Oswaldella encarnae Peña Cantero, Svoboda and Vervoort, 1997

Peña Cantero, A. L. & Vervoort, W., 2004, Species of Oswaldella Stechow, 1919 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Kirchenpaueriidae) from US Antarctic expeditions, with the description of three new species, Journal of Natural History 38, pp. 805-861 : 825

Oswaldella encarnae Peña Cantero, Svoboda and Vervoort, 1997

( figure 5) Oswaldella encarnae Peña Cantero et al., 1997: 356–358 , figures 4, 13D; Peña Cantero and

García Carrascosa, 1998: 179; 1999: 214; Peña Cantero and Vervoort, 1998: 36; Peña

Cantero and Marques, 1999: 85.

Material examined. 002/009, three fragments and stems up to 48 mm high (USNM 1003310; RMNH-Coel. 30208).

Description. Monosiphonic and unbranched stems up to 48 mm high. Hydrocaulus provided with cauline apophyses directed upwards and forming an angle of ca 45 ° with long axis of stem ( figure 5A). This stem divided into internodes with one or two apophyses per internode. Cauline apophyses provided with two axillary nematophores, emerging through simple perisarc holes ( figure 5B, C); without ‘mamelons’. Each apophysis supporting an unbranched hydrocladium ( figure 5 A–C), separated by a distinct node ( figure 5B, C); top of distal hydrocladial internodes truncated.

Hydrocladia homomerously divided into internodes each provided with one hydrotheca and two nematophores ( figure 5 B–G): one infrathecal mesial nematophore with a scale-shaped nematotheca and situated on a slight elevation of internode, and one mesial superior nematophore, emerging through a perisarc hole placed behind free adcauline hydrothecal wall.

Hydrothecae usually placed on distal half of internodes ( figure 5); sometimes in the middle (usually in basalmost internodes). Hydrotheca shallow, with part of the adcauline hydrothecal wall free. Abcauline wall straight, running smoothly into wall of internode under an angle of ca 30 ° with internodal long axis. Aperture circular, slightly tilted downwards; rim even.

Gonothecae absent.

Ecology and distribution. Oswaldella encarnae appears to be a shelf species, having been found from depths of 400 to 440 m on muddy bottoms (Peña Cantero et al., 1997); our material was found at a depth of 252 m. Peña Cantero et al. (1997) recorded gonothecae from February.

Presently Oswaldella encarnae can best be considered endemic to the Weddell Sea, in West Antarctica, as it has been reported off the south and east coasts of the Weddell Sea (Peña Cantero et al., 1997). We record it here from north off Berkner Island, off the south coast of the Weddell Sea.