The sea anemones diversity is still poorly studied in Isla del Coco National Park, Costa
Rica. Objective: To report for the first time the presence of the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. Methods:
Some rhodoliths were examined in situ in Punta Ulloa at 14 m depth, by SCUBA during the expedition UCRUNA-
COCO-I to Isla del Coco National Park on 24th April 2010. Living anemones settled on rhodoliths were
photographed and its external morphological features and measures were recorded in situ. Results: Several individuals
of E. diaphana were observed on rodoliths and we repeatedly observed several small individuals of this
sea anemone surrounding the largest individual in an area (presumably the founder sea anemone) on rhodoliths
from Punta Ulloa. Conclusions: The geographic distribution is extended as well as their bathymetric distribution
from the intertidal to 14 m depth. The photographs provide evidence of clonal reproduction by pedal laceration.
Autor:
Fabián H Acuña
Jorge Cortés
Agustín Garese
Ricardo González-Muñoz
Editorial: Estación Científica Coiba AIP
Tamaño: 2.9Mb
Soporte: Digital
Formato: Pdf (.pdf)
Idioma: Ingles