Parazoanthus sp. 3

Reimer, James D., Poliseno, Angelo & Hoeksema, Bert W., 2014, Shallow-water zoantharians (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia) from the Central Indo-Pacific, ZooKeys 444, pp. 1-57 : 18-19

Taxon classification Animalia Zoantharia Parazoanthidae

22. Parazoanthus sp. 3 Figures 18C, D, 19

Specimens examined

(n=2). RMNH Coel 40525, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.100, east of Komodo Island (08°28.6'S, 119°37.3'E), depth 91 m, collected on September 19, 1984 by rectangular dredge; RMNH Coel 40545, Snellius–II Expedition station 4.051, east of Melolo, northeast Sumba (09°53.5'S, 120°42.7'E), depth 75-90 m, collected on September 13, 1984 by rectangular dredge.

Photographic records.

NA.

Description.

This putative azooxanthellate species is similar in size to Parazoanthus sp. 2 above, with polyps of average 6.1 mm in height (range 2.5 to 10 mm; n=2 colonies) and average width of 3.2 mm (range 2 to 4 mm). Some small dark incrustations visible on lower half (=aboral) of polyps’ scapus. Approximately 20 capitulary ridges, indicating tentacle counts of approximately 40. Polyps range from cream (RMNH Coel 40525) to tan (RMNH Coel 50545) in color when preserved. Polyps arise from a well-developed stoloniferous coenenchyme in rows, with most found along the upper and outer edges of flat, paddle-shaped sponges (Figures 18C, D). No polyps found on the lower ‘foot’ or ‘stalk’ of sponges.

Distribution.

Regions recorded in this study (Figure 19). Northeast Sumba (6), Komodo Island (8).

Past records. NA.

Remarks.

Similar in size to Parazoanthus sp. 2 above, we have included these two specimens as a separate putative species in this study. This is partly due to specimens being in association with a different sponge species (compare Figures 18B, C), as host specificity may differ between species (e.g. Crocker and Reiswig 1981; Swain and Wulff 2007). As well, Parazoanthus sp. 3 specimens are from deeper depths (75 to 91 m as opposed to 20 to 50 m) than Parazoanthus sp. 2.