Blastomussa merleti ( Wells, 1961 )

Benzoni, Francesca, Arrigoni, Roberto, Waheed, Zarinah, Stefani, Fabrizio & Hoeksema, Bert W., 2014, Phylogenetic relationships and revision of the genus Blastomussa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) with description of a new species, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62, pp. 358-378 : 361-363

Blastomussa merleti ( Wells, 1961)

( Figs. 1A–C , 7A , 8A , 9A )

Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961 , figs. 1–5

Not Blastomussa merleti sensu Wells, 1968 , figs. 4–5

Blastomussa merleti — Chevalier, 1975: Pl. XXIX, fig. 6, pl. XXX, figs. 5–7; Head, 1978: fig. 1a; Veron & Pichon, 1980: figs. 392–394, 767; Scheer & Pillai: 1983, pl. 35 figs. 5–6, 10–11; Veron, 1986: figs. 1–3; Sheppard & Sheppard, 1991: figs. 113a–b; Veron, 2000 partim: Volume 3, pp. 4–5, figs. 2–4; Pichon et al.: 2010, p 222 figs. 1–3, p 223 figs. 4–5; Turak & DeVantier: 2011: 163; Kleemann & Baal, 2011: fig. 5

Blastomussa merletti — Claereboudt, 2006: p.209 fig. 1, p. 210, figs. 1–4, p. 211, figs. 1–4

Type material. Holotype ( USNM 45390 ), Banc Gail, New Caledonia, coll. Y. Merlet, 30–40 m ( Fig. 7A ).

Other material. New Caledonia ( USNM 83336 ), Banc Gail, coll. M. Best , 35 m; ( IRD HS235 ), Banc Gail , ST0114, coll. P. Laboute, 30 July 1986 , 26 m; ( IRD HS1686 ), Ouinné , Côte Oubliée, ST 1083, CC1, coll. F. Benzoni & G. Lasne, 26 March 2007 , 15– 35m; ( IRD HS1850 ), Banc Gail , ST0114, CC1, coll. F. Benzoni & G. Lasne, 7 November 2007 , 35m; ( IRD HS2676 ), Prony Bay , Creek of the North Bay, ST 0032, coll. G. Lasne, 9 June 2009 , 12m; ( RMNH Coel. 14035) South New Caledonia, unspecified locality, coll. ORSTOM, Nouméa . Australia ( MTQ G 42930), Lizard Island , (14°40'S; 145°27'E), coll. J.E.N. Veron , 12–22 m; ( MTQ G 70483), coll. J.E.N. Veron; ( MTQ G AIMS 107 :4, WAM 254–85 ) , Houtman Abrolhos , coll. J. Veron.

Description. Blastomussa merleti forms phaceloid colonies by extra-tentacular budding ( Fig. 1A ). Corallites are regularly spaced. Corallites are round to oval and 5–7 mm in largest diameter ( Figs. 1A, C , 7A ). Three cycles of septa are present, the first two reach the columella and are equal or sub-equal as the first can be slightly thicker and more exsert ( Figs. 1B, C ). The third is reduced to less than 1 / 2 to 1 / 3 of the length of the first two ( Fig. 1C ). Septa are composed of one to three fan systems thus attaining smooth to dentate margins ( Fig. 1B ) ( Chevalier, 1975: Fig. 204). Septal margins and sides finely granulated. Columella formed by trabecular processes from the inner margins of septa and by round papillae in the center. The papillae can be separated or fused to form a sublamellar structure in the middle of the columella ( Figs. 1A, C , 7A ) which gives it a quasi-bilateral symmetry (see also Chevalier, 1975, Fig. 211). Epitheca forms few millimeters below the margin of the corallite wall which bears costae ( Fig. 1A ).

Polyp tentacles retracted towards the oral disc during the day ( Fig. 8A , 9A ). Mantle vesicles smooth ( Fig. 9A ), polyp colours varying from light brown, or orange to bright red.

This species lives in semi-protected to protected environments and strives well in low light and high turbidity conditions.

Geographic distribution. This species has been recorded from the Red Sea, the Indian and western Pacific Ocean (see above mentioned references).

