First record of Phymactis papillosa (Lesson, 1830), a Pacific south sea anemone in European shores. (23rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pereira, Ana M.; Silva, Margarida M.; Mateus, Octávio
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Volume 102:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 350
• Page End: 353
• Publication Date: 2022-08-23
• Subjects: Anthozoa -- barcoding -- invasive species -- ITS; Biology -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; 578.77
• DOI: 10.1017/S0025315422000571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-3154

Abstract

Abstract: Since 2017, a sea anemone species has been registered in central Portugal with a morphology comparable to Phymactis papillosa, from the Pacific shore of south and central America. In this paper, we have collected two individuals from Cascais, Portugal, extracted their DNA and amplified and sequenced the internal transcribed spacers I and II, markers frequently used in Cnidaria barcoding. The sequences obtained were compared with the ones available on GenBank, using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) on the NCBI website. This procedure allowed the identification of P. papillosa . This is the first confirmed record of P. papillosa in European coasts. Citizen science data suggest occurrences in the Alentejo coast (south-west Portugal) and Mediterranean coast around Murcia, although no genetic or morphological confirmations of these records have been made. The potential effects of this species introduction are discussed.