Leptogorgia clavata (Horn, 1860)

Published, First, 2007, A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific, Zootaxa 1419, pp. 1-90 : 25-27

Leptogorgia clavata (Horn, 1860)

( Figs. 16–18)

Lophogorgia clavata Horn, 1860: 233 .

Leptogorgia clavata Verrill 1869b: 423 .

Material examined. Syntype: YPM 2268 , 3 dry fragments, locality unknown (purchased), depth not given, donor A. E. Verrill (syntype of G. H. Horn, obtained from Philadelphia Academy), no further data .

Syntype Description. The syntype consists of 3 small fragments, measuring 45, 15, and 10 mm. The largest one is slightly flattened, 4.0 mm in diameter, several stumps along the branch suggest that the branching was pinnate as Horn (1860) pointed out ( Fig. 16A). Polyp-mounds are small, slightly raised, and numerous, arranged all around the branches. Colour of the colony is dull reddish-pink. All the coenenchymal sclerites are reddish-pink, and mostly capstans ( Fig. 16B). They reach up to 0.075 mm in length, and 0.04 mm in width ( Fig. 16B, 17); some are densely tuberculated, barrel-like capstans ( Fig. 16B, 17). Spindles reach up to 0.10 mm in length, and 0.05 mm in width, with 3–4 whorls of complex tubercles ( Fig. 17). Anthocodial sclerites are conspicuous, pale pink, long rods, up to 0.16 mm in length, and 0.03 mm in width with scalloped margins, some with bent axes ( Fig. 16B, 17).

Distribution. The syntype was probably found in Mazatlan, Mexico, and no other specimens of this species were available for examination ( Table 2, Fig. 18).

Remarks. Horn (1860) described two species of Lophogorgia from unknown localities ( L. aurantiaca , and L. clavata ), and one species of Rhipidigorgia (now Pacifigorgia englemanni ), however, only a small fragment of P. englemanni and some fragments of L. clavata were found at YPM. It seems that the fragments of L. clavata were given to A. E. Verrill by the Philadelphia Academy, and he donated them to YPM (Breedy & Guzman 2002). None of the Horn’s complete specimens was found. The specimen of P. englemanni was the only one with collecting site recorded as Mazatlan, thus, Verrill (1868b) assumed that the other two were from the same locality. Because of the scant nature of the type material and the lack of any other specimen that matches Horn’s description, it is not possible to validate the taxonomic status of L. clavata . Herein we describe the type fragments for reference until new material that fits this species is collected.

It is not possible to tell much about similarities of L. clavata with other species, but the conspicuous long anthocodial rods distinguish it at present ( Table 1).