Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) capensis Verrill, 1865

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

Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) capensis Verrill, 1865

Fig. 7K, N

Balanophyllia capensis Verrill, 1865: 149. -van der Horst 1938: 140-142. pl. 6, figs 1-6. - Boshoff 1981: 40. - Cairns 1999b: 25.

Balanophyllia bonaespeii . - Boshoff 1981: 40.

Balanophyllia cummingii . - Boshoff 1981: 41.

Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) capensis . - Cairns 2001: 16.

Type locality.

Off Simonstown, South Africa; 567 m ( Verrill 1865; van der Horst 1938).

Type material.

The holotype is deposited at the YPM ( Gall 2020).

Material examined.

DEFF/SEAON _ A33997 (2 specimens): Southern margin, 39 km from Cape Padrone / 40 km off Boknes Estuary, 34°03'53.52"S, 26°42'11.58"E; 100 m. DEFF_BD17.INV02B (2 specimens): Southern margin, 27 km off Cintsa Mouth / 25 km off Bulura Estuary, 33°01'22.58"S, 28°17'18.05"E; 122 m. DEFF_NANSEN-INV 16 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 16 km from Scottburgh /off Mahlongwana Estuary, 30°18'01.19"S, 30°54'47.40"E; 226 m. ORI_EIa3 (28 specimens), ORI _ EIa4 (1 specimen), ORI _ EIa5 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, other locality data unknown. SAMC_A073003 (2 specimens): Southern margin, other locality data unknown. SAMC_A073020 (8 specimens): Southern margin, Wavecrest Rocks ; depth unknown. SAMC_A073032 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 9 km from Shaka’s Rock / 12 km off Mhlali Estuary, 29°32'06.00"S, 31°19'47.99"E; 50 m. SAMC_A073034 (12 specimens): Eastern margin, 53 km from Shaka’s Rock / 46 km off Zinkwasi Estuary, 29°33'29.87"S, 31°46'59.88"E; 180 m. SAMC_A073080 (3 specimens): Eastern margin, 49 km from Mtunzini / 42 km off Nyoni Estuary, 29°21'24.12"S, 31°56'12.11"E; 180 m. SAMC_A073111 (1 specimen): Southern margin, off Buffalo Bay; 10 m. SAMC_A073121 (2 specimens): Eastern margin, 19 km from Shaka’s Rock /off Mhlali Estuary, 29°32'53.88"S, 31°25'30.00"E; 65 m. SAMC_A073122 (2 specimens): Eastern margin, 39 km from Port St. Johns / 13 km off Mkweni Estuary, 31°30'06.11"S, 29°55'12.00"E; 200 m. SAMC_A073163 (2 specimens): Eastern margin, 18 km from Coffee Bay / 16 km off Mdumbi Estuary, 32°01'59.87"S, 29°19'05.88"E; 200- 210 m. SAMC_A073174 (8 specimens): Eastern margin, 14 km from Coffee Bay / 9 km off Mdumbi Estuary, 31°58'48.00"S, 29°16'48.00"E; 90 m. SAMC_A073188 (1 specimen): Western margin, 31 km from Cape Point / 13 km off Krom Estuary, 34°09'24.00"S, 18°16'29.99"E; 75 m. SAMC_A073194 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 46 km from Gonubie / 5 km off Berg River V Estuary, 32°57'11.87"S, 28°02'48.12"E; 30 m. SAMC_A073201 (2 specimens): Eastern margin, 10 km from Shaka’s Rock / 12 km off Mhlali Estuary, 29°31'59.88"S, 31°19'59.88"E; 51 m. SAMC_A073224 (1 specimen): Southern margin, Cape Point; 13 m. SAMC_A073227 (5 specimens): Southern margin, 18 km from Pringle Bay / 16 km off Buffels Oos Estuary, 34°12'36.00"S, 18°46'54.00"E; 40 m. SAMC_A073229 (2 specimens): Southern margin, False Bay ; depth unknown. SAMC_A073230 (2 specimens): Southern margin, False Bay ; depth unknown. SAMC_A073231 (12 specimens): Southern margin, False Bay ; depth unknown. SAMC_A073234 (1 specimen): Southern margin, False Bay ; depth unknown. SAMC_A073244 (2 specimens): Southern margin, other locality data unknown. SAMC_A073246 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 34 km from Coffee Bay / 7 km off Ntlonyane Estuary, 32°15'11.99"S, 28°57'42.00"E; 47 m. SAMC_A090104 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 24 km from Pringle Bay / 21 km off Buffels Oos Estuary, 34°09'18.00"S, 18°49'36.00"E; 18 m. SAMC_A090106 (1 specimen): Western margin, off Paternoster; depth unknown. SAMC_A090107 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 15 km off Arniston / 21 km off De Mond-Heuningnes Estuary, 34°46'59.99"S, 20°19'00.00"E; 80 m. SAMC_A090108 (3 specimens): Southern margin, False Bay ; depth unknown. SAMC_A090109 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 8 km from Port Elizabeth / 3 km off Bakens River Estuary, 33°58'05.99"S, 25°38'53.99"E; 9 m. SAMC_A090110 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 11 km off Pringle Bay / 8 km off Buffels Oos Estuary, 34°16'29.99"S, 18°49'29.99"E; 14- 17 m. SAMC_A090111 (6 specimen): Southern margin, 19 km from Pringle Bay / 16 km off Buffels Oos Estuary, 34°12'36.00"S, 18°46'41.99"E; 40 m. SAMC_A090120 (2 specimens): Western margin, 16 km from Cape Town /off Diep Estuary, 33°58'59.99"S, 18°21'00.00"E; 17 m. SAM_H1368 (9 specimens): Southern margin, 29 km from Kenton On Sea /off Boesmans Estuary, 33°53'39.99"S, 26°51'00.00"E; 121 m. SAM_H1371 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 3 km from East London / 2 km off Buffalo Estuary , 33°00'48.00"S, 27°55'18.73"E; intertidal. SAM_H1377 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 28 km from Port Alfred / 3 km off Old Woman’s Estuary, 33°30'00.00"S, 27°08'59.99"E; 93 m. SAM_H1383 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 18 km from Cape Padrone / 30 km off Boknes Estuary, 33°49'00.00"S, 26°16'59.99"E; 65 m. SAM_H1402 (2 specimens): Southern margin, 16 km from Cape Padrone / 28 km off Boknes Estuary , 33°54'15.00"S, 26°22'59.99"E; depth unknown. SAM_H1423 (1 specimen): Southern margin, off Great Fish Point Lighthouse, 183 m. SAM_H1438 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 8 km from Pringle Bay / 6 km off Buffels Oos Estuary, 34°17'55.37"S, 18°49'10.85"E; 33 m. SAM_H1471 (3 specimens): Eastern margin, 27 km from Mtunzini / 25 km off Matigulu Estuary, 29°10'36.00"S, 31°51'00.00"E; 115 m. SAM_H1479 (3 specimens): Southern margin, 11 km from East London / 5 km off Gouda Estuary, 33°04'59.99"S, 27°49'29.99"E; 146- 283 m. SAM_H1483 (9 specimens): Eastern margin, 27 km from Mtunzini / 25 km off Matigulu Estuary, 29°10'36.00"S, 31°51'00.00"E; 115 m. SAM_H1484 (2 specimens): Western margin, 14 km from Cape Town / 8 km off Diep Estuary, 33°53'59.99"S, 18°23'59.99"E; 40 m. SAM_H1501 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 207 km from Coffee Bay /off Mdumbi Estuary, 33°12'00.00"S, 30°49'00.00"E; 73 m. SAM_H3043 (6 specimens): Southern margin, 28 km from Port Alfred / 3 km off Old Woman’s Estuary, 33°30'00.00"S, 27°08'59.99"E; 93 m. SAM_H3044 (9 specimens): Southern margin, 17 km from Cape Point / 7 km off Elsies Estuary, 34°12'36.38"S, 18°27'45.71"E; 31 m. SAM_H3045 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 29 km from Kenton On Sea /off Boesmans Estuary, 33°53'39.99"S, 26°51'00.00"E; 121 m. SAM_H3046 (3 specimens): Southern margin, 6 km from Kenton On Sea / 5 km off Boknes Estuary, 33°43'07.59"S, 26°37'37.95"E; 90 m. SAM_H3047 (6 specimens): Southern margin, 2 km from Mosselbaai / 10 km off Hartenbos Estuary, 34°10'37.57"S, 22°09'19.14"E; 54 m. SAM_H3048 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 20 km from Cape Point / 4 km off Elsies Estuary , 34°11'30.71"S, 18°25'55.55"E; depth unknown. SAM_H3143 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 177 km from Gonubie / 18 km off Berg River V Estuary, 33°04'36.00"S, 28°06'35.99"E; 90 m. SAM_H3144 (19 specimens): Southern margin, 47 km from Port Alfred / 14 km off Mgwalana Estuary, 33°30'18.00"S, 27°22'05.99"E; 80 m. SAM_H3145 (19 specimens): Southern margin, 15 km from Port Alfred / 11 km off Riet Estuary, 33°39'18.00"S, 27°01'36.00"E; 90 m. SAM_H3146 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 46 km from Port Alfred / 12 km off Mgwalana Estuary, 33°29'24.00"S, 27°21'11.99"E; 80 m. SAM_H3367 (2 specimens): Southern margin, 15 km from Port Elizabeth / 16 km off Bakens River Estuary, 33°49'59.99"S, 25°40'00.00"E; depth unknown. SAM_H3835 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 21 km from East London / 18 km off Buffalo Estuary, 33°08'59.99"S, 28°01'59.99"E; 84 m. USNM 91776 (9 specimens): Eastern margin, 26 km from Durban / 22 km off Beachwood Mangroves, 29°48'00.00"S, 31°16'00.00"E; 232 m.

