Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007

Benayahu, Y. & van Ofwegen, L. P., 2011, New Species Of The Genus Sinularia (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) From Singapore, With Notes On The Occurrence Of Other Species Of The Genus, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (2), pp. 117-125 : 122

Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007

( Figs. 1b , 5–7 )

Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007: 193 ( Ambon) ; Ofwegen, 2008: 635-636 ( Palau).

Material examined. – 1 colony (1999.1043), Pulau Semakau , coll. S.L.M. Teo & T. H. Choong, 12 Jun.1995 ; 1 colony (1999.1054), Pulau Hantu , south-east side of Is., reef flat, coll. S.L.M. Teo & C.S.C. Lee, 8 Mar.1993 ; 1 colony ( ZRC 1999.1080 ), Pulau Hantu , south-east side of Is., coll. S.L.M. Teo, 16 Feb.1995 ; 1 colony ( ZMTAU Co 35104) [ ZRC 1999.2224 ], Pulau Hantu, 1–4 m, coll. Y. Benayahu, 15 Jul.1999 ; 1 colony ( ZRC 1999.2229 ), Pulau Hantu , 1–4 m, coll. Y. Benayahu, 9 Jul.1999 ; 1 colony (1999.2268), Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse), 3–6 m, coll. Y. Benayau, 15 Jul.1999 .

Remarks. – The discussed colonies from Singapore resemble

the holotype of S. acuta , except for ZRC 1999.2268, which shows certain differences. For comparison, both the colony and sclerites of ZRC 1999.2268 are presented here ( Figs. 1b , 5–7 ). The colony shape ( Fig. 1b ) corresponds to the description of the holotype (Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007: Fig. 2a ). The sclerites of the polypary fit those of the holotype, including the polyp point ( Fig. 5a ) and crown ( Fig. 5b ), the clubs of the surface layer of the lobes ( Fig. 5c, d ) and its spindles ( Fig. 5e ) (see Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007: Fig. 3 ). Similarly, the sclerites of the surface layer of the base, including the clubs ( Fig. 6a, b ) and spindles ( Fig. 6c ), correspond to the holotype (Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007: Fig. 4 ). However, the spindles of the interior of the lobules of ZRC 1999.2268 are mostly branched ( Fig. 7a ), as opposed to those of the other examined colonies (see above) and the holotype (Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007: Fig. 4c ). The tubercular ornamentation of the spindles of all the colonies corresponds to the holotype ( Fig. 7b, c, e, f ). Notably, even the spindles in the interior of the base of ZRC 1999.2268 occasionally feature a side branch ( Fig. 7d ). We consider the slender spindles of the holotype of S. acuta , which are up to 3.6 mm long, a diagnostic of the species. The spindles depicted in Fig. 7a , are indeed of this type, up to 4 mm long, yet branched. Such differences between the holotype of S. acuta and the discussed colony are considered to reflect intra-specific variation, as commonly found in other Sinularia species (e.g., Dautova et al., 2010).

Figures

Fig. 1. Sinularia from Singapore; a, Sinularia choui new species; holotype (ZRC 1999.2249); b, Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007 (ZRC 1999.2268). Scale bar 10 mm.

Fig. 5. Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007 (ZRC 1999.2268): a–b, polyp sclerites; a, point-clubs; b, collaret spindles; c–e, sclerites of surface layer of lobules; c–d, clubs; e spindles. Scale bar 0.10 mm.

Fig. 6. Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007 (ZRC 1999.2268): a–c. sclerites of surface layer of base; a–b, clubs; c, spindles. Scale bar 0.10 mm.

Fig.7. Sinularia acuta Manuputty & Ofwegen, 2007 (ZRC 1999.2268): a, spindles of interior of lobes; b–c, tubercles on spindles of interior of lobes; d, spindles of interior of colony-base; e–f, tubercles on spindles of interior of colony-base. Scale bar 1 mm at a, also applies to d.

Fig. 2. Sinularia choui new species; holotype (ZRC 1999.2249): a–b, polyp sclerites; a, point-clubs; b, collaret spindles; c, clubs of surface layer of lobules with leaf-like processes. Scale bar 0.10 mm.

Fig. 3. Sinularia choui new species; holotype (ZRC 1999.2249): a–c, sclerites of surface layer of lobules; a, clubs with head featuring warty ornamentation; c, spindles; d, spindles of interior of lobules; e–f, tubercles on spindles. Scale bar at a and c 0.10 mm; that at a only applies to a, that at c applies to b–c; scale bar at d 1 mm only applies to d.

Fig. 4. Sinularai choui new species; holotype (ZRC 1999.2249): a–e, sclerites of surface layer of colony base, a–e; a, clubs with leaflike processes; b–c, clubs with head featuring warty ornamentation; d, capstans; e, spindles; f, spindles of interior of base; g, tubercles on spindle. Scale bar at a and e 0.10 mm; that at a applies to a–d; that of e only applies to e; scale bar at f 1 mm.