Zoanthus sp.

Reimer, James D., Poliseno, Angelo & Hoeksema, Bert W., 2014, Shallow-water zoantharians (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia) from the Central Indo-Pacific, ZooKeys 444, pp. 1-57 : 6

Taxon classification Animalia Zoantharia Zoanthidae

3. Zoanthus sp. Figures 2C, D, 3

Specimens examined

(n=10). RMNH Coel 40360, NNM–LIPI–WWF Expedition station BAL.03, south of tidal channel, Palung Semawang, off Kesumasari Beach, Sanur, Bali (08°42'39"S, 115°16'09"E), depth to 5 m, collected by L. P. van Ofwegen and M. Slierings on March 31, 2001; RMNH Coel 40457, piers of harbor, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines by M. L. Esmeno in 1976 (original label "specimen 196"); RMNH Coel 40516, Snellius–II Expedition station 27, west side of Bone Tambung, South Sulawesi (05°03'00"S, 119°15'45"E), depth = 1 m, collected October 23, 1980 by H. Moll; RMNH Coel 40537, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.139, reef flat edge south of Tarupa Kecil, northeast Taka Bone Rate (06°30'S, 121°08'E), depth = 30 m, collected September 25, 1984; RMNH Coel 40539, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.011, reef edge west of Mai, Maisel Islands, Banda Sea (05°28'S, 127°31'E), depth 1 to 30 m, collected September 7, 1984; RMNH Coel 40542, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.084, Selat Linta, east of Komodo I. (08°35'S, 119°34'E), depth = approx. 3 m, collected September 18, 1984; RMNH Coel 40551, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.079, Selat Linta, east of Komodo I. (08°35'S, 119°34.2'E), collected September 10, 1984; RMNH Coel 40560, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.096, northeast cape of Komodo I. (08°29'S, 119°34.1'E), from "shallow water", collected September 20, 1984; RMNH Coel 40564, Fauna Malesiana Marine Sulawesi Expedition station SUL.08, channels between lava outflows, south of Tanjung Batuangus, Selat Lembeh, North Sulawesi (01°30'N, 125°15'E), depth 5 to 10 m, collected by M. Slierings on October 16 or 25, 1994; RMNH Coel 40565, Fauna Malesiana Marine Sulawesi Expedition station SUL.08, channels between lava outflows, south of Tanjung Batuangus, Selat Lembeh, North Sulawesi (01°30'N, 125°15'E), depth to 10 m, collected on October 16 or 25, 1994.

Photographic records

(n=3). West side of Pulau Lae–Lae, Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi (05°08'05"S, 119°23'15"E), September 16, 1997; west side of Pulau Samalona, Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi (05°07'25"S, 119°20'10"E), September 16, 1997; west of Gusung (=Pulau Lae–Lae Keke), Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi (05°07.5'S, 119°23'E), October 11, 1997.

Description.

This group includes all Zoanthus spp. specimens that could not be identified to species level (n=10). Almost all of these specimens are ‘liberae’ or ‘intermediae’, with polyps rising out from the coenenchyme (see Pax 1910) (Figure 2C). One specimen, RMNH Coel 40560, is more ‘immersae’ with polyps only slightly protruding from the coenenchyme (average height 2.25 mm, width 2.0 mm, n=10). Overall, polyps for all specimens fit within the range of several described species, with an average for all specimens of a height of 6.7 mm (range 2-17 mm), and width of 3.3 mm (range 1.5-6 mm) (n=10 specimens). Thus, given the high variation within Zoanthus species, particularly polyp height based on microenvironment ( Ong et al. 2013), and the lack of other diagnostic characteristics, for now these species cannot be identified to species level. Based solely on sizes, two specimens, RMNH Coel 40542 and 40565, have much larger polyps compared to the other specimens (height 10.3 mm, width 4.3 mm; height 10.8 mm, width 4.4 mm), but whether these are a separate species from other specimens or the size difference is due to fixation method in formalin is unknown.

Distribution.

Regions recorded in this study (Figure 3). Eastern Bali (5), Komodo (8), Spermonde Archipelago (9), Taka Bone Rate (11), Maisel Is. (13), Lembeh Strait. (17).

Previous records. NA.

Remarks.

This designation simply consists of all Zoanthus spp. specimens that could not be identified to species-level. It is likely this designation includes more than one species based on depths of specimens sampled. However, as preserved specimens were contracted (polyps closed) and many described Zoanthus spp. present no readily diagnostic external characters, identification to species level is not potentially possible without detailed molecular examination. Attempts at molecular identification also failed for these (and most other specimens), perhaps due to initial preservation in 10% seawater formalin for older specimens, or in ethanol with additives for newer specimens.