Integrative systematics illuminates the relationships in two sponge-associated hydrozoan families (Capitata: Sphaerocorynidae and Zancleopsidae) Author Maggioni, Davide Author Schuchert, Peter Author Arrigoni, Roberto Author Hoeksema, Bert W. Author Huang, Danwei Author Strona, Giovanni Author Seveso, Davide Author Berumen, Michael L. Author Montalbetti, Enrico Author Collins, Richard Author Galli, Paolo Author Montano, Simone text Contributions to Zoology 2021 2021-11-02 90 487 525 http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10023 journal article 268190 10.1163/18759866-BJA10023 d7f4a60b-8e7c-4354-8a01-1bae53791dd6 1875-9866 8343324 86E35163-0808-44CD-A1F8-D7FB607EFC1B Zancleopsis cabela ( Maggioni et al., 2017 ) comb. nov. Zancleopsis dichotoma . Bigelow, 1938: 102 , figs 1–2 ; Schuchert & Collins, 2021 (large form): 272, fig. 23. Astrocoryne cabela Maggioni et al., 2017: 737 , figs. 2–4 . Examined material : Sample MA 16053, Maldives , 08/02/2016 , polyps in ethanol and formalin (MSNM-Coe-341) and young medusae in formalin (MSNM-Coe-342). – Sample MA 16052, Maldives , 08/02/2016 , polyps in ethanol and formalin. – Sample MA 1016013, Maldives , 12/10/2016 , polyps in ethanol and formalin. – Sample KA 175, Saudi Arabia 17/12/2015 , polyps in ethanol. –Sample BFLA4408 , off Florida, 26/05/2020 , part of medusa in ethanol and in situ photos. – Sample BFLA4467 , off Florida, 17/06/2020 , medusa in formalin (UF-014072), ethanol and in situ photos . Description: Polyp . Colonies monomorphic, living in association with sponges ( figs. 8 A-C). Hydrorhiza tubular, covered by moderately thick and slightly wrinkled perisarc, embedded by the sponge host. Pedicels short to moderately long (up to 580 Μm), unbranched, covered by a smooth, thin, cup-shaped or elongated perisarc. Hydranth pyriform or slightly pyriform, up to 0.8 mm long, with variable diameter (up to 250 Μm). Hypostome proboscis-like, contractile. Up to 10 tentacles (range 8–10) arranged in one or two close whorls in the broadest part of the polyp. Each tentacle with terminal and sub-terminal capitula (diameter: 50–110 Μm in the distal whorl; 25–45 Μm in the proximal whorl) ( fig. 8D ). Tentacles up to 550 Μm long in the distal whorl, shorter in the proximal whorl (up to 320 Μm) when present. Nematocyst clusters about 100 Μm distant from one other, closer when tentacles are contracted. Up to 11 medusa buds at different stages of maturation develop among tentacles, singly or in couple on blastostyles ( fig. 8E ). Living hydranths transparent, with white mouths and whitish or light orange gastric cavities. Desmonemes, microbasic euryteles, small, large and medium-sized stenoteles ( figs. 8F, G ) occurring simultaneously in the terminal and proximal capitula, and in the hydrorhiza, rare in the hydranth. Newly liberated medusa . Newly liberated medusa hemispherical, up to 500 Μm wide and high, with nematocysts scattered on the exumbrella. Manubrium cylindrical, up to 200 Μm long and 110 wide at the base, spanning from 1/3 to 1/2 of the bell height, distally provided with a circular mouth. Four radial canals ending in four bulbs with a diameter of up to 70 Μm, and a circular canal. Bulbs and circular canals containing nematocysts. At release medusae with no tentacles, but with bulbs showing swellings filled with nematocysts. Two opposite tentacles after two days from release. Tentacles up to 300 Μm long, with terminal spherical nematocyst-rich capitula with a diameter of up to 85 Μm. Ocelli absent at release. Microbasic mastigophores and rarely microbasic euryteles scattered on the exumbrella, medium-sized stenoteles in the circular canal, medium-sized stenoteles and desmonemes in the bulb swellings and in the terminal capitula of tentacles. Polyp and newly liberated medusa cnidome . i) Desmonemes (undischarged: 7–9 × 4–5 Μm; discharged capsule: 6–8 × 4–5 Μm). ii) Microbasic euryteles (undischarged: 13–15 × 5–6 Μm; discharged capsule: 10–12 × 4–5 Μm; shaft: 9–11 Μm). iii) Large stenoteles (undischarged: 18–21 × 13–17 Μm; discharged capsule: 15–18 × 11–15 Μm). iv) Medium-sized stenoteles (undischarged:9–10 × 6–7 Μm;discharged capsule: 8–9 × 5 Μm). v) Small stenoteles (undischarged: 5–6 × 4–5 Μm; discharged capsule: 5 × 4–5 Μm). vi) Microbasic mastigophores (undischarged: 6–7 × 5–7 Μm; discharged capsule: 5 × 5 Μm; shaft: 5 Μm). Adult medusa (from Schuchert & Collins, 2021 , Z. dichotoma large form). Similar but much larger than Z. dichotoma (= small form), height 8 to 15 mm and 5 mm diameter, apical process larger reaching 1/2 of total height, tip of apical process whitish, more and larger vertical gonad folds, approximately up to 15, grouped in 2–3 folds adradial, brownish, oocytes yellow, tentacle bulbs with intense yellow colour, shorter tentacle pair longer than in Z. dichotoma ( figs. 8 H-K). FIGURE 8 Zancleopsis cabela . Polyps from A) Saudi Arabia and B, C) Maldives. D) Tentacle with terminal and sub-terminal capitula. E) Maldivian polyp with medusa buds. F) Large stenoteles (ls), medium-sized stenoteles (ms), small stenoteles (ss), and desmonemes (d). G) small stenoteles (ss) and microbasic euryteles (e). H, I) Female and male medusae, respectively. Details of J) manubrium with female gonads and K) tentacles. Scale bars: A-C, E) 0.2 mm; D) 50 Μm; F, G) 5 Μm; H-K) ~ 1 mm. Distribution : Atlantic Ocean ( Bermuda , Florida), and Red Sea and Indo-West Pacific ( Saudi Arabia ; Maldives ). Remarks :The polyp stage of this species was previously identified as A. cabela , but genetic data allowed us to link it to the large morph of Z. dichotoma described by Schuchert & Collins (2021) , further confirming the synonymisation of Astrocoryne with Zancleopsis . The main differences to Z. dichotoma are a larger adult medusa and larger polyps with tentacles less regularly organised. Kramp (1968) suspected that Z. dichotoma and Zancleopsis tentaculata Kramp, 1928 could be conspecific. Zancleopsis tentaculata ( type locality: Banda Sea, Indonesia ) generally shows a larger size and the short tentacles are longer than in Z. dichotoma , something shared with Z. cabela . However, given the uncertainties in the morphological identification of Z. tentaculata we prefer to ascribe these specimens to Z. cabela , because genetic data of the type material of A. cabela were included in the analyses.