Ednapsammia columnapriva Filander, 2021

Filander, Zoleka N., Kitahara, Marcelo V., Cairns, Stephen D., Sink, Kerry J. & Lombard, Amanda T., 2021, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa, ZooKeys 1066, pp. 1-198 : 1

Ednapsammia columnapriva Filander sp. nov.

Fig. 9C-G

Type locality.

Off Knysna, South Africa (RV ‘Algoa’ stn. DCS13: 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E); 333 m.

Material examined.

Holotype - SAMC_A090159 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 116 km from Gouritsmond/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m. Paratypes -DSCS-INV 226 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 227 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 229 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 231 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 232 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 235 (1 specimen), DSCS-INV 238 (1 specimen), SAMC_A090149 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 116 km from Gouritsmond/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m.

Imagery data.

SAM_H1441: Southern margin, 3 km from Mosselbaai/11 km off Hartenbos Estuary, 34°10'59.99"S, 22°10'00.00"E; 216 m.

Etymology.

The species name Ednapsammia columnapriva (derived from Latin columna meaning pillar and privus meaning deprived of) alludes to the lack of columella.

Description.

Corallum dendroid formed by extra-tentacular budding from base and from theca of parent corallite. Holotype consists of 19 corallites, and 54.7 mm in H. Calice circular to elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.0-1.1), calicular margin finely laciniate. Thin epitheca, predominantly porous near calicular margin. Costae thick, equal in width, granular, extending to base, and separated by deep intercostal striae. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in three cycles, last cycle being incomplete, according to the formula: S1 > S2 > S3 (≤ 21 septa). S1 extend to fossa, sometimes almost meeting opposite septa. S2 ~ 1/3 smaller than S1. Third septal cycle incomplete, usually with only one S3 per half-system. S31/3 the width of S2. Primary and secondary septa cycles (S1-2) with straight and vertical axial margins, whilst S3 bears slightly laciniate axial margins. Fossa deep, columella absent.

Distribution.

Regional: Southern margin of South Africa, extending from off Mosselbaai towards Gouritsmond; 216-333 m.

Remarks.

Examined specimens are easily distinguished from other colonial dendrophylliids by their septa being hexameral and arranged normally (no Pourtalès plan), in three incomplete cycles. Despite that the imaged specimen (SAM_H1441 [in part: 1 specimen]) was not traceable in the Iziko Museums collection. This record nonetheless confirms that such a form was historically collected off the southern margin of South Africa.

Figures

Figure 9. A, B Dendrophyllia sp. 1 (SAMC _ A 090158, off Knysna, 333 m A close-up calicular view B lateral view C, G Ednapsammia columnapriva sp. nov. C, D (SAM _ H 1441, off Mossel Bay, 212 m) C calicular view D lateral view E-G (SAMC _ A 090159, off Gouritsmond, 333 m) E calicular view F lateral view G calicular view H Enallopsammia pusilla (DSCS-INV 238, off Gouritsmond, 333 m): lateral view. I, J Enallopsammia rostrata (SAMC _ A 073270, off Port St Johns, 200 m) I close up calicular view J lateral view K, L Endopachys grayi (DEFF _ NANSEN-INV 32, off Shaka's Rock, 185 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N Endopsammia philippensis (DIIIb 1, off Durban, 442 m) M calicular view N lateral view O, P Heteropsammia cochlea (EIe 1, locality data unknown) O calicular view P lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A-C, E-I, K-P); 100 mm (D, J).