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New species of Doliolida (Tunicata, Thaliacea) from the Adriatic Sea

New species of Doliolida is found in the South Adriatic in autumn 2021. Blastozooids of this species are similar to Dolioletta gegenbauri in endostyl position (from MII 1/2 to MIV 1/3), overall body consistency (both species are fragile and easily damaged in net tows), position and length of the testis and ovary and the position of the branchial bar. The main difference in Dolioletta sp. nov. and Dolioletta gegenbauri is in that intestine does not form a tight coil and after forming a right loop as in Doliolum nationalis, it sharply turns left so that anal aperture is facing left body wall. The other difference between these two species is in that the ganglion is positioned between MIII and MIV, but closer to MIV in Dolioletta sp. nov., while in Dolioletta gegenbauri it is positioned closer to MIII. COI pyhlogenetic analysis showed that Dolioletta sp. nov. forms a clade with Dolioletta gegenbauri (100% bootstrap support), while the COI sequence difference between these two species is 16.8%. The finding of a new doliolid species in the Adriatic Sea continues the worrisome trend in recent decades of new gelatinous species being described every couple of years in this well investigated area. The geographic origin of this species is still unknown.

Doliolida ; new species ; Adriatic Sea

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