Hana, Lau, Yee Wah, Stokvis, Frank Robert, Ofwegen, Leendert Pieter van & Reimer, James Davis, 2018

Lau, Yee Wah, Stokvis, Frank Robert, Ofwegen, Leendert Pieter van & Reimer, James Davis, 2018, Stolonifera from shallow waters in the north-western Pacific: a description of a new genus and two new species within the Arulidae (Anthozoa, Octocorallia), ZooKeys 790, pp. 1-19 : 4

Genus Hana gen. n.

Type species.

Hana hanagasa , sp. n., by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Colony with polyps connected through flat and thin ribbon-like stolons. Anthocodiae (retractile portion of polyp) retract into cylindrical to clavate calyces. Tentacles are fused proximally, forming a broad, circular oral membrane. The oral membrane has eight deep furrows, which run from the intertentacular margin to the mouth of the polyp, giving it a plump appearance. Sclerites of anthocodia are rods. Sclerites of calyx are 6-radiates and table-radiates. The main difference between Hana and Arula is in sclerites found in the type species Hana hanagasa sp. n. and Arula petunia in the stolon. Sclerites of the stolon are fused sheets that form a flattened network of table-radiates in H. hanagasa , while in A. petunia they are similar to the separate table-radiates found in the calyx. Additionally, there is a difference in sizes of the table-radiates, being longer in H. hanagasa than in A. petunia . Sclerites colourless. Zooxanthellate.

Etymology.

From the Japanese language ‘hana’ (花), meaning flower; denoting the shape of the polyps, which resemble flowers. Gender: feminine.