Melithaea satsumaensis, Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015

Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015, Melithaeidae of Japan (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) re-examined with descriptions of 11 new species, ZooKeys 522, pp. 1-127 : 31-32

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea satsumaensis sp. n. Figures 75c, 82, 83, 86

Material examined.

Holotype RMNH Coel. 41936 (AKM 743), Off Sata-misaki Cape, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, 30°56.0025'N, 130°44.2299'E - 30°56.2953'N, 130°43.3981'E, 116-120 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT07-1 cruise, St. SM-1, Chain Bag Dredge, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 23 February 2007.

Description.

The holotype is a 16.5 cm long colony with holdfast (Fig. 75c). At the base the stem is 10 mm wide, the end branches are only 1 mm wide. On the lower half of the colony the polyps are situated on one side of the colony; the upper part has polyps all around the branches. The calyces are dome-shaped, and most polyps are expanded. Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.20 mm long, distal end with more developed tubercles (Fig. 82a). Collaret with bent spindles up to 0.30 mm long, middle part with more developed tubercles (Fig. 82b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped with irregular projections (Fig. 82c). These platelets are up to 0.15 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 82d). Coenenchyme with predominantly capstans (Fig. 82f), double disks (Fig. 82g), and unilaterally foliate spheroids (Fig. 83b), 0.05-0.15 mm long, and small clubs (Fig. 82h), up to 0.10 mm long. Spindles are also present, 0.10-0.25 mm long, with simple or complex tubercles (Fig. 83c). The calyces with additional clubs, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 83a). The axis has smooth and sparsely tuberculate rods (Fig. 82e).

Color.

Colony orange with yellow polyps, coenenchymal sclerites orange, polyp ones yellow.

Distribution.

Off Cape Sata misaki, Kagoshima Prefecture (Fig. 86).

Etymology.

The species is named after the type locality, Satsuma, the old name of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Remarks.

This species is unique by its unilaterally foliate spheroids and spindles with complex tubercles.