Melithaea doederleini, Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015

Matsumoto, Asako K. & van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2015, Melithaeidae of Japan (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) re-examined with descriptions of 11 new species, ZooKeys 522, pp. 1-127 : 13-16

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea doederleini sp. n. Figures 28a, 29, 30, 35

Material examined.

Holotype MZS-Cni61, Sagami Bay, 60-100 fms (143-183 m), coll. Doederlein, 1882.

Description.

Colony broken up, consisting of four fragments (Fig. 28a). Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.25 mm long, distal end with leaves (Fig. 29a). Collaret with bent spindles up to 0.30 mm long, middle part with more developed tubercles (Fig. 29b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped with irregular projections (Fig. 29c). These platelets are up to 0.15 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 29d). Coenenchyme with predominantly capstans (Fig. 30a), and small clubs resembling flower buds (Fig. 30b), up to 0.10 mm long. Spindles, 0.10-0.20 mm long, with simple tubercles, are also present. (Fig. 30c). The calyces with additional clubs, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 30d).

Color.

Colony fragments red, polyp sclerites light yellow, all others orange.

Distribution.

Sagami Bay (Fig. 35).

Etymology.

The species is named after the collector, Ludwig H.P. Döderlein.

Remarks.

The coenenchymal clubs of this species look like flower buds, similar to those described for Melitaea retifera Lamarck, 1916 by Ofwegen et al. (2000), but that species has unilaterally foliate spheroids, a type of sclerite not present in the present material.