Species richness, endemicity and distribution patterns of South African sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria & Corallimorpharia)

Abstract

A revised and updated list of South African sea anemones is compiled and the  distribution pattern and endemicity of each determined from museum and literature records. Forty nine valid species are recognized. Species richness appears fairly uniform around the coast, although marked peaks occur at Cape Town, False Bay and Durban almost certainly the result of disproportionately intense sampling effort at these locations. Forty nine per cent of species are endemic, slightly above the average for the South African marine fauna (31%), but well within the range shown by component taxa. Endemics are absent in the northwest, but otherwise comprise a fairly consistent proportion of species in each region. The fact that existing records are strongly biased towards a few centres of high sampling activity, indicates a pressing need for additional systematic collection of this group in under represented areas.

Key words: distribution, sea anemones, biodiversity, biogeography