Epizoanthus aff. illoricatus Tischbierek, 1930

Reimer, James D., Poliseno, Angelo & Hoeksema, Bert W., 2014, Shallow-water zoantharians (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia) from the Central Indo-Pacific, ZooKeys 444, pp. 1-57 : 19-23

Taxon classification Animalia Zoantharia Epizoanthidae

24. Epizoanthus aff. illoricatus Tischbierek, 1930 Figures 20B, 21

Specimens

(n=2). RMNH Coel 40536, Snellius–II Station 4.058, east of Melolo, northeast Sumba (09°51'S, 120°45'E), depth = 180 m, collected on September 14, 1984 by rectangular dredge; RMNH Coel 40547, Snellius–II Station 4.051, east of Melolo, northeast Sumba (09°53'30"S, 120°42'42"E), depth = 75 to 90 m, collected on September 13, 1984 by rectangular dredge.

Photographic records

(n=12). Desa Ped, north Nusa Penida, east Bali (08°40'28"S, 115°30'50"E), May 28, 1998; 4 specimens from Tulamben, east Bali (08°16'26"S, 115°35'28"E), July 9-10, 1997; Nusa Penida, east Bali, (08°40'23"S, 115°29'13"E), May 27, 1998; Kapoposang, Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi (04°41'40"S, 118°54'55"E), June 24, 1997, August 8, 1997; west Pulau Samalona, Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi (05°07'30"S, 119°20'15"E), September 16, 1997; Fauna Malesiana Maluku Expedition station MAL.10, south coast of Ambon Bay, east of Eri, Ambon (03°45'S, 128°08'E), November 12, 1996; Maluku Expedition station MAL.12, north coast near Morela, Ambon (03°33'S, 128°12'E), November 13-14, 1996; Maluku Expedition station MAL.19, Tanjung Batu Dua, east of Hatu, north coast Ambon Bay, Ambon (03°43'S, 128°03'E), November 19, 1996; Fauna Malesiana Marine Sulawesi Expedition station SUL.16, bay east of Tanjung Labuhankompeni, Pulau Lembeh, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi (01°26'N, 125°11'E), October 23, 1994; west Pulau Siladen, Bunaken, North Sulawesi (01°38'N, 124°46'E), May 2, 1998.

Description.

Azooxanthellate. As Epizoanthus illoricatus above, obligate epibiont on eunicid worms. Polyps of this putative species are at least twice as big in diameter as Epizoanthus illoricatus (average 2.1 mm, compared with a maximum of 2 mm for Epizoanthus illoricatus ), and many times bigger in terms of volume. Additionally, both specimens have brown coenenchyme and scapus, different from the light gray coenenchyme and brownish oral disk reported for Epizoanthus illoricatus (Figure 20B). In situ images show colonies with cream, brown, red-brown, orange-brown or tan coenenchyme and scapus, often with white tentacles that are comparatively shorter and thicker than in Epizoanthus illoricatus . The coenenchyme of this putative species is much more developed than Epizoanthus illoricatus , with polyps arising from not only bends of the zig-zag shaped eunicid tube, but also from other locations. The result is a colony that has a higher density of polyps than Epizoanthus illoricatus . In Epizoanthus illoricatus , often the zig-zag shape of the eunicid tube is visible between polyps, but this is rarely the case in Epizoanthus aff. illoricatus (Figure 20B).

Distribution.

Regions recorded in this study (Figure 21): East Bali (5), northeast Sumba (6), Spermonde Archipelago (9), Moluccas (14), Lembeh Strait (17), Bunaken (18).

Past records. NA.

Remarks.

Although the two specimens here were found at deeper depths (75 to 190 m), numerous photographic records show that this species and Epizoanthus illoricatus have an overlapping depth range. Examination of DNA sequences combined with detailed morphological analyses should help clear up the relationship between this putative species and Epizoanthus illoricatus , although preliminary molecular analyses show differences between the two groups (H. Kise and J.D. Reimer, unpubl. data). It is likely records and museum specimens identified as Epizoanthus illoricatus from the central Indo-Pacific include both types mentioned in this study.