Symplectoscyphus commensalis Vervoort, 1993

Fig. 17 F–G

Symplectoscyphus commensalis Vervoort, 1993: 247, figs 56C–F, 57, 58A–E.

Material examined

PACIFIC OCEAN • female colony with stems up to 1 cm high on stem of sertulariid hydroid; off New Caledonia, stn DW4670; 22°58′ S, 167°24′ E; 680– 612 m; 12 Aug. 2016; KANACONO leg.; one stem was used for DNA extraction, DNA 1389; voucher MHNG-INVE- 120850; barcode identifier MK 073103; MNHN-IK-2015-399 .

Remarks

A small species, with minute hydrothecae resembling those of S. ralphae Vervoort, 1993 through their shape and size (compare Fig. 17F with Galea 2016: fig 10Q–T). Unlike S. commensalis that forms irregularly-branched colonies (up to 2 nd order branches observed), the latter builds regularly-pinnate colonies. In addition, their respective gonothecae are different [compare Fig. 17G with Galea 2016: fig. 10U–V).

Distribution

Only known from off New Caledonia (Vervoort 1993; present study).