Ceriantheomorphe adelita Lopes, Morandini & Stampar

Lopes, Celine S. S., Ceriello, Hellen, Morandini, Andre C. & Stampar, Sergio N., 2019, Revision of the genus Ceriantheomorphe (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Ceriantharia) with description of a new species from the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic, ZooKeys 874, pp. 127-148 : 127

Ceriantheomorphe adelita Lopes, Morandini & Stampar sp. nov. Fig. 9 A–B

Ceriantheomorphe brasiliensis Carlgren, 1931 (in part): 2-6; Carlgren and Hedgpeth 1952: 148, 169-170; Hedgpeth 1954: 286-290; Molodtsova 2009: 365-367; Stampar et al. 2010: 205-209; Spier et al. 2012: 1-3.

Material examined (3 specimens).

Holotype: USNM 50015 • adult individual, 19 cm long and 5.4-7.3 cm wide, Port Aransas, 32 km South off Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America, W. Close leg. 07/ix/1947 ( Fig. 9B ). Paratypes: USNM 50016 • damaged individual, Tamaulipas, Punta de Almagre to North of Hut’s Bayo, Pelican R/V exped. 17/iii/1949; USNM 51253 • damaged juvenile individual, 5.0-5.9 cm wide from Pass A’Loutre (22 m depth), Louisiana, United States of America, Oh Johnny R/V exped. 25/vi/1969 ( Fig. 9A ).

Diagnosis.

Large cerianthid, 19 cm long and 5.0-7.3 cm wide. 192-352 marginal tentacles (2.4-3.0 cm long in preserved animal) and 144 to 336 labial tentacles (0.5-2.0 cm long in preserved animal), both disposed in four cycles. Marginal tentacles arrangement: (0)1123.1122.1122.1123.1122 …, labial tentacles arrangement: (0)1123. 1122 … Siphonoglyph well-marked by two protuberant tissues. Three pairs of protomesenteries (directive mesenteries, P2 and P3), all connected to the siphonoglyph. Well distinct hyposulcus and hemisulci absent. Protomesenteries (P3) longer than metamesenteries (m). Ratio from 2.7-5.2% between metamesenteries (M × m) and 3% between betamesenteries (B × b). Directive mesenteries, P2 and P3, extend up to 30.5%, 92.5% and 56.4% of total gastrovascular cavity length, respectively. Cnidome ( Fig. 10 A–I , Table 4 ) composed of spirocysts, microbasic b-mastigophores (five types), atrichous (two types) and ptychocyst.

Etymology.

The specific name " adelita " is an allusion to an important group of women that fought during the Mexican Revolution. Occasionally, they adopted the identities of men to join in combat against the enemy.

Distribution.

Gulf of Mexico (Northern Mexico) to North Atlantic (North Carolina, United States of America), shallow waters.

Description of holotype.

USNM 50015, adult specimen, 19 cm long and 5.4-7.3 cm wide. 352 marginal tentacles (2.7 cm long in preserved animal) and 336 labial tentacles (2.0 cm long in preserved animal), both disposed in four cycles. Marginal tentacles arrangement: (0)1132.1122.1123.1122.1122 …, labial tentacles arrangement (0)1122.1122 … Directive tentacle absent. Pharynx occupies about 21% of entire body length, siphonoglyph well-marked by two lateral protuberances. Three pairs of mesenteries connected to the siphonoglyph. Gastrovascular cavity taking up to 56% of total body length. Mesenteric filaments of almost the same length of mesenteries; with craspedonemes only in the initial part of the gastrovascular cavity. Distinct hyposulcus and hemisulci absent. Fertile mesenteries, except for the directives. About 236 mesenteries arranged in M,B,m,b ( Fig. 11 ). Directive mesenteries longer than betamesenteries (b and B) and metamesenteries (m). Protomesenteries (P2) extend to aboral pore. Protomesenteries (P3) longer than directive mesenteries, betamesenteries (B and b) and metamesenteries (m). Ratio from 2.7-5.2% between metamesenteries (M × m) and 3% between betamesenteries (B × b). Directive mesenteries and P3 extend up to 30.5%, and 56.4% of total gastrovascular cavity length, respectively, while protomesenteries (P2) occupy 92.5%. Cnidome composed of microbasic b-mastigophores (five types), atrichous (two types) and ptychocyst ( Fig. 10 A–I , Table 4 ).

Figures

Figure 9. Specimens of Ceriantheomorphe adelita sp. nov. A Damaged specimen USNM 51253 from Louisiana B holotype specimen USNM 50015 from Corpus Christi (USA).

Figure 10. Cnidome of Ceriantheomorphe adelita sp. nov. holotype. A Atrichous B ptychocyst type I C holotrich D ptychocyst type II E microbasic b-mastigophore type I F microbasic b-mastigophore type II G microbasic b-mastigophore type III H microbasic b-mastigophore type IV I microbasic b-mastigophore type V. Scale bars: 15 µm.

Figure 11. Mesenteries arrangement of Ceriantheomorphe adelita sp. nov. MT Marginal tentacles LT Labial tentacles M and m Metamesenteries B and b Betamesenteries.