Deltocyathus sp.

Reyes, Javier, Santodomingo, Nadiezhda & Cairns, Stephen, 2009, Caryophylliidae (Scleractinia) from the Colombian Caribbean, Zootaxa 2262 (1), pp. 1-39 : 16-17

Deltocyathus sp. cf. D. italicus ( Michelotti, 1838)

Figs. 3E–F

? Turbinolia italica Michelotti, 1838: 51 , pl. 1, fig. 8.

Deltocyathus agassizii Pourtalès, 1871: 15 (in part); 1878: 200 (in part).— Moseley, 1876: 546, 551 (in part).— Boone, 1928: 8.

Deltocyathus italicus Pourtalès, 1880: 101 (in part: variety agassizii ), pl. 1, figs. 2–3.— Moseley, 1881: 145–147 (in part).— Marenzeller, 1904: 281 (in part).— Gravier, 1920: 34–36 (in part).— Keller, 1975: 177, pl. 2, figs. 1–4b.— Cairns, 1977b: 5; 1978a: 11; 1979: 95–97, pl. 17, figs. 1–3.—Lattig, 2000:127–127, fig. 68.— Kitahara, 2007: 502– 503, fig. 3E.— Santodomingo et al., 2007: 286 (listed).

Remarks: This species has sharp conical base. Deltas at S2-S3 and S3-S4 junctions are robust; S3-S4 junctions reach the axial edge of P3. In small specimens, P2 were relatively larger than in the bigger ones, because the pali are absorbed or reduced by increasing the size of the S2-S3 delta junctions during the corallite growth. This species could be also distinguished from other Atlantic Deltocyathus by its bigger columella in relation to the GCD.

Distribution: Western Atlantic, from Florida to Rio de Janeiro; Eastern Atlantic, from the Gulf of Gascony to the Gulf of Guinea; 403–2600 m depth ( Cairns 1979; Zibrowius 1980). In Colombia, D. italicus have been found from La Guajira Peninsula to off San Bernardo Islands; 296–500 m depth.

Material: INV CNI381 , 1 specimen , E76; INV CNI710 , 7 specimens , E142; INV CNI711 , 8 specimens , E142; INV CNI712 , 1 specimen , E150; INV CNI713 , 2 specimens , E143; INV CNI714 , 1 specimen , E143; INV CNI715 , 1 specimen , E151.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A, Cladocora arbuscula, INV CNI215, off Santa Marta (Cinto Bay), colony, x 1.5; B, Polycyathus mayae, INV CNI797, off San Bernardo Islands, oblique lateral view, x 10; C–D, Deltocyathus calcar, D17 MARCORAL, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 4.4; E–F, Deltocyathus sp. cf. D. italicus, INV CNI711, off Cartagena, lateral and calicular views, both x 3; G–H, Deltocyathus eccentricus, INV CNI721, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and lateral views, both x 4.2; I–J, Stephanocyathus (S.) diadema, INV CNI329, off Gulf of Uraba, calicular and basal views, both x 0.7; K–L, Stephanocyathus (S.) paliferus, INV CNI388, off Barranquilla, calicular and basal views, both x 1; M–N, Stephanocyathus (O.) coronatus INV CNI324, Venezuela, Cariaco Basin, calicular and lateral views, both x 1; O–P, Stephanocyathus (S.) isabellae INV CNI694, holotype, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 2.6; Q–R, Stephanocyathus (S.) isabellae, INV CNI2076, paratype, off San Bernardo Islands, calicular and basal views, both x 2.7; S, Thalamophyllia riisei, INV CNI676, off San Bernardo Islands, branching pattern, x 1.4; T, Eusmilia fastigiata; colony from calicular view, x 0.9. Scale bars for A, I–T = 1 cm; C–H = 5 mm; B = 1 mm.