Ofwegenum colli sp. nov.

Figs 1, 3A, B, 4, 5, 6

Material examined.

Holotype. Australia • Queensland, N.E. Bay Great Palm Island; 18.7500°S, 146.6500°N; 6-7 m depth; 22 April 1981; coll. J. Coll; silty bottom, on a dead coral; NTM C13089.

Paratypes. Australia • 7 colonies, same data as holotype; NTM C015578 • 5 colonies, same data as holotype; NTM C3827 • 1 colony, same data as holotype; NTM C3828 • 3 colonies, same data as holotype; May 1982; NTM C3829.

Description.

The holotype is a fragment of a colony measuring 14 by 13 mm (Fig. 3A). Its polypary expands over a 2 mm thick, spreading crust-like base. The surface of the polypary features some grooves, and the contracted polyps, up to 1 mm in diameter, are visible as low mounds (Fig. 3A). The coenenchyme has sclerites in the form of spindles (with tapered ends) and rods (with blunt ends) up to 0.50 mm long, with low, simple tubercles or areas of thickening forming concentric, raised rings (Fig. 4A). The polyp body contains similar but shorter rods that appear to be arranged 'en chevron’ when the polyps are extended. The size of the sclerites decreases along the polyp body towards the base of the tentacles (Fig. 4A).

The tentacles and pinnules contain numerous platelets and flattened rods (i.e., finger-biscuits, see Bayer et al. 1983) up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 4B) arranged on the aboral side of the tentacles. Some of these sclerites have lateral median constrictions, side notches, or depressions at one or both ends resembling a figure-eight shape, and some have bulbous ends resembling bones (Fig. 4B).

Colour.

The ethanol-preserved colony is cream.

Morphological variations.

The paratype colony NTM C3829 has smoother and shorter spindles and rods compared to the holotype (0.20 vs. 0.50 mm, respectively: Figs 4A, 6A). The tentacle sclerites are up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 6B) compared to up to 0.10 mm in the holotype (Fig. 4B). The holotype NTM C13089 has some platelets with wider ends, resembling the shape of a bone (Fig. 4B), which are not present in the other type material of this species (Figs 5B, 6B).

Remarks.

This species is capitate with smaller bud-like capitula occasionally emerging from the stalk. The sclerites of the paratypes correspond to those of the holotype but differ a bit in size. This species has the largest tentacle sclerites among the congeners, up to 0.15 mm long (Figs 4 - 6). No information is available on the living features of this species.

Distribution.

Queensland, Australia.

Etymology.

The species is named after the collector of the material, Prof. John Coll of James Cook University, North Queensland, a renowned chemical ecologist who has contributed prominently to the knowledge of soft corals.