Leptogorgia cardinalis ( Bayer, 1961 )

Devictor, Susan T. & Morton, Steve L., 2010, Identification guide to the shallow water (0 - 200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight 2599, Zootaxa 2599 (1), pp. 1-62 : 44-45

Leptogorgia cardinalis ( Bayer, 1961)

( Figure 40 )

Lophogorgia cardinalis Bayer, 1961:201 ; Fig. 60; Plate VII fig. 5.— Cairns et al. 2002:35.

Material examined. USNM 72437, 61 m, off Jacksonville , Florida, March 11, 1980 .

Remarks. The Florida specimen examined for this work is the only record of the presence of this species in the SAB. The specimen is 46 mm in length and the branches are 1.5 mm in diameter. The branches are irregularly openly pinnate, sometimes alternate, sometimes opposite, in one plane, and generally straight or with a slight curve. The polyp mounds are moderately prominent, rounded and biserial, giving the branches a flattened appearance. Sclerites are in the form of slender, acute spindles, reaching almost 0.2 mm, and some blunt capstans reaching 0.1 mm. Anthocodial rods are present and are approximately the same size as the spindles. The rods are pink and the spindles and capstans pale orange. The colony color is bright red or orange.

The examined specimen has acute spindles that are longer and more slender than those in Bayer’s (1961) description, in which he notes the variance in the spindles and anthocodial rods. The described spiculation of this species resembles that of L. punicea , so distinguishing the two species may be easier when comparing colony morphology rather than sclerites.

Atlantic distribution: Gulf of Mexico , northern Florida to Cuba, 19–77 m ( Bayer 1961; NMNH collections) .

Figures

FIGURE 40. Leptogorgia cardinalis (preserved specimen, USNM 72437); A, sclerites; a, b) anthocodial rods; c, d) elongate spindles from coenenchyme; e–h) small spindles from coenenchyme (scale bar = 0.05 mm); B, colony, showing branching (scale bar = 5 mm).