Oxysmilia rotundifolia ( Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848 )

Reyes, Javier, Santodomingo, Nadiezhda & Cairns, Stephen, 2009, Caryophylliidae (Scleractinia) from the Colombian Caribbean, Zootaxa 2262 (1), pp. 1-39 : 22

Oxysmilia rotundifolia ( Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848)

Figs. 4B–C

Lophosmilia rotundifolia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848: 247 , pl. 5, figs. 3–3a.

Oxysmilia rotundifolia Duchassaing, 1870: 27 .— Cairns, 1979: 73–75, pl. 10, figs. 7–9, pl. 11, figs. 1–4, Map 16 (description and synonymy).— Fricke & Meischner, 1985: 183, fig. 11b.— Rezak et al., 1985: 225 (listed).—Prahl & Erhardt, 1989: 544–545.— Cairns et al., 1991: 47 (listed).— Cairns et al., 1994: 6–7.— Reyes et al., 2005: 324 (listed).— Santodomingo et al., 2007: 286 (listed).

Remarks: The examined specimens fit in all aspects to the previous species description ( Cairns 1979; 2000), but they have no traces of P3 development. O. rotundifolia is the largest attached corallum that has been collected in the Colombian Caribbean, although it is not abundant. Only few samples (two) were collected with living tissue off Gulf of Morrosquillo at 155–160 m depth. Colombian specimens resemble in shape to some individuals collected in Guyana, USNM 61887 ( Guyana) and USNM 61874 (French Guyana).

Distribution: Tropical western Atlantic, from Onslow Bay (North Carolina) to Surinam, including the Caribbean and the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico; from 46 to 640 m depth ( Cairns 1979; 2000). In Colombia, it is known from San Andres Archipelago, off Santa Marta and off San Bernardo-Rosario Islands, between 100 and 238 m depth.

Material: USNM 61879 , O-4904; USNM 61876 , 2 specimens , O-4832; USNM 61880 ; INV CNI326 , 1 specimen [voucher from USNM 61876 ], O-4832; INV CNI684 , 1 specimen , E156; INV CNI685 , 1 specimen , E156; INV CNI686 , 2 specimens , E155; INV CNI687 , 14 specimens , E155; INV CNI688 , 2 specimens , E122; INV CNI2400 , 3 specimens , C1; INV CNI2431 , 2 specimens , E246; INV CNI2437 , 1 specimen , C2; INV CNI2454 , 3 specimens , C3; INV CNI2467 , 3 specimens , E246; INV CNI2508 , 2 specimens , D3; INV CNI2518 , 5 specimens , D12; INV CNI2534 , 1 specimen , D28; INV CNI2714 , 1 specimen , D37; INV CNI2738 , 1 specimen , D38; INV CNI2843 , 1 specimen , D15; INV CNI2894 , 12 specimens , C2; INV CNI2909 , 1 specimen , C3.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A, Lophelia pertusa, INV CNI396, off La Guajira (Honda Bay), colony fragments, x 1; B–C, Oxysmilia rotundifolia, INV CNI687, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and lateral views, both x 1.1; D–E, Colangia immersa, INV CNI683, off La Guajira (Punta Gallinas), calicular and lateral views, both x 3; F–G, Phyllangia americana americana, INV CNI274, off La Guajira (Caricari Point), colony from calicular and oblique views, both x 2; H–I, Rhizosmilia maculata, INV CNI178, off Santa Marta, calicular and lateral views, both x 3.6; J–K, Phacelocyathus flos, INV CNI2940, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and lateral views, both x 3.6; L–M, Anomocora fecunda INV CNI2897 off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and lateral views, x 3.2, x 1, respectively; N–O, Anomocora prolifera, INV CNI2725, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular view showing rejuvenescence stage and lateral view, both x 4.4; P–Q, Anomocora marchadi, INV CNI2303, off La Guajira, calicular and lateral views, both x 3.6; R, Coenosmilia arbuscula, INV CNI855, off San Bernardo Islands, branching pattern, x 1.5; S–T, Heterocyathus antoniae, paratype, INV CNI2076, off Manaure, calicular and lateral views, both x 4.5; U–W, Heterocyathus antoniae, INV CNI740, holotype, off Santa Marta (Neguanje Bay): U, basal view showing sipunculid holes, V, calicular view, and W, lateral view, all x 4.5. Scale bars for A–C, M, R = 1 cm; D–L, N–Q, S–W = 5 mm.