Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Brazilian reefs
Castro, C. B.
Medeiros, M. S.
Loiola, L. L.
Journal of Natural History
2010
2010-03-15
44
13 - 14
763
827
52CCC
Castro & Medeiros & Loiola, 2010
Castro & Medeiros & Loiola
2010
[523,765,167,191]
Anthozoa
Chrysogorgiidae
Stephanogorgia
Animalia
Alcyonacea
57
819
Cnidaria
species
rattoi
sp. nov.
( Figures 1, 24A,A′) Diagnosis Stephanogorgiawithout sclerites; terminal branches up to 53 mmlong (average 6– 27 mmlong); branches originated all over colony; branches of lower region of colony do not reach colony apex; contracted polyps up to 0.8 mmhigh and 0.9 mmwide. Description Holotypecomplete colony 87 mmin height, 89 mmin width, with main axis 2 mmin diameter near basis; paratypes 30–160 mmin height, 5–124 mmin width, with main stem 0.6–4.8 mmin diameter at base. Planar colonies (although a few specimens almost bushy), with monopodial pinnate branching, no anastomosis ( Figure 24A). Axes approximately circular in transverse section, strongly calcified on lower parts of colony and with flexible terminal twigs. Axis yellowish to metallic copper-coloured. First ramification 2–15 mmfrom colony bases. Trunk diameter just below first ramification 0.6–3.1 mm. Branching may proceed at least up to fifth order. Branches alternate on both sides of main axis, internodes from 0.9 to 15 mmlong, measured between successive branchlets, average interval being from 3.1 ± 0.9 to 5.8 ± 3.1 mm. Main axis often bends slightly away from lateral branches forming zigzag course ( Figure 24A). Median branches diameter 0.2–1.7 mm, with average in different colonies varying from 0.38 ± 0.10 to 1.05 ± 0.38 mm. Terminal branches maximum length from 12 to 53 mmon different colonies, but on average undivided branchlets from 8.4 ± 2.0 to 27.3 ± 13.3 mmlong; terminal branches diameter 0.1–0.6 mm, with average in different colonies varying from 0.1 ± 0.02 to 0.43 ± 0.12 mm. Polyps placed biserially along branches, alternating or opposite ( Figure 24A′). Depending upon state of contraction, polyps from nearly cylindrical, trumpet-shaped, conical, to almost globose, rising from branches obliquely towards distal end of branches. Polyps up to 0.8 mmhigh and 0.9 mmwide; average 0.2 ± 0.06 to 0.46 ± 0.11 mmhigh and 0.40 ± 0.06 to 0.69 ± 0.08 mmwide. Polyps close-set on distal branches (up to 0.9 mmapart, average from 0.16 ± 0.05 to 0.54 ± 0.27 mmapart), becoming sparser on median (up to 1.6 mmapart, average from 0.2 ± 0.17 to 1 ± 0.4 mmapart), and basal (up to 2.1 mmapart, average from 0.16 ± 0.08 to 0.9 ± 0.6 mmapart) parts of colonies. Density of polyps on terminal branches from 14 to 39 per centimetre (average from 20.9 ± 4.39 to 32.4 ± 3.65 polyps per centimetre). Polyps pale yellow or white, column translucent; polyps and coenenchyme in specimens from CalifórniaReef bright orange. No sclerites. Figure 24. Stephanogorgia rattoi sp. nov.(MNRJ 04319 – type series): (A) colonies, (A′) branches. Trichogorgia brasiliensis sp. nov.