Eunephthya shirleyae, Mcfadden, Catherine S. & Van, Leen P., 2012

Mcfadden, Catherine S. & Van, Leen P., 2012, A revision of the soft coral genus, Eunephthya Verrill, 1869 (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Nephtheidae), with a description of four new species from South Africa, Zootaxa 3485, pp. 1-25 : 14-18

Eunephthya shirleyae , new species

Figures 4d–e, 9–10

Material examined. Holotype: RMNH Coel. 40180, South Africa, Algoa Bay, Bell Buoy 1, 33º58.927'S, 25º41.473'E, depth 17–22 m, coll. S. Parker-Nance, 15 March 2008. Paratype: RMNH Coel. 40181, South Africa, Algoa Bay, Riy Banks, 33º59.069'S, 25º51.841'E, depth 14–17 m, coll. S. Parker-Nance, 11 March 2008.

Description. The holotype is an erect colony, 4.5 cm tall with a well-demarcated stalk and polyparium (Fig. 4d). The stalk is 3.5 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, very firm, and creased with a few longitudinal furrows and numerous transverse wrinkles. The slightly wider polyparium consists of numerous, vertically oriented, unbranched lobes, 1.0 cm in height. Some polyps arise directly from the bases of the lobes, but most are arranged on catkins bearing 5–10 polyps each that are distributed over the surface of the lobes. The polyps are club-shaped and curved inwards with the oral surface facing the catkin axis; most have the tentacles contracted.

The concave adaxial surface of the polyp lacks sclerites, while the convex abaxial surface is heavily armored. The polyp sclerites are spindles (0.10–0.15 mm long) (Fig. 9a), unilaterally spinose sclerites of a variety of shapes (0.10–0.17 mm long) (Fig. 9b), and some plate-like forms (Fig. 9c), all with simple to complex tubercles. In the bases of the tentacles there are small spindles (0.05–0.15 mm long) with simple tubercles (Fig. 9d); in the distal regions these sclerites become flatter with fewer tubercles (Fig. 9e). The base of the polyps and polyparium surface have spindles (0.10–0.15 mm long) (Fig. 9f), and a few radiates and tuberculate spheroids (0.07–0.10 mm long) (Fig. 9g). The surface and interior of the stalk have radiates and tuberculate spheroids (0.05–0.10 mm long) (Fig. 10).

FIGURE. 9. Eunephthya shirleyae n. sp., holotype, RMNH Coel. 40180; a, spindles of abaxial surface of polyp; b, unilaterally spinose sclerites of abaxial surface of polyp; c, plate-like sclerite of abaxial surface of polyp; d, spindles of tentacle base; e, tentacle sclerites; f, spindles of base of polyps and polyparium surface; g, radiates of base of polyps and polyparium surface.

The paratype is 2.0 cm tall, with a stalk that is 1.5 cm long, 2.0 cm in diameter, and creased with longitudinal furrows and numerous transverse wrinkles (Fig. 4e). The 0.5 cm tall polyparium consists of numerous short, upright lobes. The catkins and polyps are tightly contracted, flush with the lobe surface. This extreme degree of polyp contraction has not been observed in any other specimen of this genus, and may indicate that the colony was in a stressed or dormant state when collected (e.g., see accounts of dormancy in Alcyonium digitatum, Hartnoll 1975 ). The sclerites are as in the holotype, and the two specimens have identical mtMutS, COI, and 28S rDNA sequences (Fig. 1).

Color. In life, unknown; in alcohol, cream. Sclerites colorless.

Etymology. Named in honor of Shirley Parker-Nance, who collected this species, and whose assistance and hospitality in Port Elizabeth were critical to the success of the expedition.

Remarks. The colony growth form of E. shirleyae n. sp., in which vertically-oriented lobes bearing catkins of polyps arise from the top of a stout stalk, is unlike that of any other species of Eunephthya . The form of the spindles found in the polyps and polyparium, which are relatively short but with large tubercular processes (Fig. 9f), also differs from that of the other species. It is genetically distinct from all other Eunephthya species (Fig. 1).

FIGURE. 10. Eunephthya shirleyae n. sp., holotype, RMNH Coel. 40180; radiates and tuberculate spheroids of stalk.

FIGURE. 11. Eunephthya susanae RMNH Coel. 40186; a, unilaterally spinose spindles of abaxial surface of polyp; b, clubs of abaxial surface of polyp; c, spindles of adaxial surface of polyp; d, tentacle sclerites.

FIGURE. 12. Eunephthya susanae RMNH Coel. 40186; radiates of stalk.