Nausithoe werneri

Nausithoe werneri Jarms, 1990 Fig. 7

Nausithoe werneri Jarms 1990: 12-17, figs 1-7, pls I, III. Type locality: Morocco coast (25°20.4'N, 16°08.4'W, 415-420 m depth). Holotype: ZMH C11530.

Metagenetic species.

Solitary polyp with typical periderm tube, dark to light brown, conical, with transverse rings on surface with longitudinal striations (4-5 rings every 0.4 mm at 2 mm above the base). Polyps 2.56-31.46 mm long. Basal disk 0.24-0.53 mm in diameter. Diameter of aperture 0.33-1.29 mm. Diameter just above basal disc 0.07-0.23 mm. Diameter at 2-mm height 0.07-0.12 mm, and at 5-mm height 0.07-0.17 mm. Six to 14 whorls of 8 internal cusps: 4 large (perradius) and 4 intermediate (interradius), with additional cusps. Polyp with up to 40 filiform tentacles. Polydisc strobilation, with more than 100 ephyrae at a time. Medusa with smooth umbrella (Fig. 7) with high central dome; 16 slightly elongated lappets with rounded margins, and 8 rhopalia with statocyst and red ocelli. Live specimens measuring up to: 6.8 mm total diameter; 5 mm between opposite rhopalia; 2.5 mm coronal groove diameter; gastric cirri approximately 1.9 mm in length; and tentacle length up to 3 mm. Stomach with 4 gastric septa, each with 1 gastric filament (4 in total).

Sequences from all species studied are available on GenBank (Table 7). DNA comparisons of the sequenced markers of the species are summarized in Tables 8 and 9. We were not able to amplify the three proposed markers for all polyps. Therefore, Nausithoe sp. specimens AC01 (no 28S data), AC17 (no COI data), and AC18 (no COI data) were not included in the molecular analyses. Polyps with all three genes sequenced were compared with each other and with N. maculata (= N. aurea from Brazil), N. maculata (Cuba), and N. werneri . Using only the COI marker, Nausithoe sp. (specimens AC02, AC08, AC10, AC20) and N. werneri had less than 6% genetic difference from each other and almost 20% genetic difference from N. maculata (Cuba) and N. maculata (= N. aurea from Brazil). Nausithoe maculata from Cuba had less than 7% difference from N. maculata (= N. aurea) from Brazil. The remaining DNA extractions from cultures are also considered as vouchers (Table 7).