Callicarpa chazaliei Versluys, 1899

Galea, Horia R., Di Camillo, Cristina G. & Maggioni, Davide, 2021, An integrative study of Callicarpa gracilis Fewkes, 1881 and Aglaophenia trifida L. Agassiz, 1862, with notes on some hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4926 (3), pp. 301-341 : 332

Callicarpa chazaliei Versluys, 1899

Fig. A3

Callicarpa chazaliei Versluys, 1899: 44 , figs 14, 15.—Fraser, 1947: 13.

Description. No complete colonies are known, but their stems are likely unbranched and fascicled. Main stem unsegmented, bearing alternate cladia; a nematotheca near the origin of each cladium. Cladia rather spaced from one another, up to 14.5 mm long, homomerously divided into moderately-long internodes; the latter with a nearly centrally-placed hydrotheca, its complement of three nematothecae (one mesial and a pair of laterals), as well as a distal nematotheca above the hydrotheca; internodes with internal ridges given off adaxially: one proximal and one distal, as well as two additional pairs, one flanking the mesial nematotheca above and below, and the second the lateral nematothecae, equally above and below. Hydrothecae rather deep, inverted-conical, abaxial wall straight or nearly so, adaxial wall slightly concave, aperture set perpendicularly to the length of internode, rim even. Nematothecae movable, elongate, bithalamic, wall of upper chamber emarginated adaxially; mesial nematotheca seated on an adaxial prominence of the internode; lateral nematothecae borne on inconspicuous apophyses. Phylactocarps given off in a plane outside that formed by the two rows of cladia; up to ca. 6 mm long, bearing 10 stacked whorls of verticillate ramuli; each whorl composed of 3 ramuli divided dichotomously once; main trunk with 2 successive pairs of opposite nematothecae, branches with 2 alternate rows of nematothecae.

Remarks. Proximal-most portions of phylactocarps occasionally bearing a cladium.

Distribution. Off the Dry Tortugas (ca. 24°37’ N, 82°55’ W, 45 m), Florida, USA (Versluys 1899) and off Margarita Island (ca. 11° N, 64° W, 31–40 m), Nueva Esparta, Venezuela (Fraser 1947).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Callicarpa gracilis Fewkes, 1881 (unbranched morphotype). A. Portion of monosiphonic part of stem with proximal parts of three consecutive cladia. B. Detail of a cladial apophysis, showing mamelon and one of the axillar nematothecae. C. Two cladial internodes. D. Proximal part of a cladial internode, showing mesial nematotheca. E. Distal part of a cladial internode, showing lateral nematotheca, thickening of the adaxial hydrothecal wall, and the intranodal ridges. F. Ramulus of phylactocarp with a gonotheca. Scale bars: B, D, E = 100 µm; C = 200 µm; A = 400 µm; F = 500 µm.