A closer look at the taxonomic and genetic diversity of endemic South African Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865

Abstract

The current study investigates the final unresolved cosmopolitan species of Marphysa in South Africa, Marphysa corallina, collected from KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape provinces, together with another species collected from northern KwaZulu Natal. Morphological and genetic data prove that M. corallina, originally described from Hawaii, does not occur in South Africa. The curvature of the inner base on maxilla I, the elevated inner base of maxilla II, and the ventral cirrus as a transverse welt with a rounded tip allow us to identify it as a new species of Treadwellphysa, T. izinqa sp. nov. (common name: brown wonderworm). Characteristic traits include the basal reddish and distal golden colour of the subacicular hook, the ear-shaped postchaetal lobe, and tridentate falcigers which is reported for the first time for the genus. This species is harvested as bait on the south coast of SA, although less frequently than the more common blood wonderworm, Marphysa haemasona Quatrefages, 1866, and can be distinguished by its more uniform brown colouration and white-tipped antennae. A second species, Marphysa mzingazia sp. nov., is characterized by red eyes, six branchial filaments extending to the posterior end, the golden aciculae in posterior chaetigers, weakly bidentate yellow/brown subacicular hooks, and the presence of similar sized spinigers along the body. A molecular analysis based on cytochrome oxidase I fragments confirm both taxa as different species. A key for all South African species of Marphysa is included.