Macroprimnoa ornata, Cairns, 2018
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4532.1.1 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E9D0908-0933-48AF-A6ED-F3B8D39E8994 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5951519 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B0147F-FFFC-FFD6-76CC-6B52426FF9E5 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Macroprimnoa ornata |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Macroprimnoa ornata View in CoL , n. sp.
Figs. 1I View FIGURE 1 , 9 View FIGURE 9 A–H
Etymology. Named ornata (Latin for decorated or adorned), an allusion to the somewhat ornate ridging on the body wall scales.
Types and Type Locality. Holotype: a complete colony, USNM 1463530 View Materials . Paratypes: EX 1708-2-1, 25.553˚N, 158.214˚W (topotypic), 3282 m, colony fragment, USNM 1467528 View Materials ; EX 1605-L 1-4-05, 11.41˚N, 144.78˚E ( Enigma Seamount , south of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands), 3643 m , colony fragment, USNM 1424086 View Materials ; EX 1606-13-03, 16.581˚N, 166.472˚E ( Batfish Seamount , south of Wake Island), 3066 m , colony fragment, SEM stubs 2386-2388, USNM 1424231 View Materials . Type Locality: EX 1708-2-GEO2-A2, 25.553˚N, 158.215˚W ( Beach Ridge , Musicians Seamounts), 3207 m .
Material Examined. Types; EX 1605-L1-13, 16.027˚N, 147.113˚E (off Saipan, northern Mariana Islands), 3676 m, image only .
Description. Colonies are unbranched (flagelliform), the holotype ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ) an intact stem 8.7 cm in height supporting 12 polyps. A larger colony (USNM 1424086, paratype) was estimated to have been 27 cm in height at the time of collection). The polyps are uniserially arranged on one side of the stem and very widely spaced (1 polyp/cm), about 6–7 mm of branch coenenchyme between each polyp ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ). The polyps stand perpendicular to the branch, are 3.5–3.7 mm in height, and are shaped as a squat cylinders topped with a conical operculum, which accounts for well over half of the height.
The body wall scales consist of eight longitudinal rows or two or three roughly rectangular (1.8–2.5 mm in width) scales, resulting in only 16–24 body wall scales ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 A–B). The body wall scales have a sinuous upper margin, sometimes similar to a Parastenella -like flute ( Fig. 9F View FIGURE 9 ), and those nearest the branch often bear several vertical ridges on their outer surface ( Fig. 9H View FIGURE 9 ). The proximal margin of the body wall scales bear a series or irregular digitiform processes.
The operculum is prominent ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 A–B), composing over half the height of the polyp. The symmetrical abaxial operculars are up to 3.1 mm in length, have an L:W of 2.6–3.1, and have a pointed tip and irregular lateral edges. The asymmetrical lateral operculars are only slightly shorter (2.5–2.7 mm) and have an L:W of about 1.6. The symmetrical adaxials are about 2.5 mm in length, with an L:W of about 1.9. All operculars ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ) have a highly concave outer surface, a keeled inner surface, and a digitiform base, like the body wall scales, and are fragile.
The coenenchymal scales ( Fig. 9H View FIGURE 9 ) are elongate (up to 3.3 mm in length with an L:W = 2.6–5.6), and usually pointed on both ends. Each coenenchymal bears tall (up to 0.5 mm, sail scales) ridges that sometimes coalesce into a network of interconnecting ridges.
Comparisons. Monotypic.
Remarks. The length of each pinnate tentacle is approximately 6.5 mm, with 16–18 pinnules on either side of each tentacle. This might explain why the polyps are so widely spaced and the opercular scales so long, but even so, tentacles from contiguous polyps overlap.
Distribution. Musicians Seamounts, northern Mariana Islands, and south of Wake Island, 3066–3676 m.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.