First Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora) from Puerto Rico: descriptions of two new species and notes on their coral hosts
Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora) are a unique and understudied group of marine invertebrates of evolutionary and ecological significance. Their diversity remains underestimated due to frequent lack of identification by non-specialists, limited molecular data, and the complexity of their taxonomy. Here we present the first Solenogastres from Puerto Rico, expanding the group's known geographic distribution in the Caribbean Sea. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we describe two new species, <i>Dorymenia gummi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>Strophomenia boricua</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, and document their associations with coral hosts. These findings offer new insights into the ecology and biodiversity of these elusive mollusks.
Authors
- Ellen E. Strong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7181-4114)
- Santiago Herrera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7204-9434)
- Andrea M. Quattrini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4247-3055)
- Corinna Breusing (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6845-0188)
- M. Carmen Cobo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8481-2086)
Institutions
- Smithsonian Institution (US)
- National Museum of Natural History (US)
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- Lehigh University (US)
- University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (US)
- Applied Science Associates (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ZooKeys
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1261.164889
- Primary Topic
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Smithsonian Institution
- Lehigh University
- Schmidt Ocean Institute
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Museum of Natural History
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management