Distichopathes filix ( Pourtales, 1867 )

Wagner, Daniel & Shuler, Andrew, 2017, The black coral fauna (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) of Bermuda with new records, Zootaxa 4344 (2), pp. 367-379 : 374

Distichopathes filix ( Pourtales, 1867)

Distichopathes filix forms very sparsely-branched colonies that are branched in a single plane ( Figure 5a–b ). Pinnulation is bilateral, and the pinnules in each lateral row alternate with those of the opposite row ( Figure 5b–c ). Spines are needle-shaped and covered with distinct tubercles on the distal third of their surface ( Figure 5d–e ). On the side of the corallum opposite to the one bearing the polyps, the spines are uniform in height and typically range between 90–120 µm ( Figure 5d ). In contrast, the side of the corallum bearing the polyps contains skeletal spines of greatly varying heights ( Figure 5d ). The tallest spines are located in the area underneath the outer edges of polyps and reach heights of 200–250 µm, whereas the shortest spines are situated in the area underneath the oral cone, and typically reach heights of only 200 µm ( Figure 5d ). Polyps are 0.7–1.0 mm in transverse diameter, and spaced 1.1– 1.2 mm apart ( Figure 5c ). The color of living colonies is bright yellow ( Figure 5a ). D. filix has previously been reported from the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico at depths ranging between 51–695 m ( Opresko, 2009; Cairns et al., 1993; Opresko, 1972; Brook, 1889; Pourtales, 1871). The only Bermudan specimen examined as part of this study was collected at a depth of 304 m ( Table 1).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Distichopathes filix from Bermuda showing (a) colonies in situ, (b) preserved specimen (scale bar = 4 cm), (c) polyps on basal part of pinnules under light microscopy (scale bar = 2 mm), (d) skeletal spines on a primary pinnule under SEM (scale bar = 200 µm), and (e) close-up of polypar spine under SEM (scale bar = 50 µm).