On review: Shadows over Caribbean reefs: Identification of a new invasive soft coral species, Xenia umbellata, in southwest Puerto Rico

Daniel A. Toledo-Rodriguez, Alex Veglia, Nilda M. Jimenez Marrero, Joyce M. Gomez-Samot, Catherine S. McFadden, Ernesto Weil, Nikolaos V. Schizas In October 2023, an invasive soft coral species, Xenia umbellata, was identified on shallow reefs in southwest Puerto Rico, marking the first confirmed case of this species in the Caribbean. Native to the Red Sea, X. umbellata is known for its rapid growth, environmental resilience, and remarkable tissue regeneration capabilities, making it a significant threat to local coral ecosystems. Through multilocus barcoding of key genes, we confirmed a 100% genetic match with X. umbellata. This discovery highlights the urgent need for collaborative monitoring and control efforts to prevent this species from further disrupting Puerto Rico’s reefs.