Phenganax marumi, Lau, Yee Wah & Reimer, James D., 2019

Lau, Yee Wah & Reimer, James D., 2019, A first phylogenetic study on stoloniferous octocorals off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, with the description of two new genera and five new species, ZooKeys 872, pp. 127-158 : 127

Phenganax marumi sp. nov. Figure 3b

Material examined.

All specimens are from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia and collected by YW Lau. Holotype: NSMT-Co 1683, Manukan, Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'46.1"N, 116°00'10.6"E), 13 m depth. Paratypes: IPMB-C 01.00001: Edgell Patches, west of Sapi Island (06°00'38.7"N, 115°59'22.2"E), 16 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00002: Mid Reef Slope, east of Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'38.08"N, 116°00'52.82"E), 13 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00003: Mid Reef Slope, east of Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'38.08"N, 116°00'52.82"E), 11 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00004: Edgell Patches, west of Sapi Island (06°00'38.7"N, 115°59'22.2"E), 19 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00005: Edgell Patches, west of Sapi Island (06°00'38.7"N, 115°59'22.2"E), 16 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00006: Gaya Clement Reef, west of Gaya Island, TARP (06°01'24.26"N, 116°00'13.55"E), 12 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00007: Gaya Clement Reef, west of Gaya Island, TARP (06°01'24.26"N, 116°00'13.55"E), 11 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00008: Manukan, north of Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'46.1"N, 116°00'10.6"E), 12 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00009: Manukan, Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'46.1"N, 116°00'10.6"E), 12 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00010: Manukan, Manukan Island, TARP (05°58'46.1"N, 116°00'10.6"E), 12 m depth.

Description.

Colony is attached to rock and sponge and consists of ~15 polyps. Stolons are consistent in width throughout the colony (~0.35 mm). Polyps are spaced apart irregularly (from 0.5 mm up to 6 mm) and retract fully into calyces; calyces do not retract into stolon and are approximately 1 mm in width and 2 mm in height. Expanded polyps 4.0-5.5 mm in width. The pinnules are arranged on either side of the rachis in pairs of 12-15, sometimes spaced apart irregularly. The pinnules give a swollen appearance and are mostly conical shaped, otherwise diamond-shaped. The colony is sclerite-free. Polyps are brownish yellow in colour, with a bright yellowish white oral disk in life (whitish yellow when preserved in ethanol). Tentacles have a greenish colour interrupted with brown specks. Zooxanthellate.

Morphological variation.

Paratypes IPMB-C 01.00003 and IPMB-C 01.00007 show variation in the colouration of the polyps, having a paler and pinkish appearance. There is also variation in the number of pinnule pairs (~8 pairs) and the space between the pinnules; pinnules are sometimes so densely packed there is no space between them. Like the holotype, all paratype colonies are small colonies consisting of ~20 polyps.

Distribution.

Gaya, Sapi and Manukan Islands, TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Remarks.

Phenganax marumi sp. nov. resembles Phenganax parrini Alderslade & McFadden, 2011 in polyp morphology, but differs in colour. The numerous and densely packed polyps described for a P. parrini colony ( Alderslade and McFadden 2011) have not been observed in any of the 11 collected P. marumi colonies; instead the maximum number of polyps observed in one colony was approximately 35. However, the density of P. parrini could be caused by unnatural conditions (aquarium environment) in which it was kept for scientific research purposes ( Alderslade and McFadden 2011). Phenganax marumi was found on exposed spots on the reef, not sheltered from strong current or light, as opposed to P. parrini , which was found in dimly lit, sheltered locations.

Etymology.

From the Japanese word marumi , which means round or rounded; denoting the plump shape of the polyp tentacles, which give the polyp an overall plump appearance.

Figures

Figure 3. In situ photographs of clavulariids found in and around TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. a Clavulariidae sp., specimen NSMT-Co 1686 b Phenganax marumi sp. nov., holotype (NSMT-Co 1683) c Phenganax subtilis sp. nov., holotype (NSMT-Co 1684) d Phenganax stokvisi sp. nov., holotype (NSMT-Co 1685).