Melithaea frondosa (Brundin, 1896)

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 : 16-17

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea frondosa (Brundin, 1896) Figures 28b, 31, 32, 35

Psilacabaria frondosa : Brundin 1896: 14, pl. 1 fig. 5, pl. 2 fig. 5 (Hirudo Strait (= Hirado Strait), Japan).

Acabaria frondosa : Kükenthal 1909: 61; Kükenthal 1919: 185; 1924: 80; Hickson 1937: 181.

Material examined.

Syntypes UPSZTY 2164 (old number UUZM 67), Hirudo Strait (= Hirado Strait), Nagasaki, Japan, 33°10'N, 129°18'E, coll. Kapt. Suenson.

Re-description.

Colonies branched in parallel planes, no anastomoses (Fig. 28b). End branches with bilateral polyp arrangement. Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.30 mm long, distal end with more developed tubercles (Fig. 31a). Collaret with bent spindles up to 0.30 mm long, middle part with more developed tubercles (Fig. 31b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped with irregular projections (Fig. 31c). These platelets are up to 0.20 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 31d). Coenenchyme with capstans (Fig. 32a), unilaterally spinose spheroids (Fig. 32b) 0.05-0.10 mm long; small clubs of similar length (Fig. 32c); spindles 0.10-0.20 mm long (Fig. 32d). The calyces with longer clubs, up to 0.14 mm long (Fig. 32e). Most sclerites have complex tubercles. The axis has smooth and sparsely tuberculate rods (Fig. 31f).

Color.

White with colorless sclerites.

Distribution.

Only known from Hirado Strait, Nagasaki, East China Sea (Fig. 35).

Remarks.

The clubs and spinose spheroids with very spiny heads are characteristic for the species.