Liriope tetraphylla

16 S Data: A blastn search in GenBank with the 16 S from Florida (MW 528649) yielded numerous matches with other Liriope tetraphylla samples, but only with identities from 92 to 95.5 %. The sequence obtained from the Mediterranean specimen (MW 528628) gave identities from 90 to 99 % with other Liriope tetraphylla sequences.

Fig. 62

Remarks: This is a rather unproblematic species, but Collins et al. (2008) suggested the existence of cryptic species based on significant divergences in mitochondrial 16 S and nuclear sequence data. The high 16 S divergences were confirmed in the present study.

Distribution: In Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic ocean, including the Mediterranean, approximately between 40 ° N and 40 ° S, in the NE Atlantic reaching to the English Channel (Kramp, 968). Type locality: Indian Ocean (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821).

Examined material: BFLA 4026; 1 specimen; 15 - FEB- 2019; size 20 mm; preserved in alcohol for DNA extraction; 16 S sequence MW 528649. MHNG-INVE- 0031754; Mediterranean, Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer; 43.6860 ° N 7.3170 ° E; 70 m depth; collection date 11 - MAY- 2001;> 2 specimens; size 3 - 4 mm; 1 preserved in formalin, others in ethanol for DNA extraction; 16 S sequence MW 528628. Observations: Specimen from Florida with nearly hemispherical bell, 20 mm wide, apical jelly thick, with long, thin gastric peduncle, peduncle length more than two times the bell height. Thin nematocysts tracks on exumbrella, four perradial and four interradial, interradial ones reaching only to base of short tentacles, perradial ones longer. Stomach on long gastric peduncle, relatively small, four indistinct perradial lips. Radial canals four, centripetal canals not visible on photos. Gonads very wide, flat, leaf-like, heart-shaped with pointed side pointing toward periphery. Four long perradial tentacles originating at bell margin, with ring-shaped nematocyst clusters. Four short interradial tentacles originating above bell margin on exumbrella, with adaxial nematocyst clusters.