Idiotrochus kikutii (Yabe & Eguchi, 1941)

Cairns, S. D., 2004, The Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of Australia, Records of the Australian Museum 56, pp. 259-329 : 298

Idiotrochus kikutii (Yabe & Eguchi, 1941)

Placotrochides kikutii Yabe & Eguchi, 1941: 104 , 3 figs.

Idiotrochus kikutii .– Cairns, 1989a: 36–37, pl. 18, figs. a,b, d–h (description, synonymy); 1994: 69, pl. 30a–d (remarks).– Cairns & Zibrowius, 1997: 148–149 (remarks).–Cairns, 1997: 20–21, pl. 5g, 7l (listed); 1998: 390 (WA); 1999a: 112–113 (remarks).

New records. Queensland (Marion Plateau): Franklin 03/99/D8, 2, USNM 1008746; Franklin 03/99/D10, 206, USNM 1008748; Franklin 03/99/11, 416: 396, USNM 1008768, 10, WAM Z20518, and 10, ZMUZ; Franklin 03/99/D12, 8, USNM 1008765; Franklin 03/99/D13, 27, USNM 1008767; Franklin 03/99/D14, 9, USNM 1008766.

Types. Six syntypes are TIUS 63088. Type Locality: Toyama Bay , Japan, depth unknown .

Remarks. The “new species” alluded to by Cairns & Parker (1992: 41) and Cairns (1997: 21), AM G15236, from Queensland at 150 m, originally thought to be different because of having basal thecal spines, is herein re-identified as I. kikutii , not I. alatus . From the many additional specimens available for study, it was noted that about 2.5% of the specimens possess short thecal spines, similar to those found on both specimens from AM 15236, but are easily differentiated from I. alatus in having parallel thecal edges and faces; only one set of thecal spines, which are considerable smaller; and a smaller corallum size.