Boloceroides daphneae, a new species of giant sea anemone (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Boloceroididae) from the deep Pacific

Abstract

A previously known but undescribed species of sea anemone from the deep Eastern Pacific Ocean is described as Boloceroides daphneae Daly 2005. This description is based on five relatively small specimens collected on the East Pacific Rise in an area defined by latitude 8°36.687'N-12°48.719'N and longitude 103°56.467'W-104°12.531'W and depth of 2,400-2,650 m. Boloceroides daphneae is easily distinguished when alive based on its extremely large size and sinuous, deciduous tentacles. Because it is the only sea anemone reported from the deep sea with abundant spirocysts on the column and with ectodermal longitudinal muscle, preserved specimens are relatively easy to identify. The spirocysts of B. daphneae are considerably larger than those of any other species from the deep sea, and are among the largest ever reported. © Springer-Verlag 2005.