Heterocyathus sulcatus ( Verrill, 1866 )

Cairns, S. D., 2004, The Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of Australia, Records of the Australian Museum 56, pp. 259-329 : 281-282

Heterocyathus sulcatus ( Verrill, 1866)

Fig. 3K

Stephanoseris sulcata Verrill, 1866: 48 .

Psammoseris cylicioides Tenison-Woods, 1879a: 10–11 , pl. 1, figs. 1–5 (in part: not 4 specimens identified as Heteropsammia cochlea ) (Qld); 1880a: 299–300 (Remarks).

Heterocyathus pulchellus Rehberg, 1892: 8–9 , pl. 1, figs. 7a,b (WA).

Homophyllia incrustans Dennant, 1906: 161 , pl. 6, figs. 3a,b (SA), new synonym.– Howchin, 1909: 247 (listed).– Stranks, 1993: 21 (type deposition).

Heterocyathus aequicostatus .– Folkeson, 1919: 8–10 (in part: pl. 1, figs. 4–7) (WA).

Heterocyathus cylicioides .– Wells, 1964: 109 (listed).

Heterocyathus sulcatus .–Hoeksema & Best, 1991: 231–233, figs. 19–23 (description, synonymy, lectotype designation).– Cairns, 1998: 384, figs. 3c,f (WA, NT); 1999a: 98–99, figs. 14a–d (remarks).

New records. QUEENSLAND: James Kirby 732, off Townsville, 124–144 m, 11, MTQ G55749 ; Cidaris I 46-2, 1, MTQ G56410 ; QLD-115, 11, AM G16516 ; QLD-128, 4, AM G16518 ; QLD-140, 1, AM G16521; 23°52'S 151°23'E (Gatcombe Head, Curtis Point ) , 22 m, 1929, 20, AM G14630 and G16611 . — NORTHERN TERRITORY: Akademik Oparin Gulf-18, 10, NTM C6456 . — WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Woodside-Dampier DA 2/99/32, 1, WAM Z16044 ; Woodside-Dampier DA2/99/34, 1, WAM Z16032 .

Types. Heterocyathus sulcatus: The holotype is YPM 764. Type Locality: Sri Lanka, depth unknown.

Psammoseris cylicioides: The uncatalogued lectotype, designated by Hoeksema & Best (1991: 233), along with 6 paralectotypes, are deposited at the Macleay Museum. Twenty-five additional paralectotypes, four of which are Heteropsammia cochlea , are deposited at AM ( G7017 ). Type Locality: Princess Charlotte Bay , Queensland, depth unknown.

Heterocyathus pulchellus: Two syntypes were reported, originally deposited at the Godeffroy Museum (Hamburg), but are now presumed to be lost (Hoeksema & Best, 1991). Type Locality: west coast of Australia, depth unknown.

Homophyllia incrustans: The holotype is NMV F41511 . Type Locality: St. Vincent Gulf , depth unknown.

Remarks. Unlike most Heterocyathus , which are attached to and totally encrust small gastropod and scaphopod shells that are inhabited by a sipunculid, the type of H. incrustans is a juvenile specimen attached to the outer surface a dead bivalve shell. Curiously, directly adjacent to the corallum there is a hole bored through the bivalve of the same diameter (1.5 mm) as a sipunculid efferent pore.