title: A new solitary free-living species of the genus Sphenopus (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Zoantharia, Sphenopidae) from Okinawa-jima Island, Japan.
abstract: A new species of free-living solitary zoantharian is described from Okinawa, Japan. Sphenopus exilis sp. n. occurs on silty seafloors in Kin Bay and Oura Bay on the east coast of Okinawa-jima Island. Sphenopus exilis sp. n. is easily distinguished from other Sphenopus species by its small polyp size and slender shape, although there were relatively few differences between Sphenopus exilis sp. n. and Sphenopus marsupialis in the molecular phylogenetic analyses. Currently, very little is known about the ecology and diversity of Sphenopus species. Thus, reviewing each species carefully via combined morphological and molecular analyses by using newly obtained specimens from type localities is required to clearly understand and distinguish the species within the genus Sphenopus.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for the Pacific Islands Amami Station, Kagoshima University, Naze-Yanagimachi 2-1, Amami, Kagoshima 894-0032, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Chemistry & Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors.forename: James Davis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reimer
keywords: Sphenopus; Zoantharia; enclosed bay; free-living; identification key; new species