Truncatoflabellum formosum Cairns, 1989

Filander, Zoleka N., Kitahara, Marcelo V., Cairns, Stephen D., Sink, Kerry J. & Lombard, Amanda T., 2021, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa, ZooKeys 1066, pp. 1-198 : 1

Truncatoflabellum formosum Cairns, 1989

Fig. 12I, J

Flabellum rubrum . -Faustino 1927: 53 (in part: ‘Albatross’ Stns 5265 and 5658). - Yabe and Eguchi 1942a: 96-98 (in part: pl. 8, fig. 14).

Truncatoflabellum formosum Cairns, 1989a: 69-70, pl. 35, figs J, K, pl. 36, figs A, B (in part: not ‘Albatross’ stns. 5137, 5484, 5162, and 5483). - Cairns and Keller 1993: 265, figs 10I, 11A. -Cairns 1994: 77, pl. 33, figs G-H. - Cairns and Zibrowius 1997: 169-170. - Cairns 1998: 396. - Cairns et al. 1999: 31. -Cairns 2004a: 266, 309. - Cairns 2016: 35, fig. 10B. - Kitahara and Cairns 2021: 244-246, figs 126E-H, 127.

Truncatoflabellum sp. nov. - Cairns 1989a: 73, pl. 38, figs G-H.

Type locality.

Off Mindanao, Philippines (RV ‘Albatross’ stn. 5249: 7°06'06"N, 125°40'08"E); 42 m ( Cairns 1989a).

Type material.

The holotype is deposited at the BMNH ( Cairns 1989a).

Material examined.

SAMC_A073104 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 18 km from Cape Vidal / 20 km off Mfolozi Brak Estuary, 28°17'23.99"S, 32°34'36.12"E; 198 m. SAMC_A073167 (11 specimen): Eastern margin, 18 km from St. Lucia Estuary / 15 km off Mfolozi Estuary, 28°31'48.00"S, 32°26'06.00"E; 160- 180 m. SAMC_A073176 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 35 km from Durban / 26 km off Mbokodweni Estuary, 30°07'59.99"S, 31°08'59.99"E; 150 m. SAMC_A073181 (4 specimens): Eastern margin, 11 km from Port St. Johns / 10 km off Bulolo Estuary, 31°43'54.12"S, 29°32'12.11"E; 190 m. SAMC_A073212 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 5 km from Cape Vidal / 16 km off St Lucia Estuary, 28°07'05.88"S, 32°36'35.99"E; 145 m. SAMC_A073266 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 2 km from Stilbaai / 1 km off Goukou Estuary, 34°22'55.26"S, 21°25'25.49"E; 88 m. SAMC_A090100 (3 specimens): Eastern margin, 34 km from Shaka’s Rock / off Tongati Estuary, 29°45'59.99"S, 31°25'59.99"E; 110- 130 m. SAM_H784 (48 specimens): Eastern margin, 19 km from Shaka’s Rock / 3 km off Mdloti Estuary, 29°38'59.99"S, 31°07'59.99"E; 71- 73 m. SAM_H835 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 6 km from Kenton On Sea / 5 km off Boknes Estuary, 33°43'07.59"S, 26°37'37.95"E; 90 m. SAM_H1241 (6 specimens): Eastern margin, 2 km from Kei Mouth / 27 km off Groot Berg Estuary, 32°40'33.99"S, 28°22'50.99"E; 66 m. SAM_H1389 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 19 km from Shaka’s Rock / 3 km off Mdloti Estuary, 29°38'59.99"S, 31°07'59.99"E; 183 m. SAM_H1399 (3 specimens): Eastern margin, 39 km from Mtunzini / 8 km from Zinkwasi Estuary, 29°12'59.99"S, 31°30'00.00"E; 73 m. SAM_H1437 (45 specimens): Eastern margin, 2 km from Durban / 8 km off Umgeni Estuary, 29°52'00.00"S, 31°00'00.00"E; 99 m. SAM_H1442 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 6 km from Durban / 9 km from Umgeni Estuary, 29°52'59.99"S, 31°03'04.99"E; 86 m. SAM_H1452 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 113 km from Gonubie / 112 km off Gqunube Estuary, 33°43'00.00"S, 28°46'59.99"E; 90 m. SAM_H1456 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 9 km from Shaka’s Rock / 2 km off Tongati Estuary, 29°34'00.00"S, 31°10'59.99"E; 66 m. SAM_H1698 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 18 km from Cape Vidal / 27 km off Mfolozi Estuary, 28°16'18.00"S, 32°38'48.00"E; 670 m. SAM_H3096 (10 specimens): Eastern margin, 2 km from Durban / 8 km off Umgeni Estuary, 29°51'59.99"S, 31°00'00.00"E; 101 m. SAM_H3097 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 14 km from Cape Padrone / 26 km from Boknes Estuary, 33°45'59.99"S, 26°18'59.99"E; 115 m. SAM_H3846 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 34 km from Shaka’s Rock / off Tongati Estuary, 29°45'59.99"S, 31°25'59.99"E; 110- 130 m. USNM 91758 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 5 km from Cape Vidal / 16 km off St Lucia Estuary, 28°07'05.88"S, 32°36'35.99"E; 145 m.

