Uncovering the biodiversity of New Zealand Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora) with three new species of Proneomeniidae Simroth, 1893 and new data for Dorymenia quincarinata (Ponder, 1970)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aplacophorans are vermiform marine molluscs found in benthic habitats worldwide. However, there is an extreme lack of knowledge about their true diversity. There are around 440 described species, but the true number is estimated to be at least tenfold higher. Identifying most solenogaster aplacophorans to the species, genus and sometimes even family level requires histology so that internal anatomical structures, such as the radula, foregut glands, and reproductive organs can be characterised. The aplacophoran faunas of many regions have barely been studied or have not been studied at all. An example is the waters surrounding New Zealand where only three species have been described to date. To advance the understanding of the biodiversity of Aplacophora, we describe three new species of solenogaster aplacophorans from New Zealand, all of which belong to the family Proneomeniidae Simroth, 1893: Dorymenia tanifa n. sp., Dorymenia ancora n. sp. and Dorymenia lucida n. sp. New data on Dorymenia quincarinata (Ponder, 1970) are also included and a comparison of all Dorymenia species is described in detail. In addition, DNA barcodes were obtained from D. lucida n. sp. and D. quincarinata, which will be useful for future specimen identification by non-experts and future studies on aplacophoran evolution.