Blastomussa wellsi Wijsman-Best, 1973 ( Figs. 1D–F , 7D , 8D , 9D )

Blastomussa merleti sensu Wells, 1968 : figs. 4–5; Veron, 2000 partim: Vol. 3, pp. 4–5, fig. 2; Dai & Horng, 2009, p. 151

Blastomussa wellsi — Wijsman-Best, 1973: figs. 1–2; Chevalier: 1975, pl. XXIX, fig. 5, pl. XXXI, figs. 3–5; Head, 1978: fig. 1b; Veron & Pichon, 1980: figs. 395 and 769; Scheer & Pillai, 1983: pl. 35 figs. 7–8, 10–11; Veron, 1986: figs. 1, 3, 4; Veron, 2000: Volume 3, pp. 6–7, figs. 1–3, 6; Hoeksema & van Ofwegen, 2004; Dai & Horng, 2009: p. 152; Wallace et al., 2009: fig. 60

Type material. Holotype ( ZMA Coel 6905), Grotte Merlet, Passe Kouaré, New Caledonia, coll. M. Wijsman-Best, 1968, 30– 35 m ( Fig. 7D ) . Paratypes ( ZMA Coel 6906, 6907, 6908), Banc Gail, New Caledonia, coll. Y. Merlet, 30–35 m.

Other material. New Caledonia ( USNM 83337 ), Nouméa , outer reef slope, coll. R. Catala Mar.1973 , 50 m; ( USNM 83338 ), Banc Gail, coll. R. Catala , 1962, 35 m; ( USNM 83339 ), Banc Gail, coll. R. Catala , 35 m; ( MTQ G 48384), coll. P Joannot, 17 November 1991; ( IRD HS382 ) , Ilôt N’Do , coll. J.L. Menou, 11 February 1987 , 12 m; ( IRD HS557 ), Canal Woodin, coll. P. Laboute, 5 October 1987 , 4 m; ( IRD HS569 ), Dumbéa, coll. P. Laboute, 23 October 1987 , 40 m; ( IRD HS646 ), Grotte Merlet, coll. P. Laboute, 23 September 1988 , 22 m; ( IRD HS647 ), Grotte Merlet, coll. P. Laboute, 23 September 1988 , 20 m; ( IRD HS899 ), Ile des Pins , coll. P. Laboute, 11 March 1989 , 4 m; ( IRD HS1307 ), Kouakoué , ST1062, CC1, coll. G. Lasne & F. Benzoni, 16 March 2007 , 24 m; ( IRD HS1368 ), Kouakoué , ST1063, CC1, coll. G. Lasne & F. Benzoni, 16 March 2007 , 22 m; ( IRD HS1661 ), N’Goé , Port Comboui, ST 1079, CC1, coll. G. Lasne & F. Benzoni, 23 March 2007 , 20 m; ( IRD HS2111 ), Ilot Avon , Chesterfields, ST 1161, CC2, coll. G. Lasne, J. Butscher & A. Gerbault, 13 July 2008 , 25 m; ( IRD HS2130 ), Bampton Reef , Chesterfields, ST 1163, CC2, coll. G. Lasne, J. Butscher & A. Gerbault, 14 July 2008 , 12 m; ( IRD HS2630 ), Dumbéa , ST0041, coll. G. Lasne & F. Benzoni, 19 May 2009 , 23 m; ( RMNH Coel. 14041, 14042) South New Caledonia, unspecified locality, coll. ORSTOM, Nouméa . Australia ( MTQ G 42934), Newcastle , (32°56'S; 151°46'E); ( MTQ G 42949) , Dewar Island , Murray Islands, (09°55’S; 144°05'E) , 2–27 m; ( MTQ G 42950), Fantome Island , Palm Islands, (18°41'S; 146°31'E) , 15– 20 m.

