The phylum Entoprocta is a cryptic group of sessile, primarily marine filter-feeding invertebrates, commonly called goblet worms. During a recent survey of mesophotic reef diversity at Green Island (Ludao, Taiwan) in February 2017, zooids of the solitary entoproct Loxosomella sp. were first recorded in association with a Cespitularia-like xeniid soft coral collected at 40 m depth. This association was observed on all 14 coral colonies inspected, where their density reached 5.4 (±1.4) zooids per polyp (n = 5). This record not only constitutes the first report of entoprocts in Taiwan, but is also the first documentation of an association between entoprocts and octocorals, and highlights the importance of examining other host candidates in this taxon for a better understanding of their diversity. The exact nature of this potential symbiotic relationship needs to be elucidated, but the isolation of intact zooids suggests that Loxosomella sp. lives on the surface of coral tissues by a tight attachment of their foot. Loxosomella sp. could perhaps benefit from protection offered by soft corals against predators and competitors. The pinnate polyps and fleshy morphology of the coral colony can also assist in sediment removal, which may help entoprocts to avoid burial. Overall, the discovery of this association increases the known diversity of the associated fauna of octocorals, but possible implications in coral fitness still need to be explored.

Depth range
10- 40 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
5 x (total of 2693 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Molecular ecology
Biodiversity

Focusgroups
Octocorallia (Soft Corals)
Other invertebrates

Locations
Taiwan

Platforms
SCUBA (open-circuit or unspecified)