Zoological Studies

Vol. 36 No. 2, 1997

Choanoflagellates (Sarcomastigophora, Protozoa) from the Coastal Waters of Taiwan and Japan (II): Species Composition and Biogeography

Seiko Hara1,*, Jia-Chi Sheu1, Yuh-ling Lee Chen1 and Eiji Takahashi2

1Department of Marine Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, R.O.C.
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan

Seiko Hara, Jia-Chi Sheu, Yuh-ling Lee Chen and Eiji Takahashi (1997) Choanoflagellates (Sarcomasti­ gophora, Protozoa) from the coastal waters of Taiwan and Japan (II). Species composition and biogeography. Zoological Studies 36(2): 98-110. Light and electron microscopical studies of sea microbes from the coastal waters of Taiwan have revealed an abundant choanoflagellate fauna from these Western Pacific subtropical waters. A total of 25 loricate (Acanthoecidae), 3 thecate (Salpingoecidae), and 1 naked (Codonosigidae) choanoflagellates were recorded for the 1st time from coastal waters of Taiwan. The Taiwanese loricate choanoflagellate fauna is more similar to that of Japan (20 species in common) than to that of the tropical Indian Ocean (11 species in common).

Key words: Acanthoecidae, Salpingoecidae, Codonosigidae, Morphology, Taxonomy.

*Correspondence: Current address: Miyazaki International College, 1405 Kano, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, Japan Tel: 81-985-85-5931, Fax: 81-985-84-3396, E-mail: shara@miyazaki-mic.ac.jp