Polycyathus mayae Cairns, 2000

Reyes, Javier, Santodomingo, Nadiezhda & Cairns, Stephen, 2009, Caryophylliidae (Scleractinia) from the Colombian Caribbean, Zootaxa 2262 (1), pp. 1-39 : 12

Polycyathus mayae Cairns, 2000

Fig. 3B

Polycyathus mayae Cairns, 2000: 86–88 , figs. 4, 96–101.— Reyes et al., 2005: 324 (listed).— Santodomingo et al., 2007: 286 (listed).

Remarks: Colombian specimens have no differences with the original description ( Cairns 2000). P. mayae specimens were found settled on Anomocora fecunda skeletons and inside grooves and crevices of coral limestone, all of them collected off San Bernardo Islands.

Distribution: Tropical western Atlantic, Antillean distribution from Bahamas to Barbados, 137–309 m depth ( Cairns 2000). In Colombia, it is only known off Rosario and San Bernardo Islands, from 75 to 217 m depth. These records extend its distribution up to the northern coast of South America, and the bathymetric range up to 75 m depth. Specimens were confirmed by comparison with the holotype (1 colony), USNM 99214.

Material: INV CNI 796, 2 corallites, E156; INV CNI 797, 8 corallites, E155; INV CNI 2412, 3 corallites, C4; INV CNI 2419, 4 corallites, C4; INV CNI 2462, 1 corallites, C3; INV CNI 2507, 4 corallites, D3; INV CNI 2522, 4 corallites, D12; INV CNI 2816, +30 corallites, D69; INV CNI 2825, 2 corallites, D74; INV CNI 2880, 12 corallites, D76; INV CNI 2888, 11 corallites, D76; INV CNI 2911, 6 corallites, C3; INV CNI 2934, 6 corallites, C2.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A, Cladocora arbuscula, INV CNI215, off Santa Marta (Cinto Bay), colony, x 1.5; B, Polycyathus mayae, INV CNI797, off San Bernardo Islands, oblique lateral view, x 10; C–D, Deltocyathus calcar, D17 MARCORAL, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 4.4; E–F, Deltocyathus sp. cf. D. italicus, INV CNI711, off Cartagena, lateral and calicular views, both x 3; G–H, Deltocyathus eccentricus, INV CNI721, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and lateral views, both x 4.2; I–J, Stephanocyathus (S.) diadema, INV CNI329, off Gulf of Uraba, calicular and basal views, both x 0.7; K–L, Stephanocyathus (S.) paliferus, INV CNI388, off Barranquilla, calicular and basal views, both x 1; M–N, Stephanocyathus (O.) coronatus INV CNI324, Venezuela, Cariaco Basin, calicular and lateral views, both x 1; O–P, Stephanocyathus (S.) isabellae INV CNI694, holotype, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 2.6; Q–R, Stephanocyathus (S.) isabellae, INV CNI2076, paratype, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 2.7; S, Thalamophyllia riisei, INV CNI676, off San Bernardo Islands, branching pattern, x 1.4; T, Eusmilia fastigiata; colony from calicular view, x 0.9. Scale bars for A, I–T = 1 cm; C–H = 5 mm; B = 1 mm.