Muriceopsis Aurivillius, 1931

Castro, C. B., Medeiros, M. S. & Loiola, L. L., 2010, Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Brazilian reefs, Journal of Natural History 44 (13 - 14), pp. 763-827 : 782

Genus Muriceopsis Aurivillius, 1931

Diagnosis

Arborescent colonies of either pinnate or bushy form, with slender branches. Slightly projecting shelf-like or lip-like calyces. Coenenchymal outer layer with sclerites with outer sculpture as projecting spines or foliate processes; inner surface with low warts; some clavate or with one tapering end; deeper region of cortex with symmetrically sculptured sclerites. Calyx walls usually with clubs with sculpture similar to outer layer of coenenchyme sclerites. Axial sheath with slender, sharply pointed spindles, colourless or deep purple. No outer layer of small clubs at the surface of the coenenchyme ( Bayer 1961: 161).

Type species

Muriceopsis tuberculata: Aurivillius 1931 (= Gorgonia sulphurea Donovan, 1825 ; non- Gorgonia tuberculata Esper, 1792 ), by original monotypy.

Remarks

Sánchez (2001) reviewed species of Muriceopsis and listed at least four previous valid species from the Atlantic ( M. petila , M. sulphurea , M. flavida and M. tuberculata ), and described a new species: M. bayeri (later with a new name M. bayeriana Sánchez, 2007 ). A single specimen from Brazil was set apart from all other branches of Sánchez’s consensus tree: “ Muriceopsis sp. 2 Brazil ” (USNM 55799). Sánchez (2007) suggested that up to four different species might be present in Brazil. However, he mentioned only two or three lots of each species and a single specimen of an undetermined (new?) species. Three morphs from Brazil, a “sulphurea” from Antilles, and his new species were included in a single branch of his consensus tree ( Sánchez 2001: fig. 12). An analysis of a large series of specimens showed great variation of the sclerites from the outer layer of the coenenchyme. This can also be observed on several published figures ( Verrill 1912: pl. 29, fig. 1a, pl. 35, figs. 1, 1a; Deichmann and Bayer 1959: pl. 3; Bayer 1961: fig. 48b; Sánchez 2001: figs. 6, 9). Therefore, a thorough review of large series, preferably including molecular techniques, is necessary for a sound analysis of the identity and limits of variation of South Atlantic species of Muriceopsis .