Rhodolitica on rhodoliths: a new stoloniferan genus (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

Scientists have discovered and described a new genus of octocoral, Rhodolitica occulta, found exclusively on rhodoliths within Cocos Island National Park. This species, characterized by its unique tubular anthosteles interconnected by thin stolons and distinctive sclerite morphology, stands out due to the absence of fused sclerites in its anthosteles while retaining them in stolons. The research employed an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological comparisons with molecular phylogenetic analysis, to distinguish this genus from similar ones. The discovery highlights the biodiversity richness of Cocos Island and contributes to our understanding of marine life in the eastern tropical Pacific.

Breedy, O., van Ofwegen, L., McFadden, C. S., & Murillo-Cruz, C. (2021). Rhodolitica on rhodoliths: a new stoloniferan genus (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Alcyonacea). ZooKeys, 1032, 63–77. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1032.63431