Leptogorgia violacea ( Pallas, 1766 )

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 : 802-804

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930903441160
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/554D1963-FFD4-FFD5-FE70-F6F90EAB65F8
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Leptogorgia violacea ( Pallas, 1766 )
status

Treatment

Leptogorgia violacea ( Pallas, 1766) View in CoL

( Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 16B,B′ View Figure 16 , 18)

For the synonymy previous to 1961, see Lophogorgia violacea in Bayer (1961: 199, text-fig. 59a–i, pl. VII, figs. 1–3).

Lophogorgia violacea: Tixier-Durivault 1970: 158 View in CoL .

Diagnosis

Colonies deep violet red, dichotomously branching (rarely irregularly pinnate), small, with relatively long, flexible branches. Coenenchymal mounds almost absent, on opposite sides of branchlets. Spicules of coenenchymal cortex mostly as blunt capstans. Anthocodial armature poorly developed, with colourless rods in eight longitudinal series; each series with sclerites in single or double rows. Neck zone conspicuous and free of sclerites. Coenenchymal sclerites: red. Anthocodial rods colour: colourless (emended from Bayer 1961: 199, because of a larger series of specimens studied – see Remarks).

Description

Colonies dichotomously branching (rarely irregularly pinnate), with long, flexible, upward curving branches ( Figure 16B View Figure 16 ). Branch thickness decreases gradually from colony basis to apex (basis 2–3 mm, terminal twigs 0.6–1.2 mm). Polyps in irregular rows along the whole colony, approximately on opposite sides of the distal part of branches ( Figure 16B′ View Figure 16 ). Coenenchymal mounds low or almost absent. Areas free of polyps between rows may show longitudinal groove on lower parts of the colony. Outer layer of coenenchyme mostly with blunt capstans (0.06–0.09 mm long) ( Figure 18C View Figure 18 ). Axial sheath with girdled spindles (commonly 0.12 mm long) ( Figure 18D View Figure 18 ). Anthocodial armature with few sclerites, arranged in eight longitudinal series on body wall (equivalent to points), usually single or double ( Figure 18A View Figure 18 ); no collaret; no sclerites on tentacles; neck zone conspicuous. Anthocodial sclerites as flattened rods, with irregularly dented margins and spatulate ends (usually 0.06 mm long and up to 0.07 mm long) ( Figure 18B View Figure 18 ). Colonies up to 122 mm high, 94 mm wide and 7 mm deep. Colony colour: deep violet red. Coenenchymal sclerites: red. Anthocodial rods colour: colourless.

Material

Brazil: Espírito Santo (MNRJ 02715, 02722, 00368, 00634, 03969); Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ 5067, 5073, 5076, 5081; USNM 17329, 50225).

Type depository

As with other types from Pallas, it is probably lost (see remarks on missing Pallas’ types in Simpson 1910); Deichmann 1936: 79–80; 159–160; 178–179; 181–183; 198; 201; 212–213; 259; 262).

Type locality

“Mare Americanum” ( Pallas 1766).

Geographic distribution

Eastern coast of Brazil (Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro States) ( Figure 1 View Figure 1 ) .

Remarks

This is a poorly known species. It has been illustrated before only by Esper (1796: pl. 43) and Bayer (1961: text-fig. 59a–i, pl. VII, figs, 1, 3). The description by Bayer (1961) was based on two lots (three specimens). A larger series of specimens showed that his description was not representative of the species. The diagnosis is hereby thoroughly emended.