Radicipes aureus Kükenthal, 1919

Perez, Carlos D., 2017, A revision of the genus Radicipes Stearns, 1883 (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Chrysogorgiidae), Zootaxa 4319 (1), pp. 1-26 : 23

Radicipes aureus Kükenthal, 1919

Figs. 2 G, 14

Radicipes aureus Kükenthal, 1919: 544 –545, text-figS. 237–239; 1924: 412.— Cordeiro et al., 2015: 95 (tabular key).? Radicipes Sp. WilliamS, 1992: 253.

Types and Type Locality. Part of the syntype series, from Valdivia 245, is lost. Thus, the remaining part, from Valdivia 257 (ZMB 8565), is herein designated as the lectotype; 1°48'N, 45°42'30"E (Somalia), 1644 m.

Material Examined. Lectotype (several fragments).

Description of the lectotype. Colony coiled with maXimum aXis diameter of 1.0 mm. AXis basally quadrangular with rounded edges in cross-section, but round in remainder of colony. Polyps around 5.0 mm long ( Fig. 2 G), 1.3 mm wide and uniserially placed, separated by an average distance of 5.0 mm, sometimes less. Polyps upwardly oriented at least 45°, cylindrical, having an enlargement at the base. Basal enlargement usually filled with gametes. Sclerites from polyp body wall longitudinally arranged ( Fig. 2 G). Most abundant sclerites from body wall represented by elongate rods, with at least one much flattened tip, 0.7–1.2 mm long and 0.07–0.13 mm in width ( Fig. 14 A). AbaXial supporting rods more elongated at the polyp base, decreasing in length towards the tentacles. Outer lateral and inner lateral rows composed of one to three long rods. AdaXial rows with several smaller rods. Infrabasal pointed scales transversely arranged in siX to ten rows, 0.5–1.0 mm long, forming a bulb-like base ( Fig. 14 B). Coenenchyme and base of polyp formed by elongate scales, with irregular margins and pointed tips, sometimes forked, 0.2–0.6 mm long and 0.04–0.1 mm wide ( Fig. 14 C). Tentacular rods homogeneous in diameter, 0.15–0.4 mm long and 0.019–0.020 mm wide ( Fig. 14 E). Pinnular scales 0.08–0.13 mm long ( Fig. 14 D).

Comparisons. Radicipes aureus has large body wall sclerites, as do all Indo-Pacific species (eXcept for R. spiralis ), but is distinguished from all species of the genus by having long pointed body wall rods with one flat tip, and pointed scales in the base. Generally, this species is the only one to show polyps covered by conspicuous scales.

Remarks. We only had access to a single polyp from lot ZMB 8565. Therefore, characters related to the colony and arrangement of polyps were described based on drawings and description given by Kükenthal (1919). For eXample, according to Kükenthal, colonies can reach 56 cm in length.

This is another species with only a single record since its description. We suppose that the Radicipes sp. record of Williams (1992) may belong to this species, based on the proXimity of the geographic distribution. Only the original was identified to species level. All further records are compiled or identified to genus level. There are no additional reports of Radicipes species in the Indian Ocean.

Distribution. Western Indian Ocean, from Somalia to South Africa, 463–1644 m.

Figures

FIGURE 2. PolypS of Radicipes Spp. A, B: polypS of Radicipes challengeri (Wright & Studer, 1889) (BMNH 1889.5.27.3, holotype, and USNM 57314, reSpectively); C: polyp of Radicipes stonei Sp. nov. (USNM 1418007, holotype); D: polyp of Radicipes kopelatos Cordeiro, Pérez & CaStro, 2015 (MNRJ 8566, holotype); E – F: polypS of Radicipes gracilis (Verrill, 1884) (BMNH 1889.5. 27.4, holotype, including detail of the oral portion (E’), of Radicipes fragilis (Wright & Studer, 1889) and, USNM 8877, Syntype of Radicipes gracilis (Verrill, 1884 )), reSpectively; G: polyp of Radicipes aureus Kükenthal, 1919 (ZMB 8565, holotype); H, H': polyp of Radicipes pleurocristatus StearnS, 1883 (BMNH 1889.5.27.2, holotype of Radicipes verrilli (Wright & Studer, 1889 )) and detail of the oral portion, reSpectively; I, I': polypS of Radicipes pleurocristatus StearnS, 1883 (USNM 49464), full-Sized polypS, normal and fertile, reSpectively. Scale barS: A, H': 0.2 mm; B: 0.6 mm; C: 0.5 mm; D, E, G, H, I’: 1 mm; D', E’, F: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 14. ScleriteS of Radicipes aureus Kükenthal, 1919 (ZMB 8565, holotype). A: rodS from the body Wall; B: infrabaSal ScaleS; C: coenenchymal ScaleS; D: pinnular ScaleS; E: tentacular rodS. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.