Description of three new species of Scolanthus (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria, Edwardsiidae): first records of the genus from Japan

Abstract

Scolanthusis one genus of Edwardsiidae, a speciose family of burrowing worm-like sea anemones characterized by lacking a physa-like aboral end and by possessing nemathybomes on the whole body except at the distal end. This genus has been recorded worldwide, but there have been no specimens collected from Japan. In this study, we discovered fourScolanthusspecies in Japan for the first time:Scolanthusarmatus(Carlgren, 1931) andScolanthuskopepesp. n.from the Ogasawara Islands,Scolanthusenasp. n.from Ena Bay, Kanagawa, andScolanthusiseisp. n.from Sugashima Island, Mie.