Ten remarkable marine species for 2023: four are mollusks!

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) just released its annual list of the top-ten marine species described during 2023. A call for nominations was announced in December 2023, sent to all editors of WoRMS and editors of major taxonomy journals, and posted openly on the WoRMS website and social media so anyone had the opportunity to nominate their favorite marine species.

Fine Line Nudibranch (Halgerda scripta), holotype. From the original description of the species by Donohoo et al. (2023).

Nominated species must have been described between January 1st and December 31st, 2023, and have come from the marine environment (including fossil taxa). A small committee of volunteers (including both taxonomists and data managers) was brought together to decide upon the final candidates. The list is in no hierarchical order. Of the top ten selected, the following four are mollusks:

·         Hanna’s Pygmy Squid (Kodama jujutsu)

·         Samoan Nautilus (Nautilus samoaensis)

·         Bouchet’s Dorymenia (Dorymenia boucheti)

·         Fine Line Nudibranch (Halgerda scripta)

Click here to learn more about the “Ten Remarkable New Marine Species” project.