Phylogenetic relationships and revision of the genus Blastomussa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) with description of a new species Author Benzoni, Francesca Author Arrigoni, Roberto Author Waheed, Zarinah Author Stefani, Fabrizio Author Hoeksema, Bert W. text Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 2014 2014-06-24 62 358 378 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.5353648 2345-7600 5353648 28126BDD-BAFE-4375-A307-777F45D91703 Blastomussa loyae Head, 1978 ( Figs. 1G–I , 6C–F , 7B , 8B , 9B ) Blastomussa sp. Loya & Slobodkin, 1971 Blastomussa (Ceriomorpha) loyae Head, 1978 : fig. 1 c–d Blastomussa loyae — Scheer & Pillai, 1983 : Pl. 35 figs. 9–11; Kleemann & Baal, 2011 : figs. 1–4 Blastomussa merleti sensu Sheppard & Sheppard, 1991 , fig. 113c Parasimplastrea sheppardi Veron 2002 partim: Figs. 308 and 310 Not Parasimplastrea sheppardi Veron, 2000 : Volume 3 p. 239; Veron 2002 : figs. 309, 311 Type material. Holotype ( BMNH 1977.5.5.1), Sudan , coll. S. Head , 5 m . Paratypes ( BMNH 1977.5 .5.2, 1977.5.5.3) , Sudan , coll. S. Head ; ( ZMA Coel. 8322), Port Sudan , Sudan , coll. S. Head ( Figs. 6E, F ) . Other material. Egypt ( MTQ G 55860), Sharm el Sheikh , 15 m ( neotype of Parasimplastrea sheppardi Veron, 2000 designated herein ( Figs. 6C, D ); ( MTQ G 70484) , Sinai , coll. J.E.N. Veron ; ( MTQ G 70484) , Sinai , coll. J.E.N. Veron ; Saudi Arabia ( BMNH unregistered), Jeddah , coll. C. Sheppard , October 1984 ; ( KAUST SA005 ) , Al Lith , Whale Shark Reef , ( 20°07.690'N ; 40°12.513'E ), coll. F. Benzoni , 2 March 2012 , 20 m; ( KAUST SA009 ), Al Lith , Shi’b Ammar , ( 19°34.242'N ; 40°00.527'E ) coll. F. Benzoni , 3 March 2013 ; ( KAUST SA197 ) , Farasan Banks , Marka Island , ( 18°12.534'N ; 41°20.073'E ) coll. F. Benzoni , 7 March 2013 ; ( KAUST SA237 ) , Farasan Banks , Shi’b Radib , ( 18°04.385'N ; 40°53.154'E ), coll. F. Benzoni , 8 March 2013 ; Djibouti TOE, coll. F. Benzoni ( UNIMIB DJ018 ), North Gulf of Tadjoura , Ras Ali , ( 11°46.354'N ; 42°57.286'E ), 28 January 2010 , 10 m; ( UNIMIB DJ050 ), North Gulf of Tadjoura , Oblal , ( 11°51.680'N ; 43°6.480'E ), 28 January 2010 , 8 m; ( UNIMIB DJ150 ), Maskali Island , ( 11°42.349'N ; 43°9.177'E ), 31 January 2010 , 12 m; ( UNIMIB DJ197 ), Ankali , ( 11°43.590'N ; 43 19.590'E ), 2 February 2010 , 18 m; ( UNIMIB DJ242 ), North Gulf of Tadjoura , Obock , ( 11°57.517'N ; 43°18.787'E ), 3 February 2010 . Description. Blastomussa loyae forms encrusting coralla. Budding extra-tentacular, corallites attain a cerioid or subcerioid arrangement ( Figs. 1G–I , 6C–F , 7B ) by lack of separation of calices following the budding process, and, by secondary fusion, respectively, as described in detail by Head (1978) . Corallites are round to oval and 5–8 mm in largest diameter ( Figs. 1G–I , 6C–F ). Three cycles of septa are present, the first two reach the columella and are equal or sub-equal as the first can be slightly thicker, the third is reduced or incomplete ( Figs. 1G, I , 6D, F ). Septa are composed of one fan system thus margins are smooth ( Figs. 1H–I , 6D ) ( Kleemann & Baal, 2011 ). Occasionally, in larger calices more than one fan system can develop ( Head, 1978 ). Septa typically exsert from the colony surface ( Figs. 1H , 6D ). Septal margins and sides finely granulated ( Figs. 1H, I ). Columella formed by trabecular processes, often fused at the base ( Figs. 6F , 7B ), with papillae visible at the centre and variably developed with the same corallum. In several of the examined specimens septa of the first and second cycle appear to be hollow ( Fig. 7B ). Polyp tentacles retracted towards the oral disc during the day when the mantle is expanded ( Figs. 8B , 9B ). Because the cerioid corallites are close together, the mantle of adjacent polyps touch and become polygonal, giving the coral an overall plocoid appearance, which disappears as mantles retract ( Fig. 8B ). Vesicles smooth to slightly rugged ( Fig. 9B ). Colour varying from light to dark green, with vesicles often of a different colour, ranging from beige to brown. This species lives in protected environments and strives well in low light and high-turbidity conditions. Taxonomic remarks. Veron (2002) designated a coral from Egypt (Red Sea) (MTQ G 55860) as “ holotype ” for Parasimplastrea sheppardi ( Fig. 6C, D ). This designation is invalid because a holotype should have been introduced with the original description ( ICZN, 2011 ). Therefore, this specimen is presently designated neotype of P. sheppardi , but because it belongs to Blastomussa loyae Head, 1978 , P. sheppardi is a subjective junior synonym of the species. Geographic distribution. Blastomussa loyae has been recorded in the Red Sea . Based on the material examined in the present study, the know range has been extended to the Gulf of Tadjoura .