Culicia excavata (Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Filander, Zoleka N., Kitahara, Marcelo V., Cairns, Stephen D., Sink, Kerry J. & Lombard, Amanda T., 2021, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa, ZooKeys 1066, pp. 1-198 : 1

Culicia excavata (Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Fig. 14M, N

Angia excavata Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1849: 177.

Culicia tenella . - Boshoff 1981: 25.

Type locality.

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Type material.

The holotype is deposited at the BMNH.

Material examined.

None.

Imagery data.

BMNH 1840.09.30. 19 (Type: 1 colony): Cape of Good Hope. UCTES_DBN 85 H (1 colony): Eastern margin, off Isipingo, depth unknown.

Description.

Corallum colonial, reptoid, with short, cylindrical, and small individual corallites connected by stolons. Calice circular. Calicular margin smooth.

Septa hexamerally arranged in three cycles according to the formula: S1-2 ≥ S3 (24 septa). S1-2 equal in size, convex, and extend to an under-developed columella (if present) with slightly dentated axial margins. S3 rudimentary and curved towards S2 with dentate axial margins. Septa loosely packed. Pali absent. Columella rudimentary or absent. Fossa shallow.

Distribution.

Regional: Eastern margin of South Africa, off Durban; intertidal-138 m. Elsewhere: Mozambique; depth unknown ( Boshoff 1981).

Remarks.

Subsequent to the original description of Culicia excavata , this species was misidentified and reported as C. tenella by Boshoff (1981). After close examination of the Boshoff’s specimen (collected off Mozambique: ORI_CIc1, 3 specimens), we confirm these specimens to be C. excavata . The occurrence of Boshoff’s East London record is not clear and should not be considered in biodiversity assessments. Nonetheless, more specimens of the cryptic C. excavata are required and the revision of the genus is urgently needed.

Figures

Figure 14. A, B. Letepsammia formosissima (SAM _ H 1429, off Kidds Beach, 79 m) A calicular view B basal view C, D Letepsammia franki (SAMC _ A 090070, off Durban, 95 m) C calicular view D basal view E, F Rhombopsammia niphada (SAM _ H 1390, off Port Alfred, 90 m) E calicular view F basal view G, H Stephanophyllia fungulus (SAMC _ A 073106, Cape Vidal, 140 m) G calicular view H basal view I Madrepora oculata (SAM _ H 3038, off St Lucia, 825 m) full view J, L Culicia sp. cf. Culicia australiensis (SAMC _ A 073032, off Shaka's Rock, 50 m) J calicular view K full view L septa details M, N Culicia excavata. M (UCTES _ DBN 85 H, off Ispongo, depth unknown): full view N (BMNH 1840.09.30.19, Cape of Good Hope, depth unknown): Calicular view O, P Stenocyathus vermiformis (SAM _ H 3213, off Cintsa, 630 m) O calicular view P lateral view Scale bars: 10 mm (A-H, J-N); 100 mm (I); 2 mm (O, P).