Acanthopagrus latus, long considered a single valid Indo‐West Pacific Ocean species, characterized by having yellow pelvic, anal and caudal fins, is reviewed and separated into A. latus (east Asian shelf) and Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Bengal Bay), and three new species: Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. (north‐western Australia), Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. [Middle East (except for the Red Sea) to coasts of Iran and Pakistan, and western Indian coast] and Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. (The Gulf). Although A. latus as redefined considerably varies in morphology and colouration, it can be recognized as a discrete east Asian endemic, with the following nominal species being junior synonyms: Chrysophrys auripes, Chrysophrys xanthopoda, Chrysophrys rubroptera and Sparus chrysopterus. Chrysophrys novaecaledoniae, known only from the holotype (type locality: Nouméa, New Caledonia), is a questionable junior synonym of A. latus, the lack of subsequent collections suggesting that the type locality is erroneous. Acanthopagrus longispinnis is differentiated from the other species in the complex by consistently having 12 dorsal‐fin spines and a much larger second anal‐fin spine, 21–26% (mean 23%) of standard length (L_S) (v. 14–24%, mean 18–21% in the other four species). Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. has the entire caudal fin yellow with a wide black posterior margin (persisting in preserved specimens) and consistently 3 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal‐fin spine base and the lateral line. Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. has the pelvic, anal and lower caudal fins vivid yellow, with two (rarely three) small black blotches on the lower inter‐radial membranes between the spinous and soft dorsal‐fin rays. Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. consistently has 4 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal‐fin spine base and the lateral line, whereas A. latus always has black streaks proximally on the inter‐radial membranes between the yellow anal‐fin rays. A neotype and lectotye, respectively, are designated for A. latus and A. longispinnis. The p‐distance (net nucleotide substitutions per site) of partial mitochondrial 16s ribosomal RNA genes (538 bp) among the above species (except A. longispinnis) and three other congeners (Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus pacificus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus) strongly indicates that each is a distinct species. A key is provided for the 20 species of Acanthopagrus currently known from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean.     

Squalus bassi sp. nov., a new long‐snouted spurdog (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Squalidae) from the Agulhas Bank

The long‐snouted African spurdog Squalus bassi sp. nov. is described based on material collected from the outer shelf and upper continental slope off South Africa and Mozambique. Squalus bassi shares with S. mitsukurii, S. montalbani, S. chloroculus, S. grahami, S. griffini, S. edmundsi, S. quasimodo and S. lobularis a large snout with prenarial length greater than distance between nostrils and upper labial furrows, dermal denticles tricuspidate and rhomboid and elevated number of vertebrae. Squalus bassi can be distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of body and fin colouration, external morphometrics, vertebral counts and shape of dermal denticles. Similar long‐snouted congeners from the Indo‐Pacific region, including S. montalbani, S. edmundsi and S. lalannei are compared in detail with the new species. This new species has been misidentified as the Japanese S. mitsukurii and the Mediterranean S. blainvillei due to the lack of comparative morphological analyses. The validity of the nominal species S. mitsukurii in the south‐eastern Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean is also clarified herein, indicating it has a more restricted geographical distribution in the North Pacific Ocean.     

Vallodiscus gen. nov., a new fossil resting spore morpho-genus related to the marine diatom genus Chaetoceros (Bacillariophyceae)

A new fossil marine diatom resting spore morphogenus, Vallodiscus Suto gen. nov., is described using samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 338 in the Norwegian Sea, Sites 436 and 438 in the north‐west Pacific Ocean and the onland Newport Beach Section, California. Vallodiscus is characterized by a single ring of veins along the epivalve margin and a hypovalve covered with circular depressions of several sizes with gentle elevation. The morpho‐genus bears three new species and one new combination: Vallodiscus simplexus Suto sp. nov., Vallodiscus complexus Suto sp. nov., Vallodiscus lanceolatus Suto sp. nov. and Vallodiscus chinchae (Mereschkowsky) Suto comb. nov.     

Etheliaceae fam. nov. (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta), with a clarification of the generitype of Ethelia and the addition of six novel species from warm waters

Based upon COI‐5P, LSU rDNA, and rbcL sequence data and morphological characteristics, six new members of the noncalcified crustose genus of red algae Ethelia are described in a new family, Etheliaceae (Gigartinales), sister to the recently described Ptilocladiopsidaceae. The novel species are described from subtropical to tropical Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific Ocean basins; E. mucronata sp. nov. and E. denizotii sp. nov. from southern and northern Western Australia respectively, E. wilcei sp. nov. from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands of Australia, E. suluensis sp. nov. from the Philippines, E. umbricola sp. nov. from Bermuda and E. kraftii sp. nov. from Lord Howe Island, Australia. The generitype, Ethelia biradiata, originally reported from the Seychelles, Indian Ocean, is added to the Western Australian flora.     

