Muricella

Namin, Samimi & Ofwegen, Van, 2009, Some shallow water octocorals (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of the Persian Gulf, Zootaxa 2058, pp. 1-52 : 9-12

Muricella sp.

( Figs. 2 c, 6)

Material: RMNH Coel. 38767, colony fragment, S of Hengam Island, depth 40–50 m, coll. local fisherman, March 2007.

Description. The colony fragment is 12 cm by 6 cm in diameter, branched in one plane, and most of the colony is devoid of coenenchyme (fig. 2c). The main branches are flattened perpendicular to the plane of branching. The polyps have spindles, up to 0.25 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 6 a). The same sclerite form occurs in the coenenchyme of the branches but these spindles are longer, up to 0.50 mm, and somewhat more tuberculate ( Fig. 6 b). The interior has capstans and rods, up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 6 c). All sclerites are colourless.

Remarks. Without thorough revision of the genus Muricella we consider it impossible to identify species of this genus. Probably because of the almost complete lack of coenenchyme we were unable to collect tentacle sclerites, which normally are present in species of Muricella .

Figures

FIGURE 6. RMNH Coel. 38767, Muricella sp.: a, spindles of polyps; b, coenenchymal spindles; c, capstans and rods of the subsurface layer.

FIGURE 2. a – b, RMNH Coel. 38756, holotype of Sarcophyton minusculum n. sp.; a, lateral view, b, view from above; c, RMNH Coel. 38767, Muricella sp.; d, RMNH Coel. 38778, holotype of Euplexaura plana n. sp.; e, RMNH Coel. 38779, Euplexaura sp. a; f, RMNH Coel. 38780, Euplexaura sp. b. Scales 1 cm.