First record of a second invasive soft coral species, Latissimia ningalooensis, in southern Puerto Rico

Abstract

Ever since the discovery of the invasive soft coral species Xenia umbellata (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea, Xeniidae) on the reefs of southwestern Puerto Rico, ongoing surveys have documented its spread and potential impacts on native marine fauna. During benthic surveys conducted by scientific divers from Puerto Ricos DNER and the Department of Marine Sciences at UPRM, colonies of xeniid soft corals were observed with morphological and color characteristics distinct from those of X. umbellata. Morphological and genetic barcoding analyses of four gene regions confirmed the presence of a second invasive xeniid species, Latissimia ningalooensis, in the southern reefs of Puerto Rico. Originally described in Western Australia, L. ningalooensis has recently been reported in southeastern Brazilian waters, marking its expansion into the Atlantic. The discovery of a second xeniid species in Puerto Rico following the recent introduction of X. umbellata, is both surprising and concerning. Highly disturbed reefs, such as those along the southern coast of Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean, seem highly susceptible to invasive species. Recent reports of invasive soft corals and other marine species in Puerto Rico highlight the potential for some species to become a regional issue, requiring coordinated management actions across the Caribbean.