Sertularella fuegonensis El Beshbeeshy, 1991

Galea, Horia R., 2007, Hydroids and hydromedusae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the fjords region of southern Chile, Zootaxa 1597 (1), pp. 1-116 : 60-62

Sertularella fuegonensis El Beshbeeshy, 1991

(fig. 14D–F, table 21)

Sertularella fuegonensis El Beshbeeshy, 1991: 163 , fig. 41.

Sertularella picta: Vervoort, 1972a: 114 , fig. 35A–B (not figs 34, 35C).

Sertularella fuegonesis: Vervoort & Watson, 2003: 161 , fig. 37A–B.

Material examined. Stn. CVI — 06.iii.2006, S142 (15–25 m): several sterile fragments, up to 6 cm high ( MHNG INVE 53441 ); S143 (15 m): one colony ca 6 cm high, and smaller fragments, all sterile ( MHNG INVE 53447 ) .

Type locality. Atlantic coast of South America, roughly between 41°37'– 53°27' S , 58°46'– 68°13' W.

Description. Colonies arising from a rhizoid stolon; monosiphonic throughout. Perisarc relatively thick and transparent. Stem and branches slightly geniculate; divided into internodes by weak, oblique constrictions of perisarc, sloping in alternate directions. Internodes relatively short, about the length of hydrotheca; internodes slightly longer on side branches than on caulus. Stem irregularly branched, with side branches arising every 1 to 10 hydrothecae; branches directed upwards and originating below stem hydrothecae, the latter thus becoming axillar; side branches generally alternate. First internode of side branch longer than others. Hydrothecae biseriate, alternately directed left and right, coplanar. Basal part of hydrotheca obviously swollen on adcauline side; with sub-terminal constriction. Free adcauline wall S-shaped; surface smooth, sometimes slightly undulated; longer than adnate part. Hydrothecal aperture facing upwards. Perisarc of abcauline side thicker than on adcauline side, and more thickened at rim. Hydrothecal margin with four unequally developed cusps, with abcauline longest the adcauline shortest and two laterals of intermediate length. Marginal cusps with pointed tips, separated by deep, rounded embayments. Three internal projection of perisarc are visible just below hydrothecal aperture: one well-developed on abcauline side and two slightly visible laterally. Hydrothecal rim with up to 4 closely-spaced renovations. Margin provided with four triangular flaps; each renovation of margin with its own triangular flap, so that several piled up flaps per embayment present. Gonothecae absent.

Remarks. The gonotheca of this species still remains to be discovered.

Hydroid epibionts. Bimeria vestita Wright, 1859 ; Halecium delicatulum Coughtrey, 1876 ; Clytia linearis ( Thornely, 1900) .

World distribution. Tierra del Fuego ( Vervoort 1972a, El Beshbeeshy 1991), New Zealand ( Vervoort & Watson 2003).

Records from Chile. This species was present at only one station, from Canal Vicuña, in material examined here. This is the first record for Chile.