Imagery data.

BMNH 1939.7.20.479-500 (2 specimens), SS ' Valdivia ' (1 specimen): South Africa, other locality data unknown. MN_SM179 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 47 km from Port Alfred/14 km off Mgwalana Estuary, 33°30'18.00"S, 27°22'05.99"E; 80 m. YPM 6827 (holotype): Western margin, off SIMONSTOWN; 567 m.

Description.

Corallum ceratoid to trochoid, straight to slightly curved, and attached through a robust pedicel (PD:GCD = 0.4-0.7) that expands into a thin encrusting base. Calice circular to elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.1-1.3), calicular margin finely serrate. Largest specimen examined (SAM_H3146) 16.1 × 13.0 mm in CD, and 31.9 mm in H. Thick epitheca covering most of corallum, with transverse ridges. Costae conspicuous near calicular margin, equal in width, slightly convex, separated by porous and thin intercostal striae, and covered with fine pointed granules. Intercostal striae slightly sinuous. Epitheca slightly more solid than upper theca. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in five cycles, the last being incomplete, according to the formula: S1 ≥ S2 > S3 > S4 > S5 or S1 ≥ S2 > S3 > S5 > S4 (≤ 74 septa). S1-2 independent but not reaching columella. S1 most exsert, with straight to dentate axial margins. S2 slightly less exsert, sometimes being slightly less wide, also having straight to dentate axial margins. S3-4 progressively less exsert. S3 half width of S2, with most dentate axial margins. S4 commonly arranged in a Pourtalès plan: in a half-system a pair of S4 fuses before S3, and then fuses before S2, before merging to columella. S4 axial margins laciniate. Sometimes S5 merge before S3, before meeting columella as one septum. In other cases, S5 restricted to calicular margin. Fossa of moderately depth, containing a varied slender and elongate spongy columella.

Distribution.

Regional: Western to southern margin of South Africa, extending from off Cape Town towards Mtunzini; 9-232 m. Elsewhere: Only known from South Africa.

Remarks.

Balanophyllia (B.) capensis has overlapping distribution and common taxonomic characteristics (such as independent S1-2 that never meet columella, S4 arranged in a Pourtalès plan, and presence of epitheca) with B. bonaespei , but may be distinguished by its larger corallum ( B. capensis with GCD = 16.1 mm vs. B. bonaespei GCD = 9.0 mm), and thicker epitheca that does not have transverse ridges.

Figures

Figure 7. A, D Vaughanella concinna A, B (MN _ SM 134, off Port Edward, 900 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, D (SAMC _ A 072973, locality data unknown, 517 m) C calicular view D lateral view E, F Deltocyathus rotulus (USNM 91550, off Scottburgh, 1360 m) E calicular view F lateral view G, H Atlantia denticulata sp. nov. (SAMC _ A 090157, off Gouritsmond, 170 m) G close-up of corallites H full view I, J Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) bonaespei (USNM 1423303, off the Agulhas, 32 m) I calicular view J lateral view K, N Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) capensis K, M (SAM _ H 3048, off Cape Point, depth unknown) calicular view L, N (BMNH _ 1939.7.20.479 - 500, locality data unknown) lateral view O, P Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) diademata (SAMC _ A 073016, off Richards Bay, 500 m) O calicular view P Lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A-H, K-P); 100 mm (I, J).