Eunicea fusca, DUCHASSAING & MICHELOTTI, 1860

Sánchez, Juan Armando, 2009, Systematics of the candelabrum gorgonian corals (Eunicea Lamouroux; Plexauridae; Octocorallia; Cnidaria), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 157 (2), pp. 237-263 : 247

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00515.x

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5492303

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F28783-0866-093A-E80E-810C034DFE9B

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Eunicea fusca
status

 

EUNICEA FUSCA DUCHASSAING & MICHELOTTI, 1860 View in CoL

( FIGS 1I View Figure 1 , 2O View Figure 2 )

Eunicea fusca Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860: 25 View in CoL (holotype: Turín , Italy).

Eunicea fusca: Bayer, 1961: 138 View in CoL .

Description: Colonies usually small (<0.3 m) but up to 0.5 m in height. Asexual (vegetative) propagation from fragments commonly observed ( Fig. 1I View Figure 1 ). Colony with disorganized branching but with a dichotomous trend. Slim branches between 2.5 and 3.5 mm in diameter. Polyp apertures with low calyx as an enlargement of the lower lip. Middle layer with spindle sclerites up to 2 mm in length. Axial layer sclerites spindles up to 0.2 mm in length colourless or slightly violet, sometimes with large ornamentations. Polyp armature composed of slightly curved rods between 0.05 and 0.22 mm in length.

Diagnostic features: The surface layer contains clubs with smooth folds, sometimes fused, up to 0.18 mm in length ( Fig. 2O View Figure 2 , see also Fig. 8 View Figure 8 ).

Distribution and habitat: Widespread in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Most reef environments with intermediate wave exposition and depth. Along the Caribbean coast of Colombia E. fusca was found to be very common exhibiting extensive vegetative propagation.

Examined material: ICN-MHN-CO-079 (Q1), El Morrito, Santa Marta Bay (Punta Betín), Caribbean coast of Colombia, 4.iii.1996 , hard ground and rubble 6 m, col. J.A. Sánchez. USNM 97688 About USNM (20) Tesoro island, Rosario islands, Caribbean coast of Colombia, col. J.A. Sánchez & A. Ramirez, 17.x.1992 ; fore-reef terrace on rubble sand areas 8 m. INV-CNID-372, (E-98), Albuquerque Cays (12° 10′ 29″N, 81° 51′ 11″W), Colombian Caribbean , 30.v.1994 GoogleMaps , lagoonal patch reef, col. J.A. Sánchez. USNM 51783 About USNM , Bermuda, Somerset Island , 5–6 m, col. Tucker T., 31.viii.1960 , donor: Peterson L.W. USNM 52414 About USNM , (70% ETOH), Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Yucatan, Peninsula, Campeche Bank , Alacranes Reef , col. Bonet F., vii.1961 , donor: Bonet F. USNM 83600 About USNM , Gulf of Mexico, United States, Florida, Florida Keys , (F87- 23), 12 m. col. W. Fenical, vii.1987 .

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Cnidaria

Class

Anthozoa

Order

Alcyonacea

Family

Plexauridae

Genus

Eunicea

Loc

Eunicea fusca

Sánchez, Juan Armando 2009
2009
Loc

Eunicea fusca: Bayer, 1961: 138

Bayer FM 1961: 138
1961
Loc

Eunicea fusca Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860: 25

Duchassaing P & Michelotti J 1860: 25
1860
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