Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846

Galea, Horia R., 2013, New additions to the shallow-water hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) of the French Lesser Antilles: Martinique, Zootaxa 3686 (1), pp. 1-50 : 6-9

Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846

(Pl. 1D–F; Fig. 2K, L)

Material examined. Stn. 1, 18.ii.2012, 20 m, M220: two sterile colonies, 10.5×9.0 cm and 4.5× 2.5 cm, respectively, on limestone (MHNG-INVE-82875); 26.ii.2012, 20 m, M272: fertile colony (immature gonophores, sex could not be ascertained), basal part missing, 8.0×7.0 cm (MHNG-INVE-82876).

FIGURE 2. A: Bimeria vestita Wright, 1859 ―portion of erect stem with hydranth. B, C: Garveia franciscana (Torrey, 1902) ―portion of colony with hydranths and gonophores (B); cnidome (C). D–F: Parawrightia robusta Warren, 1907 ―hydranth atop its pedicel (D); gonophore in lateral view (E1) and cross section (E2). G, H: Hydractinia sp.―gastro- (G1) and gonozooid with gonophore seen frontally (G2); tentaculo- and gonozooid with gonophore seen laterally (G3); cnidome (H). I: Corydendrium parasiticum (Linnaeus, 1767) ―hydranth and female gonads. J: Turritopsis nutricula McCrady, 1857 ―hydranth and gonophores. K, L: Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846 ―fragment of a branchlet showing hydranths and gonophores (K); cnidome (L). M: Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986 ―cnidome. N–Q: Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990 ―newly liberated medusa seen apically (N), in lateral ( O) and subumbrellar (P) views; cnidome (Q) of medusa (upper row) and polyp (lower row). R: Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990 ―cnidome. Scale bars: 10 µm (C, F, H, L, M, Q, R), 300 µm (E, N–P), 500 µm (A, B, D, G, J, K), 1 mm (I).

PLATE 1. A–B: Parawrightia robusta Warren, 1907 ―hydranth, note the amphicoronate tentacles (A); male gonophore (B). C: Hydractinia sp.―gastro- and gonozooid. D–F: Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846 ―detail of colony (D); hydranth (E); gonophores (F). G–I: Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986 ―portion of colony on red sponge (G); hydranth with gonophore (H); trifid aboral tentacle (I). J, K: Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990 ―detail of hydranth showing the medusa buds (J); newly liberated medusa (K). L– O: Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990 ―three polyps (L); detail of hydranth showing blastostyles with gonophores and loose distal clusters of cnidophores (M); eumedusoid gonophores at various stages of development (N); larvae brooded within the female gonophore ( O). Photo courtesy: Romain Ferry (A–F, H, J, K, M, N) and Alain Goyeau (G, L).

Remarks. For a thorough redescription of this species, see Vervoort (1962). Its ecology was studied by Larson (1987). The cnidome (unreported so far) is composed of two size classes of stenoteles, with small (ca. 8.5×6.1 µm) and large (ca. 16.0×12.8 µm) capsules, respectively.

Geographical distribution. From North Carolina to Brazil ( Larson 1987). The Caribbean records are summarized by Calder & Kirkendale (2005).