Enallopsammia pusilla (Alcock, 1902)

Filander, Zoleka N., Kitahara, Marcelo V., Cairns, Stephen D., Sink, Kerry J. & Lombard, Amanda T., 2021, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa, ZooKeys 1066, pp. 1-198 : 1

Enallopsammia pusilla (Alcock, 1902)

Fig. 9H

Dendrophyllia (Coenopsammia) pusilla Alcock, 1902a: 113. - Alcock 1902c: 44, pl. 5, figs 38, 38A.

Dendrophyllia (Coenopsammia) profunda . - Alcock 1902c: 43.

Coenopsammia profunda . -von Marenzeller 1904a: 313-314, pl. 18, fig. 24.

Enallopsammia marenzelleri . -Zibrowius 1973: 49-51, pl. 1, figs 1-7. - Zibrowius 1980: 204-205.

Enallopsammi a sp. cf. E. marenzelleri . - Cairns 1982: 57-58, pl. 18, figs 5-6. - Cairns 1995: 128-129, pl. 44, figs G, H.

Enallopsammia pusilla . - Cairns and Zibrowius 1997: 194, fig. 29F. -Cairns 2004a: 316, fig. 12F, G.

Type locality.

Off Sulu Archipelago, Philippines (HMS ‘Siboga’ stn. 95: 5°43.5'00"N, 119°40'00"E); 522 m ( Alcock 1902a).

Type material.

The holotype and the paratypes are deposited at the ZMA ( Cairns and Zibrowius 1997).

Material examined.

DSCS_INV 34 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 140 km from Agulhas/ 144 km off Ratels Estuary, 36°02'29.58"S, 19°41'24.61"E; 445- 463 m. DSCS_INV 40 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 140 km from Agulhas/ 144 km off Ratels Estuary, 36°02'29.58"S, 19°41'24.61"E; 445- 463 m. DSCS_INV 42 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 140 km from Agulhas/ 144 km off Ratels Estuary, 36°02'29.58"S, 19°41'24.61"E; 445- 463 m. DSCS_INV 223 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 116 km from Gouritsmond/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m. DSCS_INV 225 (2 specimens): Southern margin, 116 km from Gouritsmond/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m. DSCS-INV 238 (1 specimen): Southern margin, 116 km from Gouritsmond/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m. SAMC_A090153 (1 specimen): 116 km from Knysna/off Goukamma Estuary, 35°07'11.34"S, 23°02'41.91"E; 333 m.

Description.

Irregularly shaped colonies formed by extra-tentacular budding, and firmly attached to substrate by an encrusting base. Buds projecting ≤ 3 mm above branch coenosteum. Corallites circular to slightly elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.0-1.1), calicular margin serrated. Costae well developed on entire branch, slightly convex, and covered with small granules. Intercostal striae deep, thin, and porous. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in three complete cycles according to the formula: S1-2 > S3 (24 septa in two size classes). S1 independent, narrow, extending closer to columella deep in fossa with smooth axial margins. S2 equal in width to S1, and bearing smooth upper axial margins that become finely serrated deep in fossa. S3 slightly less wide than S1-2, sometimes appearing rudimentary, and have dentate axial margins. S3 fuses to adjacent S2 near columella. Fossa deep, containing a spongy columella.

Distribution.

Regional: Southern margin of South Africa, extending from Agulhas towards Knysna; 333-463 m. Elsewhere: Philippines; Indonesia; South China Sea ( Alcock 1902a; Cairns and Zibrowius 1997); New Zealand ( Cairns 1995); Meteor Seamounts; Azores; Nicobar Islands ( Zibrowius 1980; Cairns 1982); Bay of Bengal (von Marenzeller 1904a); Australia (Cairns 2004a); 371-805 m.

Remarks.

The examined specimens of Enallopsammia pusilla represent a new record for the region, the species differing from its congeners in having three complete cycles, corallites forming on all branch faces, and well-developed costae throughout the corallum (Zibrowius 1973).

Figures

Figure 9. A, B Dendrophyllia sp. 1 (SAMC _ A 090158, off Knysna, 333 m A close-up calicular view B lateral view C, G Ednapsammia columnapriva sp. nov. C, D (SAM _ H 1441, off Mossel Bay, 212 m) C calicular view D lateral view E-G (SAMC _ A 090159, off Gouritsmond, 333 m) E calicular view F lateral view G calicular view H Enallopsammia pusilla (DSCS-INV 238, off Gouritsmond, 333 m): lateral view. I, J Enallopsammia rostrata (SAMC _ A 073270, off Port St Johns, 200 m) I close up calicular view J lateral view K, L Endopachys grayi (DEFF _ NANSEN-INV 32, off Shaka's Rock, 185 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N Endopsammia philippensis (DIIIb 1, off Durban, 442 m) M calicular view N lateral view O, P Heteropsammia cochlea (EIe 1, locality data unknown) O calicular view P lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A-C, E-I, K-P); 100 mm (D, J).