INDIAN OCEAN NANNOPLANKTON. II. HOLOCOCCOLITHOPHORIDS (CALYPTROSPHAERACEAE,PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) WITH A REVIEW OF EXTANT GENERA1

Holococcolithophorids, pyrmnesiophytes having only one type of calcareous element in their coccoliths, are delicate and not commonly recorded in recent and fossil marine floras. There are few records of these organisms from the Indian Ocean and 26 species from there are included in this report. Although the group, generally assigned to a single family, the Calyptrosphaeraceae, may contain species that are part of the life history of heterococcolith-bearing cells in other stages, so little is known of this aspect of their biology that one must continue, at the present time, to treat them as independent taxonomic entities. A key is provided for the known holococcolithophorid genera. A new genus, Gliscolithus, and three new species, Gliscolithus amitakarenae, Calyptrosphaera heimdalae, and Helladosphaera pienaarii are described. The following new combinations are proposed: Calyptrolithina fragaria (Kamptner) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina gaarderae (Borsetti et Cati) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina isselii (Borsetti et Cati) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina lafourcadii (Lecal) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina magnaghii (Borsetti et Cati) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina multipora (Gaarder) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina porritectum (Heimdal) comb. nov., Calyptrolithina wettsteinii (Kamptner) comb. nov., Calyptrolithophora catillifera (Kamptner) comb. nov., Calyptrolithophora galea (Lecal-Schlauder) comb. nov., Dactylethra pirus (Kamptner) comb. nov., Helladosphaera arethusae (Kamptner) comb. nov., Helladosphaera gracilis (Kamptner) comb. nov., Homozygosphaera strigilis (Gaarder) comb. nov. and Syracolithus schilleri (Kamptner) comb. nov. The new combination in the genus Dactylethra Gartner for the first time brings an extant species into this genus that formerly contained only fossil species. It is pointed out that the enlarged zygoliths in stomatal areas of Corisphaera and the helladoliths in stomatal regions of Helladosphaera have intergrading types and are not distinctive enough characteristics to separate these genera.     

Connectivity in the cold: the comparative population genetics of vent‐endemic fauna in the Scotia Sea,Southern Ocean

We report the first comparative population genetics study for vent fauna in the Southern Ocean using cytochrome C oxidase I and microsatellite markers. Three species are examined: the kiwaid squat lobster, Kiwa tyleri, the peltospirid gastropod, Gigantopelta chessoia, and a lepetodrilid limpet, Lepetodrilus sp., collected from vent fields 440 km apart on the East Scotia Ridge (ESR) and from the Kemp Caldera on the South Sandwich Island Arc, ~95 km eastwards. We report no differentiation for all species across the ESR, consistent with panmixia or recent range expansions. A lack of differentiation is notable for Kiwa tyleri, which exhibits extremely abbreviated lecithotrophic larval development, suggestive of a very limited dispersal range. Larval lifespans may, however, be extended by low temperature‐induced metabolic rate reduction in the Southern Ocean, muting the impact of dispersal strategy on patterns of population structure. COI diversity patterns suggest all species experienced demographic bottlenecks or selective sweeps in the past million years and possibly at different times. ESR and Kemp limpets are divergent, although with evidence of very recent ESR‐Kemp immigration. Their divergence, possibility indicative of incipient speciation, along with the absence of the other two species at Kemp, may be the consequence of differing dispersal capabilities across a ~1000 m depth range and/or different selective regimes between the two areas. Estimates of historic and recent limpet gene flow between the ESR and Kemp are consistent with predominantly easterly currents and potentially therefore, cross‐axis currents on the ESR, with biogeographic implications for the region.     

Blastodinium galatheanum sp. nov. (Dinophyceae) a parasite of the planktonic copepod Acartia negligens (Crustacea,Calanoida) in the central Atlantic Ocean

A new dinoflagellate species, Blastodinium galatheanum sp. nov., was found parasitizing the planktonic copepods Acartia negligens and Acartia sp. in the Atlantic Ocean between the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands. These copepods have not previously been reported hosting a Blastodinium species. Characters that distinguish the new species are the shape and size of the trophic stage, its host species, and its predominantly solitary existence. Dinospores of Blastodinium galatheanum sp. nov. are peridinioid in nature and morphologically indistinguishable from dinospores of two other previously investigated Blastodinium species. SSU rRNA gene sequences from two isolates of this new species were almost identical and showed similarities to SSU rRNA sequences of other species of Blastodinium. A phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rRNA gene sequences suggested monophyly for all existing sequences of Blastodinium spp., including a sequence from the type species B. pruvoti, presented here for the first time.