Description.

Corallum (anthocyathus) medium to large, compressed conical, with a small open base. Calice elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.2-2.5), with smooth and slightly arched calicular margin. Basal scar 4.0 × 3.0 mm in diameter, with 12 complete septa originating from scar. Largest specimen examined (SAM_H3096) 25.0 × 10.0 mm in CD, and 10 mm in H. Theca glistening, may be encrusted or smooth, with longitudinal striae, and transverse corrugations. Thecal faces carinate, with angle of 45°. Anthocyathi have one to three pairs of thecal spines (SAMC_A090100). Thecal spines cylindrical in profile. Corallum white, with theca sometimes reddish brown.

Septa arranged in three size classes according to the formula: 20:20:38-40 (≤ 80 septa). Primary septa arched and concave at calicular margin, but have vertical and slightly sinuous axial margin that extend toward columella. Secondary septa ½ the width of primaries, being finely dentate near calicular margin and bearing moderately sinuous axial margin. Tertiary rudimentary. All septa non-exsert, but primaries may be slightly exsert in juvenile specimens. Septal faces bear blunt granules obliquely aligned in rows along septal margin. Fossa moderately deep with a rudimentary columella formed by lower axial margin of primary septa.

Distribution.

Regional: Southern to eastern margin of South Africa, off Stilbaai extending towards Cape Vidal; 55-670 m. Elsewhere: Mozambique ( Cairns and Keller 1993); Australia (Cairns 2004a); Philippines ( Cairns 1989a); Indonesia ( Cairns and Zibrowius 1997); New Caledonia ( Kitahara and Cairns 2021); Japan ( Cairns 1989a, 1999); 42-993 m.

Remarks.

Truncatoflabellum formosum superficially resembles T. multispinosum Cairns in Cairns and Keller 1993 in having a medium to large corallum, numerous septa, not rounded thecal margin, and having thecal spines. T. formosum can be differentiated in having less (≤ 2) carinate thecal spines. The species was first reported in South African territory by Cairns and Keller (1993), off the eastern margin of South Africa, and the material examined here extends regional distribution towards Still Bay (off the southern margin).

Figures

Figure 12. A, B Javania insignis (SAMC _ A 090116, off Port Dunford, 85 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, D Placotrochides scaphula (USNM 91772, off Scottburgh, 1360 m) C calicular view D calicular view E, H Rhizotrochus typus E, F (SAMC _ A 090094, off Coffee Bay, 160 m) E calicular view F lateral view G, H (SCD 39 B, off Coffee Bay, 160 m) G calicular view H lateral view I, J Truncatoflabellum formosum (SAM _ H 1389, off Shaka's Rock, 183 m) I calicular view J lateral view K, L Truncatoflabellum gardineri (SAM _ H 3847, off Shaka's Rock, 138 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N Truncatoflabellum inconstans (SAM _ H 1241, off Kei Mouth, 66 m) M calicular view N lateral view O, P Truncatoflabellum multispinosum (SAMC _ A 087450, locality data unknown) O calicular view P lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm.