Eunicea succinea (Pallas, 1766)

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 : 244-245

publication ID

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

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10546012

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F28783-086B-0939-EBF5-8059045BFB4C

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Eunicea succinea
status

 

EUNICEA SUCCINEA View in CoL ( PALLAS, 1766) ( FIG. 1C View Figure 1 )

Gorgonia succinea Pallas, 1766: 200 .

Gorgonia plantaginea Lamarck, 1815: 163 .

Eunicea hummelincki Stiasny, 1941: 109 View in CoL .

Eunicea succinea: Lamouroux, 1816: 437 View in CoL , Bayer, 1961: 134.

Description: Colonies up to 30 cm in height, branching mainly in one plane; branches long but scarcely branched ( Fig. 1C View Figure 1 ). Dry colonies beige to pale ochre. Sclerites from middle layer large and acute; spindles up to 1.5 mm. Axial layer sclerites variable in size and form; acute spindles or short spindles with prominent ornamentation. Polyp rods flattened. Surface sclerites torch-like clubs.

Diagnostic features: The calyx is tubular, very prominent and up to 10 mm, usually longer than the branch diameter.

Distribution and habitat: Bahamas, Antilles, and Central America. Possible in deeper reef slopes of oceanic reefs (14–40 m). Eunicea laxispica is particularly abundant on the leeward reefs and slopes of San Salvador and Abaco, Bahamas, where it was observed sharing habitat with E. mammosa (pers. observ., December, 1998).

Examined material: ICN-MHN-CO-085 (U-62), Isla Narsa , Capurganá , Golfo de Urabá, Colombian Caribbean, col. J.A. Sánchez, 2.x.1995 , leeward terrace 15 m ICN-MHN-CO-093 (N-13), Banco de Serrana , Colombian Caribbean, col. J.A. Sánchez, 15.vi.1995 , lagoonal patch reef, 3.5 m depth. USNM 97687 About USNM , (19), isla Tesoro , islas del Rosario, Caribbean coast of Colombia, col. J.A. Sánchez & A. Ramirez, 16.ix.1992 ; fore-reef terrace on the mixed corals zone 17 m. USNM 97686 About USNM (18), Isla Tesoro , Islas del Rosario, Caribbean coast of Colombia, col. J.A. Sánchez & A. Ramirez, 16.ix.1992 ; fore-reef terrace on the mixed corals zone 15 m. (platantaginea morphotype). INV- CNID-377 (P-45), isla de Providencia, Colombian Caribbean, 20.x.1994, col. J.A. Sánchez, lagoonal patch reef 10 m. INV-CNID-376 (B-22), Banco Bushnell, continental shelf Colombian Caribbean, 4.x.1995, tableau mixed corals zone 14 m. USNM 51555 About USNM , North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea; Virgin Islands, St. John, Chocolate Hole. 6 m, col. Chess T., 9.i.1960 , donor: Randall J. USNM 51952 About USNM , (70% ETOH), North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea ; Barbuda, Cocoa Point, Smithsonian-Bredin Expedition, 26.iv.1956 . USNM 50266 About USNM , ( Eunicea hummelincki Stiasny ) North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea, Virgin Islands, St. John, 5 m, col. Shoemaker C. R., 10.vii.1915 .

EUNICEA LAXISPICA ( LAMARCK, 1815) ( FIGS 1D View Figure 1 , 2F–H, Q View Figure 2 )

Gorgonia laxispica Lamarck, 1815: 163 (holotype:

Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris).

Eunicea laxispica: Stiasny, 1951: 52 View in CoL , Bayer, 1961: 125.

Description: Colonies up to 30 cm in height, branching mainly in one plane; branches long but scarcely branched ( Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ). Dry colonies beige to pale ochre. Sclerites from middle layer large and acute; spindles up to 1.5 mm. Axial layer sclerites variable in size and form; acute spindles or short spindles with prominent ornamentation ( Fig. 2Q View Figure 2 ). Polyp rods flattened. Surface sclerites torch-like clubs ( Fig. 2F–H View Figure 2 ).

Diagnostic features: The calyx is tubular, very prominent and up to 10 mm, usually longer than the branch diameter.

Distribution and habitat: Bahamas, Antilles, and Central America. Possibly in deeper reef slopes of oceanic reefs (14–40 m). Eunicea laxispica is particularly abundant on the leeward reefs and slopes of San Salvador and Abaco, Bahamas, where it was observed sharing habitat with E. mammosa (pers. observ., December, 1998).

Examined material: USNM 57997 About USNM . (70% ETOH), North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea : Lesser Antilles, St Barthelemy (17° 51′ 30″N, 062° 38′ 42″W) 35–37 m; 22.vii.1969, Pillsbury GoogleMaps R / V; University of Miami . USNM 51739 About USNM , North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea, Virgin Islands, St. John, col. Schroeder. R.E., xi.1960, donor Randall J . USNM 51557 About USNM , North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea, Virgin Islands, St. John, Cabrithorn Point, 14 m, col. Chess T., 4.i.1960, donor Randall J . USNM 57994 About USNM , (70% ETOH) North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea, Antigua, Antigua Island (17° 15′ 30″N, 62° 02′ 12″W) 22 m, 20.vii.1969, Pillsbury GoogleMaps R / V, University of Miami .

