Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa Author Filander, Zoleka N. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6905-4440 Biodiversity and Coastal Research, Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Cape Town, South Africa & Zoology Department, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa zfilander@gmail.com Author Kitahara, Marcelo V. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Ciencias do Mar, Santos, Brazil & Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil Author Cairns, Stephen D. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA Author Sink, Kerry J. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa & Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Author Lombard, Amanda T. Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa text ZooKeys 2021 2021-10-28 1066 1 198 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1066.69697 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1066.69697 1313-2970-1066-1 133CE040A5AF44F1BC9A558C2F06A8AA BD84F4C3157550C9B64120B2BE53F01A Heteropsammia cochlea (Spengler, 1781) Figs 9O, P , 10A, B Madrepora cochlea Spengler, 1781: 240-248, figs A-D. Psammoseris cylicioides Tenison-Woods, 1879: 10-11 . -Tenison-Woods 1880 : 297-299. Heteropsammia michelini . -Kent 1893 : 106, 177. - Wells 1964 : 108, 120. Heteropsammia cochlea . -van der Horst 1922 : 66-67. -van der Horst 1926 : 51 . -Veron and Pichon 1980 : 416-420, figs 727, 729. - Zibrowius and Grygier 1985 : 129, figs 43-44. - Veron 1986 : 576-577 . -Hoeksema and Best 1991 : 234-237, figs 24-28 (in part). - Cairns 1998 : 406-408. - Cairns 1999a : 132-133. - Cairns et al. 1999 : 27 . -Veron 2000 : 407. - Cairns 2001 : 19-20, pl. 2, figs H-J, pl. 3, figs A-E -Cairns 2004a : 316. - Kitahara and Cairns 2021 : 334, 336, figs 176C,178A-C. Heterocyathus aequicostatus . - Boshoff 1981 : 37. Heteropsammia aphrodes . - Boshoff 1981 : 42. Heteropsammia cochleata . - Cairns 2009 : 25. Type locality. Off Tranquebar, southeastern India, depth unknown (Spengler 1781 ). Type material. The type specimen is presumably lost (Cairns 2004a ). Material examined. ORI_DIIIe1_3 ( 1 specimen ), ORI_EIe1 ( 10 specimens ): Eastern margin, locality data unknown. SAMC_A073006 ( 1 specimen ): Locality data unknown; 17 m . SAMC_A073051 ( 6 specimens ): Eastern margin,, 41 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 26 km off Kosi Bay Estuary , 27°13'00.11"S , 32°49'41.87"E ; 72 m . SAMC_A073061 ( 8 specimens ): Eastern margin, 25 km from Cape Vidal / 23 km off St Lucia Estuary , 27°54'42.11"S , 32°36'42.11"E ; 42- 50 m. SAMC_A073065 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 67 km from CAPE VIDA/ 6 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°32'48.12"S , 32°42'00.00"E ; 50 m . SAMC_A073072 ( 3 specimens ): Eastern margin, 36 km from Cape Vidal / 33 km Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°48'54.00"S , 32°38'24.00"E ; 52 m . SAMC_A073084 ( 3 specimens ): Locality data unknown. SAMC_A073086 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 329 km from Port Edward / 330 km off Mtentu Estuary , 32°55'18.12"S , 32°55'18.12"E ; 49 m . SAMC_A073089 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 67 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 14 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°26'12.11"S , 32°44'12.11"E ; 55- 60 m. SAMC_A073090 ( 2 specimens ): Eastern margin, 69 km from Cape Vidal / 5 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°31'36.12"S , 32°41'48.11"E ; 40 m . SAMC_A073091 ( 2 specimens ), SAMC_A073093 ( 1 specimen ): Locality data unknown. SAMC_A073095 ( 3 specimens ): Eastern margin, 66 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 15 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°25'59.87"S , 32°44'30.12"E ; 55- 100 m. SAMC_A073098 ( 1 specimen ): Locality data unknown. SAMC_A073100 ( 5 specimens ): Eastern margin, 42 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 27 km off Kosi Bay Estuary , 27°13'30.00"S , 32°49'30.00"E ; 78 m . SAMC_A073112 ( 2 specimens ): Eastern margin, 35 km from Cape Vidal / 32 km off St Lucia Estuary , 27°49'41.87"S , 32°38'12.11"E ; 54 m . SAMC_A073115 ( 5 specimens ): Eastern margin, 35 km from Cape Vidal / 32 km off St Lucia Estuary , 27°49'41.87"S , 32°38'12.11"E ; 47- 50 m. SAMC_A073118 ( 12 specimens ): Eastern margin, 25 km off Cape Vidal / 23 km off St Lucia Estuary , 27°54'42.11"S , 32°36'42.11"E ; 42-50 m ; SAMC_A073124 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 66 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 15 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°25'54.11"S , 32°44'17.88"E ; 46- 66 m. SAMC_A073142 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 19 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 12 km off Kosi-Kumpungwini ( Sifungwe ) Estuary , 27°01'05.87"S , 32°55'12.00"E ; 78 m . SAMC_A073143 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 38 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 24 km off Kosi Bay Estuary , 27°11'24.00"S , 32°51'00.00"E ; 100 m . SAMC_A073156 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 39 km from Cape Vidal / 29 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°47'23.99"S , 32°38'53.87"E ; 65- 70 m. SAMC_A073170 ( 31 specimen ): Eastern margin, 39 km from Cape Vidal / 29 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°47'23.99"S , 32°38'53.87"E ; 65- 70 m. SAMC_A073192 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 69 km from Cape Vidal / 7 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°31'48.00"S , 32°42'47.99"E ; 70 m . SAMC_A073193 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 67 km from Cape Vidal / 6 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°32'30.11"S , 32°42'00.00"E ; 48- 58 m. SAMC_A073205 ( 3 specimens ): Eastern margin, 65 km from Cape Vidal / 7 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°33'47.88"S , 32°42'15.12"E ; 64 m . SAMC_A073214 ( 30 specimens ): Eastern margin, 37 km from Cape Vidal / 32 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°48'47.88"S , 32°38'53.87"E ; 50 m . SAMC_A073218 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 42 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 27 km off Kosi Bay Estuary , 27°13'30.00"S , 32°49'30.00"E ; 74 m . SAMC_A090117 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 66 km from Cape Vidal / 7 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°33'11.88"S , 32°42'47.87"E ; 85 m . SAMC_A090118 ( 2 specimens ): Eastern margin, 59 km from Cape Vidal / 10 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°37'00.00"S , 32°40'54.00"E ; depth unknown. SAM_H814 ( 21 specimen ): Eastern margin, 19 km from Shaka's Rock / 3 km off Mdloti Estuary , 29°38'59.99"S , 31°07'59.99"E ; depth unknown. USNM 90242 ( 1 specimen , sub-sample of SAMC_A073086): Eastern margin, 329 km from Port Edward / 330 km off Mtentu Estuary , 32°55'18.12"S , 32°55'18.12"E ; 49 m . USNM 90426 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin,, 41 km south of Ponta Do Ouro / 26 km off Kosi Bay Estuary , 27°13'00.11"S , 32°49'41.87"E ; 72 m . USNM 90434 ( 5 specimens , sub-samples of SAMC_A073205): Eastern margin, 65 km from Cape Vidal / 7 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°33'47.88"S , 32°42'15.12"E ; 64 m . USNM 90435 ( 1 specimen ): Eastern margin, 67 km from Cape Vidal / 6 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°32'42.00"S , 32°42'29.88"E ; 63 m . USNM 90439 ( 11 specimen ): Eastern margin, 64 km from Cape Vidal / 7 km off Mgobezeleni Estuary , 27°34'12.00"S , 32°42'06.12"E ; 62- 64 m. Description. Corallum solitary, encapsulating a gastropod shell, with one large efferent pore projecting downward from base of corallum, and several smaller pores on lower theca. Calice elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.3-1.5); calicular margin lanceted. Largest specimen examined (SAMC_A073170) 11.4 x 9.1 mm in CD, and 13.1 mm in H. Upper theca highly porous and usually composed of discontinuous interconnected granular rows. Lower theca granular. Corallum white. Septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles according to the formula: S1-2> S4> S3 (48 septa). S1-2 highly exsert, equally wide, with straight axial margins that fuse to columellar elements. S3 least exsert septa and bear serrate axial margins. S4 fuse to neighbouring septa near calicular margin forming well-developed and porous triangular lancets. In each half-system, a pair of S4 fuses before flanked S3 and reach columella as one septum. S4 upper axial margins highly concave becoming almost vertical after fusing to adjacent S4 near columella. Fossa of moderate depth, containing a spongy columella. Distribution. Regional: Eastern margin of South Africa, extending from off Port Edward towards Kosi-Kumpungwini (Sifungwe) Estuary (19 km south of Ponta Do Ouro: Mozambique); 17-100 m. Elsewhere: Widespread throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific (Veron and Pichon 1980 ; Hoeksema and Best 1991 ; Cairns 1999a ); 6-622 m. Remarks. Heteropsammia cochlea is a symbiotic facultative species, known to be zooxanthellate or azooxanthellate in shallow waters and those found in deeper waters being azooxanthellate (Hoeksema and Mathews 2015). The variation in corallum type has resulted in a long standing discussion regarding the number of species represented within Heteropsammia . As such, two valid species are recogniszed ( H. cochlea and H. eupsammides (Gray, 1849)) on the basis of the number of calices (monostomous or polystomous ) (Hoeksema and Best 1991 ; Hoeksema 1993 ). Whilst Cairns (2001) on the other hand, cautiously acknowledges three ( H. cochlea , H. eupsammides (Gray, 1849), and H. moretonensis Wells, 1964) in his generic revision of dendrophylliids. Irrespective of this, two species are represented in South Africa, and the differences between the two are elaborated in the account of H. eupsammides below. Zibrowius and Grygier (1985) have reported H. cochlea from the Great Barrier Reef and Somalia to host endoparasites of the ascothoracid crustacean Petrarca okadai , an observation not evident in the South African specimens examined. Additionally, specimens examined include zooxanthellate representatives (> 40 m) (Hoeksema and Best 2015) and should therefore not be considered in biodiversity assessments focusing on azooxanthellate forms.