Anthoptilum grandiflorum ( Verrill, 1879 )

Pérez, C. D. & Silva, B. T., 2003, Taxonomic status of Pennatula argentina Acuña & Zamponi, 1992 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia), Zootaxa 324, pp. 1-7 : 2-4

Anthoptilum grandiflorum ( Verrill, 1879)

Virgularia grandiflora Verrill 1879: 239 .

Anthoptilum thomsoni Kölliker 1880: 13 ; Thomson & Rennet 1927: 123.

? Anthoptilum simplex Kölliker 1880: 15 .

Anthoptilum grandiflorum Verrill 1882: 312, 1883: 5 –6; Jungersen 1904: 66 –67, 1915: 1193–1197; Hickson 1904: 233 –235, 1916: 138–143; Kükenthal & Broch 1911: 233 –240; Kükenthal 1915: 32 –33; Thomson 1915: 17; Kramp 1932: 11; Deichmann 1936: 276 –277; Tixier­ Durivault 1954: 629; Pasternak 1975: 101; Grasshoff 1982a: 741, 750, 1982b: 954; Williams 1990: 69; Acuña & Zamponi 1992: 48 –49.

? Anthoptilum grandiflorum Verrill 1885: 510 –511; Nutting 1909: 710. Anthoptilum sertum: Kükenthal 1915: 33 .

Pennatula argentina Acuña & Zamponi 1992: 48 –49.

Diagnosis: Colonies long and whip­like, bilaterally symmetrical with polyps in two longitudinal series. Polyps in oblique rows, non­retractile, calyces absent. Polyps 3–10 per row. Adjacent polyps are sometimes joined proximally, forming a common base for an entire row, or only two or three polyps in a row may be joined. Siphonozooids are numerous on the rachis and situated in the dorsal part of the colony. Peduncle stout to robust, with a prominent bulb.

Material: Paratype of Pennatula argentina , UNMdP­CP 1 in the collection of the LABIC, vessel “Walther Hertwig”, 41º24´S, 57º10´W, depth 800–810 m, May 1978.

Locality: Argentine Sea, Buenos Aires continental slope.

Description: Colony 29 cm in length ( Fig. 1 A, B). Entire flexible rachis with bilateral symmetry, 20.5 cm in length, with autozooids confined to the ventral part. Peduncle robust, with prominent bulb about midway, 8.5 cm in length, one­third total colony length ( Figure 2 A). Autozooids arising directly from surface of rachis, calyces absent, 2–5 per oblique row, 0.8–1.4 cm in length. Adjacent polyps are sometimes joined proximally, forming a common base for an entire oblique row, or only two or three polyps in a row may be joined, this group being free from remaining polyps in the row ( Figure 2 B). Siphonozooids numerous on dorsal aspect of rachis, located between the oblique rows of autozooids. Sclerites absent except for minute ovals (88–140 m in length, 32–56 m in width) and circles (20–55 m in diameter) of interior stalk. Axis present and oval in cross section.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Paratype of Pennatula argentina Acuña & Zamponi, 1992. (A) Ventral view. (B) Dorsal view. Scale bar: 1, 50 cm. Abbreviations: p = peduncle; r = rachis.

FIGURE 2. Paratype of Pennatula argentina Acuña & Zamponi, 1992. (A) Peduncle with prominent bulb. Scale bar: 1, 0 cm. (B) Detail of rachis. Scale bar: 0, 25 cm. Abbreviations: p = peduncle; r = rachis; b = bulb; a = autozooid.