Hydractinia carolinae Fraser, 1912c

Hydractinia carolinae Fraser, 1912c: 351, figs. 9Α–C.

Syntypes. BCPM 976-00215-001: USA, North Carolina, off Beaufort, 14–15 May 1911, dredged by R/V Fish Hawk, on legs of crab; 60% IPA.

BCPM 976-00215-002: USA, North Carolina, Beaufort; slide.

Lectotype, by present designation. RBCM 976-00215-003: USA, North Carolina, about 37 km SW of Beaufort, depth 24–26 m, 14–15 May 1911, on leg of crab, dredge, R/ V Fish Hawk, one colony, in fair condition, with gonophores; 70% ethanol.

Paralectotypes. BCPM 976-00215-001: USA, North Carolina, off Beaufort, 14–15 May 1911, dredge, R/V Fish Hawk, several colonies or colony parts on legs of crab, some with gonophores; 60% IPA.

BCPM 976-00215-002: USA, North Carolina, one colony or colony part, Beaufort; slide.

Type locality. USA, North Carolina: about 37 km SW of Beaufort, depth 24–26 m, on a crab (Fraser 1912c).

Current status. Valid.

Remarks. According to Fraser (1912c), Hydractinia carolinae was described from hydroids occurring on the legs of a single crab, and all were female. Materials at the RBCM listed above (BCPM 976-00215-001; BCPM 976-00215-002) represent the original collection and constitute syntypes because the species was found in the type locality only once (Fraser 1944a). Indeed, all specimens may have originated from a single colony and represent parts of a holotype by monotypy (ICZN Art. 73.1.2). However, we have considered the fragments, on different legs, as syntypes and have designated a lectotype from one of them (ICZN Recommendation 73F). The best colony, or colony fragment, from BCPM 976-00215-001, has been selected as the lectotype (RBCM 976-00215-003). Other material assigned to the species in the Fraser Hydroid Collection at the RBCM (BCPM 976-00216-001, Puerto Rico, Culebra, 25 February 1934, 8-10 fm) (Arai 1977) is not part of the type series.

Hydractinia carolinae is held to be valid (Cairns et al. 2002; WoRMS).