New taxa and revisionary systematics of alcyonacean octocorals from the Pacific coast of North America (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) Author Williams, Gary C. text ZooKeys 2013 283 15 42 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.283.4803 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.283.4803 1313-2970-283-15 Chromoplexaura marki ( Kuekenthal , 1913) Figures 12-17 Synonymy. Euplexaura marki Kuekenthal 1913 : 266; Kuekenthal 1924 : 93-94; Ofwegen 2012a . Material examined. CAS 096746, California, Monterey Carmel Bay off San Jose Creek Beach (Monastery Beach), 38 m depth, 20 May 1962, coll. Dennis Sullivan, five whole colonies. CAS 173222, California, Monterey Bay, Carmel Bay (Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary), 32 m depth, 22 September 2010, coll. Karen Grimmer, two whole colonies. CAS 168895, California, (Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Rittenburg Bank), 85 m depth, 8 October 2012, coll. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one whole colony. Description. Colonial morphology (Figures 12-13): The predominantly proteinaceous central axis has a hollow core. The main stem above the holdfast varies from 50-120 mm in length. The ultimate branches measure 10-115 mm in length by 2.5 -4.0 mm wide. The distal extremities are acute to rounded and often slightly swollen compared to the uniform width of the rest of the branches. Polyps (Figures 12-13). Most of the polyps are fully retractile and form low rounded to hemispherical protuberances that are distributed on all sides of the branches. Some polyps are partially exserted and are <1.0 mm in width. Autozooid walls with eight longitudinal rows of densely-set, more-or-less en chevron sclerites that give rise to narrow points in the middle of each tentacle. Sclerites (Figures 14-17). The coenenchymal sclerites are radiates, robust spindles, and ovoid forms with highly variable tuberculation, 0.06-0.24 mm in length (Figures 14, 15, 17 A-E , G-J ). Some are robust and subspherical to ellipsoid with numerous and less well-pronounced tubercles. The sclerites of the polyp wall and points are heavily tuberculated spindles and rods, 0.04 mm- 0.09 mm in length (Figures 16; 17F, K, L, M). Color (Figures 12-13). The color of the colonies is similar in life or preserved, the coenenchyme is uniformly- colored orange-red to vivid red, while the exsert polyps are white (Figure 11E). The coenenchymal sclerites are red-orange, while the polyp wall and points sclerites are colorless. Distribution (Figure 19): Central Oregon to southern California; 9 to at least 90 m depth. Biology and associated species. Several of the colonies in lot 096746, have enlargements on the branches that resemble gall-like growths, which contain epizoic barnacles of the genus Conopea (pers. comm., R. Van Syoc, California Academy of Sciences). Figure 19. Map of the North American Pacific coast showing collecting localities for Cryptophyton jedsmithi sp. n. (*), Cryptophyton goddardi (●), Chromoplexaura marki (▲), and Gersemia lambi sp. n. (■). Arrows designate type localities.