Melithaea tenuis ( Kuekenthal , 1908)

Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015, Melithaeidae of Japan (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) re-examined with descriptions of 11 new species, ZooKeys 522, pp. 1-127 : 34-35

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea tenuis ( Kuekenthal, 1908) Figures 87b, 90, 91, 98

Acabaria tenuis : Kükenthal 1908: 195; Kükenthal 1909: 61, figs 64-67, pl. 5 fig. 27 (Sagami Bay, Okinose Bank); Kükenthal 1919: 183; Kükenthal 1924: 78; Aurivillius 1931: 24 (Sagami Bay, 400 fms); Hickson 1937: 177.

Acabaria sp. aff. tenuis : Aurivillius 1931: 25, fig. 3 (Sagami Bay, 200 m).

Not Acabaria tenuis : Nutting 1911: 45 (Indonesia).

? Acabaria tenuis : Rho et al. 1980: 53 (Korea Strait).

Material examined.

Syntype ZMB 5799, Sagami Bay (Japan), 600 m (label 60-250 m), coll. Doflein,1904/05; previously unidentified museum material: BMNH 1921.10.26.9-2, Misaki, Sagami Bay, 200 fms (286-366 m), coll. A.V. Insole, May 1921; BMNH 1921.10.26.7, same data as BMNH1921.10.26.9-2; ZMUC ANT-000593, Sagami Bay, 400 fms, coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 2 July 1914; ZMUC ANT-000594, Sagami Bay, Japan, 80-120 fms (114-219 m), coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 6-19 June 1914; ZMUC ANT-000661, Sagami Sea, 300 fms (429-549 m), coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 29 June 1914; ZMUC ANT-000656, off Misaki Biological Station, Sagami Bay, 200 fms (286-366 m), coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 30 June 1914; ZMUC ANT-000651, Off Misaki, Sagami Bay, ca. 250 fms (ca.358-457 m), coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 10 June 1914; UMUTZ-CnidG-16, near Doketsuba, Sagami Bay, 170-180 hiro (243-272 m), coll. Kuma Aoki, 12 August 1895; UMUTZ-CnidG-198, Mera-no-hai-dashi-Oise line, Sagami Bay, 350 fms (500-529 m), coll. H. Matsumoto and H. Chiba, 21 July 1913; UMUTZ-CnidG-233, Gokeba, Sagami Bay, 150-20 hiro (227-29 m), coll. Kuma Aoki, 18 June 1902; AKM 142, East China Sea, R/V Tanisei-maru, KT02-03, st.E-5-1, 1 m Dredge, 19 April 2002; AKM 234, South of Mera-se Bank, Sagami-bay, 34°60.0'N, 139°40.2'E - 35°0.0'N, 139°40.3'E, 97-108 m, 17 October 2003; AKM 235, same data as AKM 234; AKM 413, Watari-se bank, Off Izu Isls., 34°02.8620'N, 138°54.8090'E - 34°02.9190'N, 138°54.6810'E, 101.1- 106.2 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT04-06, st. WS-2, 1 m ORI dredge, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 30 April 2004; RMNH Coel. 41939 (AKM 414), same data; AKM 415, same data; AKM 421, same data; AKM 422, same data; RMNH Coel. 41940 (AKM 521), Otsuki, Tosa, Kochi prefecture, 132°50.44'E 32°37.66'N, - 132°47.88'E 32°37.56'N, 114 m, local fishermen’s boat Kiryo-maru, St. 1, coral net, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 7 October 2004; AKM 663, off Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, 33°39.05'N, 135°09.89'E - 33°38.96'N, 135°10.16'E, 170.3-173.1 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT05-30, st. TN-1 (1), coll. A.K. Matsumoto 26 November 2005; RMNH Coel. 41942 (AKM 664),same data as AKM663; AKM 670, off Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, 33°39.02'N, 135°09.89'E - 33°39.03'N, 135°09.07'E, 169.8-172.5 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT05-30, TN-1 (2), coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 26 November 2005; AKM 745, off Satamisaki Cape, Kagoshima Prefecture, 30°56.0025'N, 130°44.2299'E - 30°56.2953'N, 130°43.3981'E, 116-120 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT07-1, st.SM-1, Chain Bag Dredge, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 23 February 2007; RMNH Coel. 41943 (AKM 980), Tsukura-se bank, Kagoshima Prefecture, East China Sea, 31°18.95'N, 129°46.15'E - 31°18.50'N, 129°45.96'E, 154-155 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT08-3, St. NM05, ORI- TI Chain Bag Dredge, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 6 March 2008; AKM 983, same data as RMNH Coel. 41943; AKM 1222, off Takarajima Is., Tokara Isls, East-China Sea, 29°05.29'N, 129°10.43'E, 334 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT07-21, st. DT0203-1, Chain Bag Dredge, coll. Yokose, 31 August 2007; AKM 1230, same data as AKM1222; AKM 1598, Otsuki, Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, 32°37'N, 132°50'E, 114 m, local fishermen’s boat Kiryo-maru, st. 1, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 7 October 2004; AKM 1600, Otsuki, Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, 32°43.08'N, 132°48.06'E - 32°43.12'N, 132°47.68'E, 84.75-83.1 m, local fishermen’s boat Kiryo-maru, st. 3, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 7 October 2004.

Re-description.

Colony branched in one plane, with slender branches (Fig. 87b). Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.15 mm long, distal end with more developed tubercles (Fig. 90a). Collaret with bent spindles up to 0.20 mm long, middle part with more developed tubercles (Fig. 90b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped with irregular projections (Fig. 90c). These platelets are up to 0.15 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 90d). Coenenchyme with capstans (Fig. 91c), about 0.05 mm long, small clubs of the same length (Fig. 91a); unilaterally spinose spheroids and unilaterally spinose spindles up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 91d); spindles are also present, 0.10-0.18 mm long (Fig. 91e). The calyces with additional clubs, up to 0.15 mm long (Figs 90e, 91b).

Color.

Colony red with white/yellow polyps, polyp sclerites colorless or yellow, all others orange.

Variation.

Colonies can be yellow with all sclerites yellow or white with all sclerites colorless.

Distribution.

Sagami Bay, and now South to East China Sea (Fig. 98).

Remarks.

We did not examine ZMB 5805, syntype, Okinose Bank (Japan), 80-250 m, coll. Doflein 1904/05 because the material consists of only small fragments.