Melithaea keramaensis, Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015

Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015, Melithaeidae of Japan (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) re-examined with descriptions of 11 new species, ZooKeys 522, pp. 1-127 : 23-24

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea keramaensis sp. n. Figures 56a, 57, 58, 65

Material examined.

Holotype RMNH Coel. 41925 (AKM 1148), off Kerama Isls., Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, 26°09.45'N, 127°26.90'E - 26°09.65'N, 127°26.81'E, 85-71 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT08-33, St. KR-09, Chain Bag Dredge, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 15 December 2008; paratype RMNH Coel. 41926 (AKM 1139), off Kerama Isls., Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, 26°12'N, 127°30'E, 56-51 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT08-33, st. KR-10, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 15 December 2008.

Description.

The holotype is a 12 cm long fragment without holdfast (Fig. 56a). At the base the stem is 1 cm wide, the end branches are only 1 mm wide. The polyps are situated laterally on the branches, the calyces hardly project beyond the coenenchyme and most polyps are retracted. Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.20 mm long, distal end with more developed tubercles (Fig. 57a). Collaret with bent spindles up to 0.25 mm long, middle part with more developed tubercles (Fig. 57b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped with irregular projections (Fig. 57c). These platelets are up to 0.15 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 57d). Coenenchyme with predominantly capstans (Fig. 57e), double disks (Fig. 57h), and small clubs (Fig. 57f), 0.05-0.08 mm long. Spindles (Fig. 58a) and disk spindles (Fig. 58b) are also common, 0.10-0.15 mm long. The calyces with additional leaf clubs, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 58c).

Color.

Colony red with white calyces and polyps. Coenenchymal sclerites orange, calyx and polyp sclerites colorless.

Variation.

The paratype is very much alike the holotype regarding color and sclerites.

Distribution.

The species is only known from the Kerama Islands (Fig. 65).

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality, the Kerama islands.

Remarks.

The species mostly resembles Melithaea abyssicola but differs in having longer disk spindles but shorter normal spindles. It also has more finely sculptured polyp sclerites.