Muriceopsis sulphurea (Donovan, 1825)

Castro, C. B., Medeiros, M. S. & Loiola, L. L., 2010, Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Brazilian reefs, Journal of Natural History 44 (13 - 14), pp. 763-827 : 830-831

Muriceopsis sulphurea (Donovan, 1825)

Material

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Beach (identified by F.M. Bayer) ( USNM 51931, 2– 10 feet; USNM 52031, 4 feet; USNM 52193, USNM 52194). Santa Lucia (Antilles): ‘Gros Inlet’ (identified by F.M. Bayer) [ USNM 51416 – Smithsonian Bredin Expedition, Station 64–59 (10–12 feet)]. Brazil: Paraíba, Cabedelo – Poço Beach ( MNRJ 00455, 00457, UFPb 296), Tambaú – Seixas Point ( MNRJ 00456, 0.5 m, UFPb 396); Alagoas, Maragogi ( MNRJ 00520); Bahia, Mata de São João – Forte Beach ( MNRJ 02788), Mar Grande [identified by R. Rathbun as Muricea humilis (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857) and by F.M. Bayer as Muriceopsis sulphurea (Donovan, 1825) ] ( USNM 5289, 5290, 5301, YPM 4510 – holotype of Muricea acropora Verrill, 1912 ), Morro de São Paulo ( MSP) – ‘Costão do Forte’ ( MNRJ 01989, 01990), MSP – Caitá Island, off Terceira Praia ( MNRJ 01395), Abrolhos Reefs [identified by A.E. Verrill, in 1912, as Muricea humilis (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857) variety humilis ] ( YPM 1515a-b) [identified by A.E. Verrill, in 1912, as Muricea humilis (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857) variety mutans – used to describe the ‘new variety’] ( YPM 1515c) [identified by A.E. Verrill, in 1912, as Muricea humilis (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857) variety macra – used to describe the ‘new variety’] ( YPM 1515d), Popa Verde Reef ( MNRJ 02585), Parcel das Paredes (UFPb 277, 288), Abrolhos Archipelago (AA) ( MNRJ 02739, 10 m), AA – Santa Bárbara Island ( MNRJ 00450), AA – off east side of Sueste Island (UFPb 293), AA – off south side of Sueste Island (UFPb 281), AA – off south side of Redonda Island (UFPb 284), AA – ‘chapeirão’ 4 miles west of Redonda Island ( MNRJ 02236, 14 m), Parcel dos Abrolhos (PA) ( MNRJ 04588, 04591, 04592, 04594, 04597, all lots 17°58′ S, 038°39′ W), PA – nearby ‘Rosalinda’ ( MNRJ 00451, 4–6 m; UFPb 285), PA – Sebastião Gomes Reef ( MNRJ 04593, 04595, 04596), Nova Viçosa – Coroa Vermelha Reef ( MNRJ 02725, 02835, MNRJ 04310, 17°57′ S, 39°13′ W), Viçosa Reef ( MNRJ 02197, 02200); Espírito Santo, Vila Velha – Costa Beach ( MNRJ 00458, 2 m), Guarapari (G) ( MNRJ 00449, MNRJ 00452, 0.5 m), G – ‘Três Ilhas’ ( MNRJ 00447, 3 m; MNRJ 00453, 3 m), G – Setiba Beach ( MNRJ 00459, 1–2 m), G – ‘Três Praias’ ( MNRJ 00454, 2–3 m), G – Castanheiras Beach ( MNRJ 00448, 1 m; MNRJ 00637), Meaípe ( MNRJ 00640), Ubú – Parati Beach ( MNRJ 01144), Piúma – Francês Island ( MNRJ 01143), Itapemirim ( MNRJ 02262, 21°18′ S, 040°28′ W, 20 m); Rio de Janeiro, São João da Barra – ‘Baixio dos Moleques’, off the mouth of Itabapoana River ( MNRJ 00460, 1.5–4 m).

Comparative material

Muriceopsis petila Bayer, 1961 – USA: Florida, off Fernandina ( USNM 50382 , 30°58′30″ N, 079°38′30″ W – Holotype, ‘Albatross’, Sta. 2668).