- publication
- 22-04-2025
Neorotalia leeuwinensis n. sp. is morphologically and genetically distinct from other calcarinids that are present in very shallow waters along the western margin of Australia and has not been recognised amongst known species elsewhere. The distributions of calcarinids along the margin has been surveyed from 22 sites. Four distinct latitudinally-based regions are defined related to temperature. Neorotalia leeuwinensis n. sp. has a known latitudinal range of 30°S to 34°S (>19°C, 30-year average winter minimum sea temperature in the north and >18°C in the south). The main microhabitat observed for the species is the articulate coralline algae Amphiroa gracilis, which usually lives among a diversity of macrophytes in very shallow high-energy environments on the rock platforms. Test shape, robust peripheral spines, and pore tubes are related to the high-energy epibiont lifestyle on the algal branches. Significant marine and terrestrial climatic gradients along the west coastline of Australia from the tropics to the south apparently control calcarinid species distributions, but the reasons for endemism require much more study of environmental parameters and molecular analyses of species.
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