Primnoidae (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Calcaxonia) of the Okeanos Explorer expeditions (CAPSTONE) to the central Pacific
Author
Cairns, Stephen D.
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-12-17
4532
1
1
43
journal article
27764
10.11646/zootaxa.4532.1.1
b3fb460f-20b4-4c62-98ea-a07d901bbfc0
1175-5326
2614967
4E9D0908-0933-48AF-A6ED-F3B8D39E8994
Calyptrophora carinata
,
n. sp.
Figs. 1D
,
5
A–H
Etymology
. Named
carinata
(Latin for carinate or ridged), in allusion to the ridged nature of the body wall, opercular, and coenenchymal scales.
Type and Type Locality
.
Holotype
: colony fragments and
SEM
stubs
2532-2535
,
USNM 1467625
. Type Locality:
EX
1708-15-5
, 28.69˚N, 161.67˚W (Mozart Seamount, Musicians Seamounts),
3659 m
,
22 Sept 2017
.
Material Examined
.
Type
.
Description
. The
holotype
, which now constitutes seven colony fragments, the largest of which is
20 cm
in length, and a number of smaller branches, represents about one-third of the entire colony (
Fig. 1D
). Based on the
in situ
image, it is estimated that the intact
holotype
was about
31 cm
wide. Branching is roughly uniplanar and dichotomous, although several branching nodes produce three to five branches at the same level (polychotomous), resulting in a slightly bushy aspect; distal branches are up to
11 cm
long. The polyps are widely spaced (three whorls/cm), directed downward, and consist of pairs or whorls of three. Individual polyps are
2.3–2.6 mm
in horizontal length; the whorl diameter is about
2.9 mm
.
The basal scale is 1.0–
1.25 mm
in height (including distal teeth) and bears two broad, flat teeth on its distal margin
Fig. 5
D–E), the teeth being up to
0.45 mm
in length and ridged on their inner surface. The basal scale bears multiple prominent dorsolateral ridges (
Figs. 5
C–D) as well as a basolateral ridge, the former continuing along the outer face of the basal teeth. The buccal scale is slightly shorter (
0.95–1.1 mm
in length) but is also strongly ridged, the ridges radiating from a dorsolateral mound on either side of the sagittal plane (
Figs. 5A, F
). The distal edge of the buccal scale is slightly serrate. No infrabasal scales are present.
The operculum is long (
Fig. 5B
), all the opercular scales (
Fig. 5G
) being quite elongate with a high L:W ratio. The abaxial operculars are
1.3–1.5 mm
in length, with an L:W of about 3.1, and have multiple ridges on both their inner and outer surfaces, and a coarsely serrate margin. The lateral operculars are
1.1–1.2 mm
in length with an L: W of 2.3–2.4. The adaxial operculars are 1.0–
1.1 mm
in length and are quite slender (L:W = 3.2–4.5).
The coenenchymal scales (
Fig. 5H
) are elongate (up to
1.2 mm
in length) and slender (L:W = 3.3–7.8). They bear coarse granules as well as a prominent (up to
0.15 mm
in height) longitudinal ridge (i.e., a sail scale).
Comparisons
. Having downward directed polyps (
wyvillei
species complex) and multiple branching nodes (polychotomous),
Calyptrophora carinata
keys closest to
C. wyvillei
Wright & Studer,
1889
in the key, a widespread species known from
New Zealand
to the Hawaiian Islands at
784–1278 m
(
Cairns 2012
). However,
C. wyvillei
differs in many ways including having three to five polyps per whorl; non-ridged basal, buccal, and opercular scales; a lyrate branching mode; and a shallower distribution.
Remarks
. A white anemone was attached to the colony nears its main stem.
Distribution
. Known only from the
type
locality.