(MNRJ 03191 – holotype): (B) colony, (B′) branches. Scale bars: A, B, 2 cm; A′, B′, 2 mm. Material Holotype. Brazil: Bahia, Pedra Grande, Parcel das Paredes, 17°44′44.1′′ S, 038°55′08.7′′ W, c. 16 m, collected by B. Segaland C. B. Castro, 19 February 2000( MNRJ 06071) ( Figure 1). Paratypes. Brazil: Bahia, Off Itacolomis Reefs, 16°56′29′′ S, 039°00′24′′ W, 14–22 m( MNRJ 03684); “ Salteado de Timbebas”, 17°25′34.3′′ S, 038°58′16.6′′ W, 23 m( MNRJ 04323); south of Parcel de Timbebas, 17°30′22.4′′ S, 039°00′47.5′′ W, 3.5– 13 m( MNRJ 04324); Parcel de Timbebas, 17°30.057′ S, 039°00.776′ W( MNRJ 02844, 02845); Pedra Grande, Parcel das Paredes, 17°44′44.1′′ S, 038°55′08.7′′ W, c. 16 m( MNRJ04319 – 14 paratypes); Lixa Reef, Parcel das Paredes, 17°46.54′ S, 039°01.58′ W, 12 m( MNRJ 02954); Lixa Reef, Vigilante, Parcel das Paredes( MNRJ 03064); Parceldas Paredes, 17°52′37.83′′ S, 038°58′34.15′′ W( MNRJ 03169); Popa Verde Reef, Abrolhos Bank, 18–20 m( MNRJ 02967); Califórnia Reef, 18°06′07.8′′ S, 038°35′26.0′′ W, 15–32 m( MNRJ 04071– seven specimens; 04318 – 24 specimens); Califórnia Reef, 18°07′ S, 038°34′ W, 20–30 m( MNRJ04146 – 16 specimens; MNRJ 06000); south-east of Califórnia Reef, 18°34′00′′ to 18°39′48′′ S, 038°04′00′′ to 037°52′13′′ W, 65 m( MNRJ 04823, MNRJ 05994); Espírito Santo, off Doce River, 19°42.626′ to 19°43.857′ S, 039°26.321′ to 039°26.372′ W, 100–417 m( MNRJ 04221)( Figure 1). Etymology In honour of Cláudio Continentino Ratto, for his help in several field and laboratory stages of the current study and for his keen eye that made him the first to recognize the octocoral nature of these chrysogorgiids while collecting underwater. Remarks Three species were assigned to Stephanogorgiaby Bayer and Muzik (1976), namely: S. wainwrighti Bayer and Muzik, 1976, from a depth of 10 mat Fiji Islands, S. diomedea Bayer and Muzik, 1976, from a depth of 37 mat the Philippines, and S. faulkneri(Bayer, 1974), from a depth of 14 mat PalauIslands. The new species, collected at depths of 12–239 mat the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, can be readily distinguished from these by the absence of sclerites in the new species. This is the first record of this genus in the Atlantic Ocean.
2000-02-19
MNRJ
Parcel das Paredes & B. Segal & C. B. Castro
Brazil
16
-17.745584
Pedra Grande
1
-38.919086
58
820
MNRJ 06071
1
Bahia
holotype
MNRJ
Off Itacolomis Reefs
Brazil
18
-16.941387
Bahia
21
-39.006668
58
820
MNRJ 03684
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Off Itacolomis Reefs
Brazil
23
true
-17.426193
Salteado de Timbebas
1
-38.97128
58
820
MNRJ 04323
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
8
-17.506222
Parcel de Timbebas
1
-39.013195
58
820
MNRJ 04324
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
-17.50095
Parcel de Timbebas
1
-39.01293
58
820
MNRJ 02844, 02845
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Parcel das Paredes
Brazil
16
-17.745584
Pedra Grande
1
-38.919086
58
820
14
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Parcel das Paredes
Brazil
12
-17.775667
Lixa Reef
13
-39.026333
58
820
MNRJ 02954
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Vigilante & Parcel das Paredes
Brazil
Lixa Reef
58
820
MNRJ 03064
1
Bahia
paratype
[236,1030,1430,1456]
MNRJ
Brazil
-17.877174
Paredes
1
-38.976154
Parcel
58
820
MNRJ 03169
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Abrolhos Bank
Brazil
19
Popa Verde Reef
58
820
MNRJ 02967
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
24
-18.102167
California Reef
1
-38.590553
58
820
MNRJ 04071
25
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
25
-18.116667
California Reef
1276
-38.566666
58
820
MNRJ 06000
16
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
65
-18.663334
California Reef
21
-37.870277
58
820
MNRJ 04823, MNRJ 05994
1
Bahia
paratype
MNRJ
Brazil
259
-19.73095
Doce River
1
-39.439533
58
820
MNRJ 04221
1
Espirito Santo
paratype