Churabana, 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 : 333

GENUS CHURABANA GEN. NOV.

( FIG. 4A–H )

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: EACFCC05-EA56-4F04-94A2-FB716F22004C.

Type species: Churabana kuroshioae sp. nov. by original designation.

Diagnosis: Parazoanthidae with obligate symbiotic relationship with massive hexasterophoran sponges. Preserved polyps 3.0–4.0 mm in height, 2.8–4.0 mm in diameter. Azooxanthellate. Cteniform endodermal marginal musculature.

Remarks: Churabana and other already described sponge-associated zoantharian genera can be easily distinguished from each other by their host sponges ( Hexactinellida sponges vs. Demospongiae sponge) and depths; the former can be found at> 140 m, while the latter are found in shallow coral reefs. Although Churabana and several species within Isozoanthus and Epizoanthus are associated with Hexactinellida sponges, these three genera can be distinguished from each other by their hosts: the latter two genera are associated with species within the subclass Amphidiscophora, while species of Churabana are associated with sponge species within the subclass Hexasterophora. Churabana has a unique deletion of 15 bp (from position 168 to 182 in our alignment) in its 16S-rDNA region.

Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Ryukyuan language words chura, beautiful, and bana, flower, referring to the appearance of this species. Gender feminine. The Japanese name is 'Chura-tama-sunaginchaku'.

Figures

Figure 4. Images of external and internal morphology of Churabana kuroshioae (A, paratype: NSMT Co-1754; B–I, holotype: RUMF-ZG-04447). A, living polyps on Pararete sp.1 in situ at Nanpo Trough, Kikaijima Island; B, living polyps on Pararete sp.2 in an aquarium at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Motobu, Japan; C, close-up image of preserved polyp; D–F, longitudinal section of polyp; G, cross-section of polyp; H, close-up image of cyclically transitional marginal musculature; I, drawing of cteniform endodermal marginal musculature. Abbreviations: A, actinopharynx; Dd, dorsal directives; Cemm, cteniform endodermal marginal musculature; Ec, ectoderm; En, endoderm; M, mesoglea; S, siphonoglyph; O, oral disk; 5th, fifth mesentery from dorsal directives. Scales: 5 mm (A, B), 2 mm (C–H).