EUNICEA MAMMOSA LAMOUROUX, 1816 View in CoL

( FIGS 1E View Figure 1 , 2I, Y View Figure 2 )

Eunicea mammosa Lamouroux, 1816: 438 View in CoL (holotype: Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris).

Eunicea mammosa: Bayer, 1961: 132 View in CoL .

Description: Colonies either forming a distinguishable candelabrum (with thicker branches and medium calyx) or a bush (having both medium and large calyx; Fig. 1E View Figure 1 ). Coloration varies from beige, dark yellow to ochre, and occasionally purple. Middle layer sclerites ornamented spindles up to 2 mm length and 0.38 mm width (five to eight times longer than wider). Axial layer sclerites sharp spindles (0.16–0.4 mm length and 0.04–0.08 mm width), deep purple colour. Tentacular armature with rods up to 0.17 mm in length ( Fig. 2Y View Figure 2 ). Surface layer with dense torch-like club sclerites up to 0.22 mm in length ( Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ).

Diagnostic features: Tubular polyp aperture with stout edges and ‘mammiform’ appearance.

Distribution and habitat: Widespread in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Eunicea mammosa is found in exposed or semi-exposed reefs between 1 and 30 m in depth.

Examined material. ICN-MHN-CO-084 (P-19), Pearstick Bar, isla de Providencia (13° 28′ 18.6″ N, 81° 21′ 57″ W), Colombian Caribbean, col. J.A. Sánchez, de 21.x.1994, shallow patch reef 1.8 m. ICN- MHN-CO-077 (P-21), Pearstick Bar, isla de Providencia, Colombian Caribbean, col. J.A. Sánchez, 21.x.1994, inner shallow patch reef 2 m. ICN-MHN- CO-096 (E-178), Cayos de Bolivar (Courtown Cays), (12° 24′ 11″N, 81° 28′ 19″W), Colombian Caribbean, col. J.A. Sánchez, 26.vi.1994, lagoonal patch reef 4 m. USNM 97685 About USNM , (17), isla Tesoro, islas del Rosario , Colombian Caribbean , col. J.A.Sánchez & A.Ramirez, 16.ix.1992; fore-reef terrace on the mixed corals zone 15 m. - INV-CNID-374 (AR-5), Parque Tayrona , arrecifes ‘la piscinita’, Colombian Caribbean , viii.1995, col. J.A: Sánchez , rock barrier 1.5 m. INV-CNID-373 (R-43), Banco de Roncador , Colombian Caribbean , 28.v.1995, col. J.A. Sánchez, shallow lagoonal patch reef 2 m. INV-CNID-375 (R-24), Banco de Roncador , Colombian Caribbean , 27.v.1995, fore-reef terrace 18 m. USNM 51903 About USNM , North Atlantic Ocean , Caribbean Sea , Mexico; Quintana Roo, Mujeres Island , Channel Side of Inlet , 1–2 m prof. col, Bousfield , 30.iii.1960, Smithsonian-Bredin. USNM 59061 About USNM , (70% ETOH), North Atlantic Ocean , Bahamas, Abaco Islands , Great Abaco Island , Barrier Reef , col. Lightly R.J., v.1979, donor: Lightly R.J. USNM 34521 About USNM , North Atlantic Ocean , Gulf Of Mexico, Cuba, Jutias Cays , reef flat between Jutia and Little Cays, col. Bartsch & Henderson, 12.v.1914, Tomas Barrera Expedition GoogleMaps .

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

R

Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile

V

Royal British Columbia Museum - Herbarium

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Cnidaria

Class

Anthozoa

Order

Alcyonacea

Family

Plexauridae

Genus

Eunicea

Loc

Eunicea succinea

Sánchez, Juan Armando 2009
2009
Loc

Eunicea mammosa: Bayer, 1961: 132

Bayer FM 1961: 132
1961
Loc

Eunicea laxispica: Stiasny, 1951: 52

Bayer FM 1961: 125
Stiasny G 1951: 52
1951
Loc

Eunicea hummelincki

Stiasny G 1941: 109
1941
Loc

Eunicea succinea: Lamouroux, 1816: 437

Bayer FM 1961: 134
Lamouroux JVF 1816: 437
1816
Loc

Eunicea mammosa Lamouroux, 1816: 438

Lamouroux JVF 1816: 438
1816
Loc

Gorgonia plantaginea

Lamarck J 1815: 163
1815
Loc

Gorgonia laxispica

Lamarck J 1815: 163
1815
Loc

Gorgonia succinea

Pallas P 1766: 200
1766
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