Symplectoscyphus hero Blanco, 1977

Peña Cantero, A. L., 2002, Species of Symplectoscyphus Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa, Sertulariidae) from recent Antarctic expeditions with R. V. Polarstern, with the description of four new species, Journal of Natural History 36, pp. 1509-1568 : 1538-1540

Symplectoscyphus hero Blanco, 1977

(gure 7; table 8)

Symplectoscyphus hero Blanco, 1977a: 4–6 , gures 1–13, 19–20; Vervoort, 1993: 240.

2014 February

13

38

:

23

at Material examined. Type series: one microslide preparation. Low Island

]

(63

ss

22¾S, 62

ss

00’/61

ss

55¾

W

),

90–100 m depth. Received on loan from Museo de la

Bath Plata. La Plata, Argentina.

of Remarks. Symplectoscyphus hero is a rare species, having been collected only once. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to examine one slide from the holotype,

University

which makes a re-description possible.

‘Fragmentary colonies. Longest fragment 60 mm high. Stem thick and monosiphonic. Branching irregularly alternate or unilateral or irregular with anastomoses’

[

by (Blanco, 1977a: 4).

Stem divided into internodes arranged more or less in one straight line and Downloaded separated by strongly marked oblique perisarc constrictions alternating in opposite directions (gure 7A, B). Hydrotheca situated at distal part of internode, adnate for less than half of its adcauline wall; free portion straight or slightly convex. Abcauline wall of hydrotheca slightly concave or straight (gure 7C–G). Hydrothecae abcaudally directed, with an in exion point where adcauline wall becomes free; maximal diameter found at that point. Hydrothecae narrowing basally and distally. Hydrothecal aperture directed upwards. Rim of hydrothecal aperture with blunt cusps separated by deep embayments (gure 7C–G).

Blanco (1977a) considered the material identi ed as Symplectoscyphus curvatus by Naumov and Stepan’yants (1972) as being conspeci c with S. hero , since there are clear diVerences between S. curvatus and the specimens studied by those authors, whereas there are similarities with S. hero (e.g. in shape of the gonotheca). However, as we have demonstrated above, the material studied by Naumov and Stepan’yants is closer to S. anae sp. nov., with which we have identi ed it.

Ecology and distribution. Symplectoscyphus hero is known only from oV Low Island (63ss22¾S, 62ss00’/61ss55¾W), in the South Shetland Islands region, where it was collected at 90–100 m depth .

2014 February 13 38: 23 at] Bath of University [by Downloaded