Calyptrophora clarki Bayer, 1951

Cairns, Stephen D., 2018, Primnoidae (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Calcaxonia) of the Okeanos Explorer expeditions (CAPSTONE) to the central Pacific, Zootaxa 4532 (1), pp. 1-43 : 13-14

Calyptrophora clarki Bayer, 1951

Figs. 1E , 6 A–H

Calyptrophora clarki Bayer, 1951: 40 –41, figs. 1A–F.—Cairns, 2009: 432–435, figs. 1G, 13–14 (complete synonymy). Calyptrophora japonica: Nutting, 1908: 578 (in part: Alb -4007, 4108).

Types and Type Locality. The holotype (USNM 25370) and paratype are deposited at the NMNH (Cairns 2009). Type Locality: 21˚50’20”N, 159˚31’40”W (south of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands), 929–1018 m.

Material Examined. EX 1605-L 3-6-05 and 0 2, 20.15˚N, 145.11˚E ( Supply Reef , Northern Mariana Islands), 286 m , 1 colony and SEM stubs 2400-2401, USNM 1424146 ; FK 17-093, 3˚44.012’S, 170˚43.109’W (off Rawaki Island , Phoenix islands), 562 m , 17 October 2017, 1 colony, Temple University ; FK 17-167, 4˚30.846’S, 172^15.967’W (Orona Atoll, Phoenix Islands), 928 m , 19 October 2017 ,1 colony, Temple University .

Remarks and Comparisons. This species was adequately described and figured by Cairns (2009) and thus will not be fully redescribed or figured herein. The specimen figured herein is a small colony only 10 cm in height when alive ( Fig. 1E ) and ambiguously between lyrate and equal-dichotomous in branching, having only seven distal branches. It may be the juvenile lyrate shape. It allows the observation that the polyps in the whorls on the main stem are directed downward, but those on the branches are directed upward, and those near the first point of bifurcation are mixed even within the same whorl ( Fig. 6A ). Thus, this specimen does not fit conveniently into either of the two species complexes of this genus. Also, its coenenchymal scales are quite long (up to 2.1 mm), thick, and have blunt ends.

Within the genus, C. clarki is distinctive in having extremely long basal spines (up to 1.7 mm in length and constituting ¾ of the height of the basal scales, Figs. 6 A–D) and in having four to six prominent buccal spines ( Figs. 6A, E ). It is quite similar to C. antilla Bayer, 2001 , the basic difference being that C. antilla has lyrate branching, C. clarki , equal-dichotomous branching. If that distinction is subsequently found to be trivial, then those records will have to be added to those of C. clarki .

Cairns (2007b, 2009) suggested that specimens from the eastern Pacific were similar to the western Atlantic C. antilla , but differed in having longer basal scale spines. This was based on an incorrect interpretation of a misleading scale given for the figures of C. antilla in Bayer’s (2001) original description. The magnification as printed on his figures are incorrect, as the original SEM had been reduced in size, the correct magnification having to be determined by reference to the scale bar. Using the scale bar, not the number, the spines on the basal scales of both the Atlantic and Pacific populations are about the same, suggesting that this is a truly a widespread species.

Distribution. Off Hawaii (Cairns 2009), northern Mariana Islands, Phoenix Islands, 286–1105 m.

Figures

FIGURE 1. In situ images of various species: A, Callogorgia cracentis, holotype. B, Calyptrophora lyra, holotype (not in situ). C, C. diaphana, EX1606-9-1. D, C. carinata, holotype. E, C. clarki, EX1605-L3-6. F, C. pourtalesi, holotype. G, C. distolos, holotype. H, Candidella gigantea, EX1606-6. I, Macroprimnoa ornata, holotype. J, Narella virgosa, holotype. K-L, N. aurantiaca, holotype. M, N. merga, holotype. N, N. horrida, EX1703-2-3. O, N. fordi, holotype. P, N. calamus, holotype. Q, N. virgosa, paratype, EX1504-L4-9-4. R, N. macrocalyx, EX1606-7. S, N. hawaiiensis, EX1504-9-2. T, Paracalyotrophora hawaiiensis, EX1703-2-1. U, P. echinata, EX1703-10-1. V, P. spiralis, holotype. W, Plumarella circumoperculum, EX1603-2-3. X, Thouarella hilgendorfi, EX1605-L1-17.

FIGURE 6. Calyptrophora clarki, USNM 1424146: A, stereo view of two polyp whorls, one showing polyps oriented in conflicting directions. B, stereo view of inner face of a basal scale. C, outer surface of a basal scale. D, articular ridge of a basal scale. E, lateral and outer views of a buccal scale. F, infrabasal scales in situ. G, opercular scales. H, coenenchymal scales. Scale bars in mm.