New additions to the shallow-water hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) of the French Lesser Antilles: Martinique
Author
Galea, Horia R.
text
Zootaxa
2013
3686
1
1
50
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3686.1.1
b5a2eb3f-2555-41ba-a303-9fac9d2618c3
1175-5326
284148
17A93C58-F09C-484A-A26A-F4F27BC91A6C
?
Gastroblasta
sp.
(
Fig. 3
E)
Material examined
.
Stn. 7
,
23.i.2012
, 6 m,
M019
: four fragments on
Amphimedon compressa
(Porifera)
bearing numerous hydrothecae, but no gonothecae (MHNG-INVE-82920).
Description
. Hydrothecal pedicels arising irregularly from within the inhalant pores of the sponge host; hydrorhiza deeply embedded in host's tissues. Pedicels annulated basally and distally, sometimes in between, protruding at 365–1700 µm above surface of sponge, diameter 80–105 µm; each carrying a hydrotheca distally. Hydrotheca campanulate with slightly diverging walls from base to rim, 505–620 µm high, 310–380 µm wide at aperture; subhydrothecal chamber rather tall, 90–120 µm high; diaphragm well marked, a ring of desmocytes above; margin with 9–10 wide, triangular, moderately high cusps with rounded tips. Hydranths with
ca
. 20 tentacles. Gonothecae absent.
Remarks
.
Clytia
-like polyps of the genus
Gastroblasta
Keller, 1883
, living in symbiotic associations with sponges, are only known for
G. r a f f a e l e i
Lang, 1886 (
Gravili
et al.
2007
). The two remaining congeners,
G. t i m i d a
Keller, 1883 from the Red Sea, and
G. o v a l i s
(
Mayer, 1900
) from Florida, are only known from their medusa stage. The present hydroid may represent the polyp of
G. o v a l i s
, though rearing experiments or genetic data are necessary to test this assertion.
Geographical distribution
. The sole known record of this hydroid is from
Martinique
, while the medusa of
G. ovalis
occur from Florida (
Mayer 1900
) to
Brazil
(
Vannucci 1949
).