Culicia tenella Dana, 1846: 377–378
Hoffmeister, 1933: 11–12
C. hoffmeisteri
Gardiner, 1939: 230
C. tenella natalensis
Boshoff, 1981: 25
C. tenella natalensis
Wells, 1955: 14
Squires, 1961: 18
Wells, 1964: 109
Veron, 1986: 600
Cylicia [sic] tenella
Tenison-Woods, 1878b: 325
The Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of Australia
Cairns, S. D.
Records of the Australian Museum
2004
56
259
329
7GPS6
tenella Dana, 1846
tenella Dana
1846
[236,633,961,986]
Anthozoa
Rhizangiidae
Culicia
Animalia
Scleractinia
15
274
Cnidaria
subSpecies
tenella
tenella
Culicia tenella Dana, 1846: 377–378, pl. 28, figs. 6a,b.– Not Hoffmeister, 1933: 11–12(= C. hoffmeisteri).– Not Gardiner, 1939: 230(= C. tenella natalensis).– Not Boshoff, 1981: 25(= C. tenella natalensis).– Wells, 1955: 14( Qld).–Stephenson & Wells, 1956: 55 ( listed).– Squires, 1961: 18( listed).– Wells, 1964: 109( listed).– Veron, 1986: 600, figs. 1–3 ( NSW). Cylicia[sic] tenella.–Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857: 608 (in part: not specimen from Capeof Good Hope).– Tenison-Woods, 1878b: 325(remarks). New record. QUEENSLAND: 20°33.16'S 149°05.28'E( Thomas Island), 30 m, 3 November 1988, 1 colony, USNM 86002.
Types. The holotypeis USNM 184. Type Locality: Port Jackson, New South Wales, depth unknown.
Remarks. At least four species of Culiciaare known from Australia, all of them occurring off the coasts of the eastern states. Because they are found in shallow water they are easily and frequently collected, but all too often misidentified because this genus has never been revised. I have now examined the typesof all four species as well as subsequently collected specimens from various museums, and present a table of differentiating characters ( Table 4) to aid in the distinction of these species. Based on a combination of four characters (calicular diameter, number of septa, septal arrangement, and axial edge ornamentation) most specimens can be identified. To elaborate on Table 4, C. tenellacan be distinguished by having relatively small corallites with laciniate axial septal edges. Culicia australiensishas three size classes of 48 closely-spaced septa and the S1 axial edge is entire except for 1–2 small teeth near the columella. Culicia hoffmeisterihas the largest corallites, only 24–26 well-spaced septa occurring in two size classes, and S1 axial edges that are coarsely lobate. Culicia quinariahas septal margins like those of C. hoffmeisteri, but are smaller in size and have a different septal arrangement. Two other species of Culicia, C. verreauxiiand C. smithi, have been reported from Australia, but both are considered to be dubious records (see p. 319). Finally, Culicia magna(Tenison-Woods, 1878)is a junior synonym of Scolymia australis(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849). Tenison-Woods (1878b: 325)made the confusing statement that “ Cylicia tenellais said to come from Australiabut Messrs. Ed. and H. refer it to the Cape.” It is true that Milne Edwards & Haime (1857) refer C. tenellato both Australiaand the Cape of Good Hope, but do not dispute that the typelocality is Australia. Their African specimen is deposited at the BM and undoubtedly formed the basis for the description of Culicia tenella natalensis Duncan, 1876.
1988-11-03
USNM
30
-20.552666
Thomas Island
12
149.088
15
274
USNM 86002
1
Queensland
USNM
Port Jackson
15
274
USNM 184
1
New South Wales
holotype