Melithaea modesta ( 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 : 24

Taxon classification Animalia Alcyonacea Melithaeidae

Melithaea modesta ( Kuekenthal, 1908) Figures 56b, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65

Acabaria modesta Kükenthal 1908: 197; 1909: 66, figs 73-75, pl. 5 fig. 30 (Sagami Bay, Japan); 1919: 183; 1924: 79; Hickson 1937: 181.

Not Melithaea modesta (Nutting, 1911) = Melithaea planoregularis ( Kükenthal, 1910).

Material examined.

Syntype ZMB 5807, Sagami Bay (Japan), 80-250 m (label 600 m), coll. Doflein 1904/05; previously unidentified museum material: ZMUC ANT-000595, Okinose, Sagami Sea, 60 fms (86-110 m), coll. Dr. Th. Mortensen, 11 June 1914; ZMUC ANT-000649, same data as ZMUC ANT-000595; UMUTZ-CnidG-19, Kashiwa-jima Is. Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, probably collected by K. Kinoshita during his Kashiwa-jima Is. Coral Ground Expedition, June 1909; UMUTZ-CnidG-27, coral ground, Uji Isls. Satsuma, Kanogshima Prefecture, Japan, ca. 80 fms (114-121 m), Kinoshita leg. coll. K. Kinoshita, June 1908; AKM 443, Sakai Port, Minabe, Wakayama Prefecture, ca. 33°7445'N, 135°3329'E, shallower than 100 m, lobster-net, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 1 April 2003; AKM 572, Otsuki, Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, 32°43'N, 132°48'E, 84.75-83.1 m, local fishermen’s boat, Kiryo-maru, coral net, st. 3, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 7 October 2004; AKM 740, off Sata-misaki Cape, Kagoshima Prefecture, 31°00.50'N, 130°35.09'E - 31°01.3211'N, 130°34.6509'E, 178-189 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT07-1, st. SM-2, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 23 February 2007; AKM 904, Hachijo Is. Izu Isls., 33°20.9082'N, 139°41.1841'E - 33°21.0775'N, 139°40.4931'E, 213-185 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT07-31, st. 14, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 26 November 2007; AKM 1575, Takase west, Izu Is., Japan, ca. 34°21'N, 138°52'E - 34°26'N, 139°07'E, 221-244 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT-87-19 cruise, St. TW02, large cylindrical dredge, coll. Suguru Ohta, 8 December1987; AKM 1594, SE off Taito-Saki, Boso, Chiba Prefecture, 35°05.086'N, 140°51.718'E - 35°04.176'N, 140°50.921'E, 975-1027 m, R/V Tansei-maru, KT03-17, St. TS6-3, 3 m ORE beam trawl, coll. Suguru Ohta, 17 November 2003; AKM 1601, Otsuki, Tosa, Kochi pref., 32°37.66'N, 132°50.44'E - 32°37.56'N, 132°47.88'E, 114 m, local fishermen’s boat, Kiryo-maru, St.1, coll. A.K. Matsumoto, 7 October 2004.

Re-description.

Colony branched in one plane with few anastomoses (Fig. 56b). Points with slightly bent spindles up to 0.25 mm long, distal end with more developed tubercles (Fig. 59a). Collaret with bent, rather smooth spindles up to 0.30 mm long, middle part with tubercles (Fig. 59b). Tentacles with platelets, the larger ones crescent-shaped (Fig. 59c). These platelets are up to 0.18 mm long. Pharynx with straight spiny rods, up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 59d). Coenenchyme with spindles 0.10-0.25 mm long (Fig. 60), with simple or complex tubercles. The axis has smooth and sparsely tuberculate rods (Fig. 59e).

Color.

Colony white, sclerites colorless.

Variation.

ZMUC ANT-000649 showed somewhat longer spindles, up to 0.40 mm long (Figs 61, 62).

Distribution.

Pacific side of Japan (Fig. 65); northern limit is Sagami Bay.

Remarks.

The species is easily recognized by its white colony color, rather smooth polyp sclerites, and presence of spindles only.