Vitrumanthus, Kise & Montenegro & Santos & Hoeksema & Ekins & Ise & Higashiji & Fernandez-Silva & Reimer, 2022

Kise, Hiroki, Montenegro, Javier, Santos, Maria E. A., Hoeksema, Bert W., Ekins, Merrick, Ise, Yuji, Higashiji, Takuo, Fernandez-Silva, Iria & Reimer, James D., 2022, Evolution and phylogeny of glass-sponge-associated zoantharians, with a description of two new genera and three new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194, pp. 323-347 : 336

GENUS VITRUMANTHUS GEN. NOV.

( FIGS 6–8 )

Type species: Vitrumanthus schrieri sp. nov. by original designation.

Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:00F773E4-4535-49F4-8CDA-30F569190BEF .

Diagnosis: Parazoanthidae with obligate symbiotic r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h m a s s i v e h e x a s t e r o p h o r a n a n d D e m o s p o n g i a e s p o n g e s. P r e s e r v e d p o l y p s 0.3–3.1 mm in length, 0.8–3.4 mm in diameter. Azooxanthellate. Cyclically transitional marginal musculature.

Remarks: Vitrumanthus is distinguished from genus Churabana by its marginal musculature. In Vitrumanthus , cyclically transitional marginal musculature with several mesogleal lacunae was observed, while in Churabana cteniform endodermal marginal musculature with comb-like mesogleal pleats was seen. Molecular phylogenetic analyses clearly support the distinctiveness between Churabana and Vitrumanthus . In the 16S-rDNA region, Vitrumanthus has a unique deletion of 15 bp (positions 136–150 in our alignment).

Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Latin word vitruma, glass, and Greek word anthos, flower, referring to the appearance of this genus. Gender masculine. The Japanese name is 'Ruri-sunaginchaku'.

Figures

Figure 6. Images of external and internal morphology of Vitrumanthus schrieri (A, photographic record: image was taken at the entrance of Piscadera Bay, 12°07’06”N, 68°58’34”W; B–F, holotype: RMNH.COEL.42429). A, living polyps on Verrucocoeloidea liberatorii in situ; B, preserved polyps; C, close-up image of preserved polyp; D, close-up image of tentacle musculature; E, close-up image of cyclically transitional marginal musculature; F, drawing of cyclically transitional marginal musculature. Abbreviations: A, actinopharynx; Tem, tentacle musculature; Ctmm, cyclically transitional marginal musculature. Scale bars: 10 mm (A), 25 mm (B), 5 mm (C), 0.5 mm (D, E).

Figure7. ImagesofexternalandinternalmorphologyofVitrumanthusvanderlandi(holotype:RMNH.COEL.42623).A,preserved polyps on Aphrocallistes beatrix; B, C, close-up image of polyp; D, close-up image of tentacle musculature; E, longitudinal section of polyp; F, drawing of cyclically transitional marginal musculature. Abbreviations: A, actinopharynx; Te, tentacle; Tem, tentacle musculature; Ctmm, cyclically transitional marginal musculature. Scale bars: 3 mm (A), 1.5 mm (B, C, E), mm (C), 0.3 mm (D).

Figure 8. Images of external and internal morphology of Vitrumanthus oligomyarius (CMNH ZG-4785). A, preserved polyps on Tretochone duplicata; B, C, cross-section of polyp; D, longitudinal section of polyp; E, F, close-up images of cyclically transitional marginal musculature; G, close-up image of tentacle musculature. Abbreviations: A, actinopharynx; Dd, dorsal directives; Ctmm, cyclically transitional marginal musculature; Ec, ectoderm; M, mesoglea; Mm, marginal musculature; S, siphonoglyph; O, oral disk; 5th, fifth mesentery from dorsal directives. Scale bars: 5 mm (A), 1.5 mm (B, C), 0.5 mm (D, E), 0.1 mm (F), 0.25 mm (G).