Description. Blastomussa wellsi forms phaceloid colonies by extra-tentacular budding ( Figs. 1D , 7D ). Although corallites are normally regularly spaced, recently budded ones can still have connections and coralla may be partially cerioid. Corallites are round to oval and 8–13 mm in largest diameter ( Figs. 1D , 7D ). Four cycles of septa are present, the first three reach the columella and are equal or sub-equal as the first can be slightly thicker, the third is reduced or incomplete ( Figs. 1D, E , 7D ). Septa are composed of multiple fan systems thus margins are lobed ( Fig. 1E ) ( Chevalier, 1975, Fig. 213). Septal margins and sides finely granulated ( Figs. 1E, F ). Columella formed by trabecular processes from the inner margins of septa and by papillae in the center. The papillae are often fused to form a lamellar structure in the middle of the corallite, which gives the columella a bilateral symmetry ( Figs. 1F , 7D ). Epitheca forms a few mm below the margin of the corallite wall, which bears costae.

Polyp tentacles retracted towards the oral disc during the day ( Figs. 8D , 9D ). Mantle vesicles rugged and sometimes of lighter colour ( Fig. 9D ), polyp colours ranging from light brown, or orange to bright red, and sometimes with green orals discs ( Fig. 8D ).

This species lives in wave-exposed environments. In New Caledonia it was only observed below 15 m deph in welllit outer slopes.

Geographic distribution. This species has been recorded from the Red Sea, the Indian and western Pacific Ocean (see references mentioned above).

Figures

Fig. 1. Morphology of examined specimens, Blastomussa merleti: A, top and lateral view of typically phaceloid corallites (IRD HS3264); B, side view of a corallite of the same specimen; C, detail of a corallite (IRD HS1686). B. wellsi: D, corallite arrangement (IRD HS3011); E, side view of a corallite; F, columella of the same specimen. Morphology of examined specimens, B. loyae: G, cerioid corallites (UN- IMIB DJ050); H, lateral view of the colony surface showing exsert septa devoid of dentation in the same specimen as in G; I, detail of a corallite B. omanensis: J, polygonal corallites showing the typical “groove and tubercule” appearance (UNIMIB MU094); K, side view of the same specimen as in J; L, detail of a corallite. Morphology of examined specimens, B. vivida, new species: M) ceriod corallites of a paratype (RMNH Coel. 40091; same specimen as in Fig. 2D); N, side view of septa of specimen IRD HS3000; O, columella of the same specimen. Scale bars A, D, G, J, M = 1 cm; B, C, E, F, H, I, K, L, N, O = 5 mm. Numbers 1–6 in front of the septa in C, E, I, L, and M indicate their cycle number.

Fig. 7. Skeleton macro-morphology of the examined taxa:A, Blastomussa merleti, holotype (USNM 45390); B, B. loyae, holotype (BMNH 1977.5.5.1); C, B. omanensis, specimen collected by C. Sheppard in Oman (USNM 81272); D, B. wellsi, holotype (ZMA 6905); E, B. vivida, new species, (RMNH Coel. 40092); F, Nemenzophyllia turbida, Philippines (RMNH Coel. 24246); G, Physogyra lichtensteini (UNIMIB MY007), Mayotte Island; H, Plerogyra sinuosa (UNIMIB MY006), Mayotte Island. Scale bars A, B, C = 5 mm; D–H = 1 cm.

Fig. 8. In situ images of the examined taxa: A, Blastomussa merleti, New Caledonia, ST117; B, B. loyae, Djibouti; C, B. omanensis, Yemen; D, B. wellsi, New Caledonia, ST1084; E, B. vivida, new species, New Caledonia (IRD HS3000), ST332; F, Nemenzophyllia turbida, Semporna, Malaysia; G, Physogyra lichtensteini, New Caledonia, ST1477; H, Plerogyra sinuosa, New Caledonia, ST1461. Scale bars = 1 cm

Fig. 9. Close up of the polyps showing mantle vesicles in the examined taxa: A, Blastomussa merleti, New Caledonia, ST117; B, B. loyae, Djibouti; C, B. omanensis, Yemen; D, B. wellsi, New Caledonia, ST1084; E, B. vivida new species, New Caledonia, ST332; F, Nemenzophyllia turbida, Semporna, Malaysia; G, Physogyra lichtensteini, New Caledonia, ST1477; H, Plerogyra sinuosa, New Caledonia, ST1461. White arrows indicate mantle vesicle.