Javania antarctica (Gravier, 1914)

Cairns, Stephen D. & Polonio, Virginia, 2013, New records of deep-water Scleractinia off Argentina and the Falkland Islands, Zootaxa 3691 (1) : -

Javania antarctica (Gravier, 1914)

Figs. 4 G–H, J, 18

Remarks. Javania antarctica was adequately re-described by Cairns (1982). The largest of the specimens reported herein ( Fig. 4 H) is 33.0 x 18.9 mm in CD, 36.3 mm in height, and 8.6 mm in PD. The species can be characterized as having a thick stereome-reinforced pedicel, and five full cycles of septa (96) following the formula: S1– 2>S3>>S4>S5, the S3 being only slightly less wide than the S1–2. The axial edges of all septa are only slightly sinuous. It may be confused with Desmophyllum dianthus , but can be distinguished by its smooth, porcellaneous theca (vs costate and granular), less exsert septa, and more fragile septa.

Distribution. Previously known only from Antarctic waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, and the Scotia Ridge north to South Georgia at depths of 53–1280 m, these records extend its known distribution considerably northward to the cold temperate region off central Argentina ( Fig. 18) at to the depth of 1626 m.

Material: PAT0108DR2, 1, MNCN; PAT0108DR7, 29, MNCN; PAT0108DR11, 1, MNCN; PAT0108DR15, 6, MNCN, and 1, USNM 1193321; PAT1008DR1, 1, MNCN; PAT1008DR12, 5, MNCN, and 2, USNM 1193320 and 1193319; PAT1008DR13, 19, MNCN; PAT1108DR1, 3, MNCN; PAT1108DR3, 8, MNCN; PAT1108DR5, 1, MNCN; PAT1108DR11, 9, MNCN; PAT1208DR7, 3, MNCN, and 1, USNM 1193323 and 1193324; PAT1208DR9, 11, MNCN, and 2, USNM 1193315; PAT1208DR14, 1, MNCN; PAT0209DR1, 6, MNCN; PAT0209DR3, 1, USNM 1193318 and 1193316; PAT0209DR4, 2, MNCN; PAT0209DR7, 1, MNCN; PAT0209DR10, 2, MNCN; PAT0209DR11, 3, MNCN; PAT0209DR14, 8, MNCN; PAT0209DR15, 4, MNCN; PAT0209DR16, 3, MNCN; PAT0210DR5, 3, MNCN; PAT0210DR6, 1, MNCN; PAT0210DR7, 1, MNCN; PAT0210DR8, 1, MNCN; ATL0310Lo87, 2, MNCN.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A – B, Flabellum areum, PAT 0209 DR 4, lateral and calicular views of corallum. C – F, F. cinctutum: C, WH 197 / 71, lateral view; D – F, holotype, oblique calicular, stereo calicular, and lateral views of corallum. G – H, Javania antarctica, PAT 1008 DR 12, calicular and lateral views of corallum. I, Desmophyllum dianthus, PAT 0108 DR 11, calicular view of capense form. J, Javania antarctica, PAT 1208 DR 9, lateral view of corallum. K – M, Javania cristata: K – L, holotype, lateral and stereo calicular views of corallum; M, PAT 1008 DR 10, calicular view.