Deltocyathoides orientalis (Duncan, 1876)

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

Deltocyathoides orientalis (Duncan, 1876)

Fig. 15C, D

Deltocyathus orientalis Duncan, 1876: 431, pl. 38, figs 4-7.

Deltocyathus lens Alcock, 1902a: 99. - Alcock 1902c: 19-20, pl. 2, figs 16, 16A. -Zou 1988: 77-78, pl. 5, figs 6, 6A.

Deltocyathoides japonicus Yabe & Eguchi, 1932a: 389, fig. 3.

Deltocyathus minutus Gardiner & Waugh, 1938: 1980, fig. 5.

Stephanophyllia fungulus . - Boshoff 1981: 24.

Peponocyathus orientalis . - Wells 1984: 214. - Veron 1986: 608.

Peponocyathus australiensis . - Cairns 1989a: 29, 30-32, pl. 14, figs D-J, pl. 15, figs A-D. -Cairns and Parker 1992: 39-40, pl. 13, figs C, D. - Cairns and Keller 1993, 259-261. -Cairns 1994: 64-65, pl. 28, figs C-F, pl. 41, fig. I.

Deltocyathoides orientalis . - Cairns and Zibrowius 1997: 144-145. - Cairns 1997: 17, pl. 1, fig. H, pl. 7, fig. F. - Cairns 1998: 392. -Cairns 1999: 111. - Cairns et al. 1999: 40. -Cairns 2004a: 292.

Type locality.

South-eastern Honshu, Japan (34°12'00"N, 136°20'00"E); 95 m ( Cairns 1989a).

Type material.

The holotype is presumed to be lost ( Zibrowius 1980).

Material examined.

ORI_BVIa2 (1 specimen): Locality data unknown, 80 m. SAMC_A073139 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 35 km from Cape Vidal / 32 km off St Lucia Estuary, 27°49'41.87"S, 32°38'12.11"E; 54 m. USNM 91711 (2 specimens): Eastern margin, 26 km from Port St. Johns /off Bulolo Estuary, 29°34'47.99"S, 31°41'59.99"E; 138 m.

Description.

Corallum bowl-shaped with a pointed base. Calice circular (GCD:LCD = 1.0-1.2), with a slightly serrated calicular margin. Largest specimen examined (SAMC_A073139) 6.7 mm in CD, and 3.7 mm in H. Costae ridged, granular, with only C1 extending from calicular margin to base epicentre. C3 fuses to their adjacent C4 (~ 1/2 or 1/3 from base epicentre), and closer to base the fused costa joins C2 to form a single costa that reaches base epicentre. Intercostal striae wide and deep near calicular margin, but progressively getting narrower and shallower near base epicentre. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in four cycles according to the formula: S1 > S2 ≥ S4 > S3 (48 septa). S1 independent, most exsert, and separated from columella by a small palus, which is difficult to distinguish from columellar elements. S2 less exsert and ¾ width of S1, each bearing a thick palus that joins neighbouring P3-4 closer to columella. S3 ~ ½ the width of S2, less exsert, and bearing a thin palus (P3). S4 dimorphic in development: those adjacent to S1 are wider than S3, but S4 adjacent to S2 are equal in width to S3. Small spines perpendicular to septal and palar margins give them a coarse appearance. Fossa absent. Columella papillose.

Distribution.

Regional: Eastern margin of South Africa; extending off Shaka’s Rock towards Cape Vidal; 54-138 m. Elsewhere: Japan ( Yabe and Eguchi 1932a); Philippines; Indonesia ( Cairns and Zibrowius 1997); Wallis and Futuna ( Cairns 1999a); Australia (Cairns and Parker 1992; Cairns 2004); New Zealand (Cairns 1994); Tanzania; Red Sea (Gardiner and Waugh 1938; Cairns and Keller 1993); Florida; and Brazil ( Cairns 1979); 44-635 m.

Remarks.

This widespread turbinoliid was first reported in the region by Boshoff (1981), who identified it as Stephanophyllia fungulus . More than one decade later Cairns and Keller (1993) noted the occurrence of Deltocyathoides orientalis in Natal, but as Peponocyathus australiensis ( Cairns and Keller 1993). Subsequent authors ( Cairns and Zibrowius 1997; Cairns 1999a, 2004a), then agreed with Cairns (1995) that the genus Deltocyathoides should be applied to previously identified Peponocyathus that do not undergo transverse division. Deltocyathoides orientalis differs from other turbinoliids in the region in its bowl-shaped corallum, independent S1, fused P2-4 (which gives septa a V-shaped appearance), septa and pali with spines perpendicular to their margins, and costal morphology.

Figures

Figure 15. A, B Cyathotrochus pileus (SAMC _ A 087424, off Durban, 270 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, D Deltocyathoides orientalis (BIVa 2, locality unknown, 80) C calicular view D basal view E, F Deltocyathoides sentus (USNM 91551, off Shaka's Rock, 300 m) G, H Sphenotrochus (Eusthenotrochus) gilchristi (SAMC _ A 090086, off Cape Point, 24 m) G calicular view H lateral view I, J Sphenotrochus (Sphenotrochus) aurantiacus (SAM _ H 1416, off the Agulhas, 366 m) I calicular view J lateral view K, L Sphenotrochus (Sphenotrochus) evexicostatus (SAMC _ A 090085, locality data unknown, 43 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N Sphenotrochus (Sphenotrochus) imbricaticostatus (USNM 91715 _ Holotype, off Kosi-Kumpungwini (Sifungwe) Estuary, 44 m) K calicular view L lateral view O, P Tropidocyathus lessonii (SAMC _ A 073218, off Kosi Bay Estuary, 74 m) O calicular view P lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A-H, J-M, O-P); 2 mm (I, N).