Melithaea habereri ( Kuekenthal , 1908)

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 : 17

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea habereri ( Kuekenthal, 1908)

Acabaria habereri : Kükenthal 1908: 197; Kükenthal 1909: 65, figs 70-72, pl. 5 fig. 29 (Sagami Bay, Japan); Kükenthal 1919: 179; Kükenthal 1924: 76.

Acabaria aff. habereri : Aurivillius 1931: 26, fig. 4 (Sagami Bay, 700 m).

Acabaria harbereri [sic]: Hickson 1937: 177.

? Acabaria habereri : Rho et al. 1980: 52 (Korea Strait).

Material examined.

None, according to Kükenthal (1908) the material was deposited in München but it was not found there.

Re-description

- after Kükenthal (1908): Colony branched in parallel planes, many anastomoses. Points and collaret sclerites 0.18 mm long, point sclerites are spiny clubs. Colony with spindles, in the calyx 0.15-0.18 mm long, in the coenenchyme about 0.18 mm long.

Color.

Yellowish orange.

Remarks.

According to Kükenthal (1908) this species mostly resembles Melithaea undulata . From the description it most resembles Melithaea corymbosa . One other Japanese melithaeid shows many anastomoses, namely Melithaea boninensis sp. n. For differences see our discussion on that species.