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