Swiftia farallonesica Williams and Breedy, 2016

Williams, Gary C. & Breedy, Odalisca, 2016, A New Species of Whip-Like Gorgonian Coral in the Genus Swiftia from the Gulf of the Farallones in Central California, with a Key to Eastern Pacific Species in California (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Plexauridae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (1), pp. 1-13 : 3-4

Swiftia farallonesica Williams and Breedy , sp. nov.

Figures 1–9 .

Leptogorgia, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014:1–2 .

HOLOTYPE.— CASIZ 196930 .

TYPE LOCALITY ( Figs. 8–9 ).— Deep-sea rocky substrata at Football Shoal , Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, off Bodega Bay, California, USA (38.00°26.33ʹN 123.00°34.19ʹW); 182 m depth; 06 September 2014; Gary Williams and Peter Etnoyer; one entire specimen collected by ROV .

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION.— Found on hard, rugose, horizontal substrata composed of relatively dense congregations of detritus-covered rounded boulders between 181 and 190 m depth, at the type locality and vicinity ( Figs. 8–9 ). Pink and white ophiuroids (species unidentified) were observed (on the holotype and by underwater video and still imagery) attached along portions of the lengths of several colonies ( Figs. 2A & D , 3A & E ). Approximately 15–20 colonies were observed in total by underwater video and still photography.

ETYMOLOGY.— The specific epithet is derived from the Spanish farallón (steep rock, cliff, headland, outcrop), and the Latin -icus (suffix meaning belonging to); referring to the region of the discovery of the new species — the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Description of the Holotype

EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY ( Figs. 2–3 ).— The proximal-most surface of the holdfast that adheres to the substratum is circular, approximately 10 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height. The colony is unbranched and whip-like, 378 mm in length by 3–4 mm in width. The external surface of the colony is pustular in appearance with retracted polyps forming low mounds on all sides of the branches, from the holdfast to the apex of the colony. Each protuberance is approximately 2.0 mm in diameter at their bases and 0.8–1.0 mm in height. There are approximately 25–30 polyps per every 10 mm along the length of the colony. Many of the polyps throughout the colony are entirely retracted, while others are preserved in varying states of partial retraction.

SCLERITES ( Figs. 4–7 ).— The sclerites of the polyp mounds and coenenchyme are predominantly double discs and disc spindles 0.05– 0.08 mm in length ( Fig. 4 ), eight-radiates 0.04– 0.12 mm long ( Fig. 5 ), and spindles and girdled spindles (0.08– 0.20 mm in length). Some girdled spindles are wider toward one end compared to the opposite end, and thus appear somewhat club-shaped in overall appearance ( Fig. 6 ). Sclerites of the anthocodiae are mostly elongated rods with parallel sides and are variably tuberculated, 0.09– 0.21 mm long ( Fig. 7 ). All sclerites in the colony are colorless.

COLOR ( Figs. 2–3 ).— The color of the holotype is white throughout, both in life and wet-preserved.

REMARKS ( Figs. 2–3 ).— All colonies observed are whip-like and unbranched, except for one colony that was recorded by underwater still imagery and is Y-shaped with a single lateral branch ( Fig. 3C ). All colonies that were observed by underwater video or still imagery are also uniformly white in color ( Fig 3A–E ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. The Farallon Islands, approximately 40 miles west of San Francisco, California, and 70 miles southeast of the type locality of Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov., in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

FIGURE 2. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Wet-preserved holotype. A, D. Entire colony, scale bars = 10 mm. B. Distal apex region, scale bar = 5 mm. C. Middle portion of colony, scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 3. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Underwater photographs taken in situ by ROV, between 181 and 190 m in depth, 6 September 2014.

FIGURE 4. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Scanning electron micrographs of coenenchymal sclerites — double discs and disc-spindles. Scale bar = 0.03 mm.

FIGURE 5. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Scanning electron micrographs of coenenchymal sclerites — eight radiates. Scale bar = 0.03 mm.

FIGURE 6. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Scanning electron micrographs of coenenchymal sclerites — spindles. Scale bar = 0.03 mm.

FIGURE 7. Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. Scanning electron micrographs of anthocodial sclerites. Scale bar = 0.03 mm.

FIGURE 8. Map of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (central California, USA), showing type locality of Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov. (represented by red triangle). Map modified from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014).

FIGURE 9. Map showing the known distribution of the genus Swiftia in North America and northern South America. Arrow shows type locality of Swiftia farallonesica sp. nov.