Javania erhardti, Cairns, 2004

Cairns, Stephen D., 2004, A New Shallow-Water Species Of Javania (Scleractinia: Flabellidae) From Indonesia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (1), pp. 7-10 : 7-8

Javania erhardti , new species

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Material Examined. – Holotype - Komodo National Park , Island Rinca, Canibal Rock, 42 m, 14 Sep.2002, USNM 1010480 .

Paratypes – Komodo National Park , Island Rinca, Canibal Rock, 37-44 m, 6-14 Sep.2002, 10 dry coralla, USNM 1010481-1010490 ; Komodo National Park , Island Rinca, Canibal Rock, 40 m, 8 Sep.2002, 1 dry corallum, National Museum Natural History, Leiden Coel. 32151 ; Komodo National Park , Island Rinca, Canibal Rock, 35 m, 5 Sep.2002, 1 dry corallum, ZRC 2003.0100 ; Komodo National Park , Nusa Kode, 35-39 m, 9-12 Sep.2002, 5 coralla (4 dry, 1 in ethanol), USNM 1010491-1010494 .

Description. – Corallum trochoid, straight, firmly attached through a thick pedicel, and having a slightly flared calicular edge. Calice highly elliptical, having a GCD:LCD of 1.67- 1.96-2.27. Holotype 35.7 x 20.15 mm in CD, 36.8 mm in height, and 18.3 mm in greater pedicel diameter. Largest specimen (USNM 1010491) 44.0 x 19.7 mm in CD and 36.5 mm in height. Calicular edge highly serrate (jagged), a tall, acute, triangular apex corresponding to each S1-3; a shorter and less acute apex corresponds to each S4; S5-6 not exsert. Theca relatively smooth and white; however, it is often encrusted with a variety of attached invertebrates (e.g., bryozoans, serpulids, large foraminifera, boring and encrusting sponges), which sometime confer a rough and even coloured (e.g., rose, red, even green) tint to the theca and septa. Polyps have white tentacle tips, but remainder of tentacles and polyp body is light orange ( Fig. 1 ). Pedicel quite thick, often half the diameter of the calice, produced by successive layers of tectura, in one specimen eight layers present in a calicular radius of 10 mm ( Figs. 2E, H ). Although these tectural layers are quite dense, the pedicels are usually extensively excavated by boring sponges, resulting in a very porous or loculated base (see Remarks).

Septa hexamerally arranged in six complete cycles (192 septa) according to formula: S1-3>>S4>S5>S6; coralla less than 25 mm GCD often lack pairs of S6, and the holotype lacks two pairs if S6, resulting in only 188 septa. S1-3 highly exsert as much as 4.9 mm, having straight, slightly concave axial edges that meet with the rudimentary columella low in fossa. S4 less exsert (1.3-2.3 mm), about one-third width of the S1- 3, and have slightly sinuous axial edges that do not quite merge with the columella. S5 non-exsert, about half width of an S4, often curving slightly toward their adjacent S 1-3 in upper calice, extending only about half the distance down the fossa. S6 also non-exsert, rudimentary, often attached to the sides of their adjacent S1-3 near calicular edge. Fossa deep and elongate, containing a rudimentary trabecular columella that merges with the lower axial edges of the S1- 3.

Distribution. – Known only from Komodo National Park, Flores Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia; 35- 44 m.

Remarks. – Among the 13 species of Javania (See Table 1, Key), Javania erhardti is unique in having six cycles of septa in its adult stage. It is also unique in having a slight concavity on the axial margins of the S1-2 and a rudimentary columella.

Its loculated base is distinctive, but at least one other species, J. cailleti , appears to have a similar symbiosis.

The pedicel region of most coralla is permeated with numerous closely adjacent cavities 1.5-3.4 mm in diameter, which are interconnected by slender tubes 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter ( Figs. 2D, G ), these tubes also communicating to the exterior theca as circular pores of the same diameter that are flush with the thecal surface or have slightly raised rims (e.g., 0.3 mm)( Fig. 2F ). Sponge spicules are usually found in these cavities and tubes. The cavities are some numerous and closely spaced, producing a loculated region of low density, in contrast to the rather high density of an unaffected tectura-reinforced pedicel.

Etymology. – Named in honour of Dr. Harry Erhardt, natural history photographer and naturalist, who first discovered and collected this colourful species.

Figures

Fig. 1. Javania erhardti, in situ photograph of paratype from Canibal Rock, Isla Rinca (USNM 1010487), x 1.75 (Photo by Harry Erhardt).

Fig. 2. Javania erhardti, A-C, F, holotype; D, G, paratype from Canibal Rock, 43 m, USNM 1010489; E, H, paratype from Canibal Rock, 44 m, USNM 1010485; I, paratype from Canibal Rock, 42 m, USNM 1010483: A, B, calicular and oblique calicular views, x 1.75; C, edge view of holotype, x 2.25; D, G, broken corallum showing loculated basal region caused by boring sponges, x 1.75, 3.0, respectively; E, H, cross section of a base showing small canals connecting sponge chambers and concentric bands of tectura, x 1.75 x 4.4, respectively; F, upper theca showing efferent pores of boring sponges, x 1.75; I, calicular view, x 1.6.