DNA-based diversity assessment reveals a new coral barnacle, Cantellius alveoporae sp. nov. (Balanomorpha: Pyrgomatidae) exclusively associated with the high latitude coral Alveopora japonica in the waters of southern Korea

Abstract

In the present study, the Indo-Pacific coral associated barnacle Cantellius euspinulosum (Broch, 1931) was found to have cryptic species in Korea, Taiwan and other regions based on molecular studies. However, the original specimens of C. euspinulosum from Broch have not been previously described or illustrated, making it difficult to assign which cryptic species to the original C. euspinulosum. The original specimen of C. euspinulosum was examined and illustrated here, and the species identity of C. cf. euspinulosum collected from Jejudo Island in the present study and other cryptic species (based on literature illustrations) in the Indo-Pacific were evaluated.C. euspinulosum from Singapore, Java, Mergui Archipelago in Andaman Sea and Nha Trang represented the C. euspinulosum identified by Broch (1931). It is a generalist on Acropora, Favia, Favites, Leptoria, Montipora, Pachyseris and Pocillipora corals and distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. Morphological examination and DNA sequencing (COI, 12S DNA sequences) in the present study showed that C. cf. euspinulosum from Jejudo Island, Korea represents a distinct species, herein named C. alveoporae sp. nov. Cantellius alveroporae sp. nov. is a specialist species that only grows on Alveopora and also present in Palau, and Ogasawara Island in Japan. Cantellius cf. euspinuloum in Taiwan, the Moscos Island, and Australia belong to several other distinct species awaiting further morphological and molecular studies. At least five cryptic species of C. euspinulosum were identified in the present study, including both specialist and generalists.