Mendoza-Becerril María A, Marques Antonio C
Department of Aquatic Systematics and Ecology, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur-Chetumal (ECOSUR), Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
PeerJ. 2025 Jan 9;13:e18407. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18407. eCollection 2025.
The taxonomic complexity of the families Clathrozoidae and Clathrozoellidae, rooted in early 20th-century hydroid descriptions, highlights the need for comprehensive and detailed morphological analyses. This study aimed to elucidate the histology of the polypoid stage of Peña Cantero, Vervoort & Watson, 2003, with a particular emphasis on its exoskeletal structure. Specimens from the National Museum of Natural History were examined histologically using different staining techniques. The results revealed a three-layered mesoglea, diverse gland cells, and an exoskeleton comprising chitin and structural proteins, with notable differences from other anthoathecate hydroids. These results have significant implications for the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of Clathrozoellidae and Hydroidolina, as they highlight the importance of detailed histological data in understanding the unique exoskeletal architecture of , termed "exoskeleton tube", which distinguishes it from other hydroids, and provide critical insights into the homology and phylogenetic position of Clathrozoellidae.
源于20世纪初水螅类描述的Clathrozoidae科和Clathrozoellidae科的分类复杂性，凸显了进行全面而详细的形态学分析的必要性。本研究旨在阐明2003年的Peña Cantero、Vervoort和Watson所描述的水螅体阶段的组织学，特别强调其外骨骼结构。使用不同的染色技术对来自国家自然历史博物馆的标本进行了组织学检查。结果显示出三层中胶层、多种腺细胞以及由几丁质和结构蛋白组成的外骨骼，与其他花萼螅类水螅有显著差异。这些结果对Clathrozoellidae科和水螅纲的分类及进化关系具有重要意义，因为它们突出了详细的组织学数据在理解被称为“外骨骼管”的独特外骨骼结构方面的重要性，这种结构使其与其他水螅区分开来，并为Clathrozoellidae科的同源性和系统发育位置提供了关键见解。
