Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ephyala Alcock, 1891

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

Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ephyala Alcock, 1891

Fig. 1O, P

Caryophyllia ephyala Alcock in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891: 6-2. - Alcock 1898: 13-14, pl. 1, fig. 4, 4A. - Gardiner 1904: 117-118. - Yabe and Eguchi 1932a: 388-389. - Cairns and Keller 1993: 219.

Type locality.

Off the western margin of Andaman Sea, India (HMS ‘Investigator’ stn. 56); 439-402 m ( Wood-Mason and Alcock 1891).

Type material.

Types are presumably deposited at the IM.

Material examined.

SAMC_A072974 (2 specimens): Western margin, 168 km off PATERNOSTER/ 173 km off Brak Estuary, 32°05'41.99"S, 16°19'47.99"E; 440 m.

Description.

Corallum ceratoid, attached, tapering to a slightly curved and slender pedicel (PD:GCD = 0.20). Calice slightly elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.1), with slightly lancet calicular margin. Largest specimen examined (SAMC_A072974) 11.2 × 9.9 mm in CD, 2.4 mm in PD, and 23.0 mm in H. Costae poorly developed, but C1-2 more prominent and double the width of C3-4. C3-4 equal in width. All costae prominent at calicular margin, disappearing towards base, and separated by shallow and thin intercostal furrows. Theca glistening, with faint costal ridges. Corallum white to light brown.

Septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles according to the formula: S1 ≥ S2 > S3 > S4 (48 septa). S1 highly exsert, and extend towards columella with slightly sinuous axial margins. S2 equal to or slightly less wide and exsert than S1, but otherwise similar in profile. Higher cycle septa progressively less exsert, but S4 more exsert than S3. S4 joining neighbouring S1-2 and forming a slightly lanceted calicular margin. S32/3 the width of S2, but have a more sinuous axial margin. Each S3 bears a thin and sinuous pali (12 P3). S4 rudimentary, with straight to slightly sinuous axial margins. All septa and pali covered in granules. Fossa of moderate depth, containing a fascicular columella composed of five or six ribbon-like elements.

Distribution.

Regional: Western and eastern ( Gardiner 1904) margin of South Africa, off Paternoster extending towards Buffalo River mouth ( Gardiner 1904); 146-567 m. Elsewhere: Japan ( Yabe and Eguchi 1932a); Andaman Sea (Alcock 1891); 146-1289 m ( Cairns and Keller 1993).

Remarks.

Caryophyllia (C.) ephyala belongs to the largest morphological group of the genus, having septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles, and when keyed out comes closest to C. huinayensis Cairns, Häussermann & Försterra, 2005. However, C. ephyala is distinguished from C. huinayensis in its calicular margin being slightly lanceted and having S3 larger than S4. Furthermore, these species differ in distributional range, of which C. ephyala is known from the Indian Ocean and C. huinayensis recorded in the South Pacific. Among the South African caryophylliids, C. ephyala superficially resembles C. scobinosa Alcock, 1902 in having a slightly lanceted calicular margin, poorly developed costae, and a thin pedicel, but can be differentiated by having a circular calice, corallum attached, and consistently having four complete septa cycles. This species was previously reported from South Africa, off Mossel Bay extending north of Richards Bay ( Gardiner 1904 - specimens could not be traced). Thus, the new record reported herein extends its regional distribution to the South Atlantic, off Lamberts Bay.

Figures

Figure 1. A, B Anomocora fecunda (SAMC _ A 073042, off Shaka's Rock, 200 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, F Anomocora marchadi C, D (SAMC _ A 090093, off Durban, 49 m) C calicular view D lateral view E, F (SAM _ H 3100, off Shaka's Rock, 66 m) E calicular view F lateral view G, H Aulocyathus juvenescens (Mortensen 25, off Durban, 424 m) G calicular view H lateral view I, J Aulocyathus sp. cf. Aulocyathus matricidus (DIa 1, locality data unknown) I calicular view J lateral view K, L Caryophyllia (Acanthocyathus) grayi (USNM 91541, off Kosi Bay, 98 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) diomedeae (MN _ SM 129, off Margate, 850 m) M calicular view N lateral view N, O Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ephyala (SAMC _ A 072974, off Paternoster, 440 m) O Calicular view P Lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm.