Cirrhipathes secchini Echverría, 2002

Lima, Manuela M., Cordeiro, Ralf T. S. & Perez, Carlos D., 2019, Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic, Zootaxa 4692 (1), pp. 1-67 : 9

Cirrhipathes secchini Echverría, 2002

Fig. 35

Cirrhipathes sp. Castro, 1994: 91–93.

Cirripathes secchini Echeverría, 2002: 1068–1072 , figs. 1–3.

Cirrhipathes secchini, Loiola, 2007: 254 .

Type and type locality. MNRJ 2757 (Holotype): Abrolhos , Bahia, Brazil; 10–25 m depth .

Diagnosis. Colonies unbranched, 1.55–2.92 m in height, showing a basal plate. Axis straight for 25 to 81% of the total length, then curving in regular, steep, well-defined spirals or sinuously. Distance covered by spirals (when defined) 9–57 cm, spiral diameter 5–22 cm; number of spirals 1 to 5.5. Axis diameter just above basal plate 3.7–9 mm; at tip of colony 0.7–2 mm. Polypar spines conical, laterally compressed, rounded at tip, forming a 90º angle with axis; showing small tubercles or protuberances. Size of spines 100 to 330 μm (individual colonies average 140–320 μm, n = 19 colonies). Distance between consecutive spines 310–930 μm. Small spines distributed irregularly between large spines, with no apparent pattern. Small spines conical, sharp, forming a 90º with axis, size 30–82 μm, with no tubercles or protuberances. Polyps white, transverse diameter about 2–3 mm; sagittal diameter 1–2 mm, arranged in multiple irregular rows, except in apical part of axis (apparently in a single row); one side of entire stem usually free of polyps. Sagittal tentacles about 1.3–2.15 mm; lateral tentacles 1.05–1.45 mm. Oral cone about 0.5– 0.07 mm. (adapted from Echeverría, 2002).

Distribution. Abrolhos, Bahia, Brazil (fig. 35) ( Echeverría, 2002); from 10 m to 25 m ( Echeverría, 2002).

Figures

FIGURE 35. Geographic distribution of antipatharians species occurring in the Southwestern Atlantic not analyzed in the present work.