Telopathes cf. magna MacIsaac & Best, 2013

Lima, Manuela M., Cordeiro, Ralf T. S. & Perez, Carlos D., 2019, Black Corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic, Zootaxa 4692 (1), pp. 1-67 : 43-46

Telopathes cf. magna MacIsaac & Best, 2013

Fig. 23 , 24

Telopathes magna MacIsaac et al., 2013: 237–258 ; figs: 2–7.

Type and type locality. NSMC 17671 (holotype): New Scotia , Canadá, 44º25’41.153”N, 57º10’23.981”E, 1073 m ; YPM–35975 (paratype): New England Seamounts , 39º52’59.999”N, 67º27’59.976”E, 1195–1402 m ; University of Lousiana at Lafayette: BAL10–1 (paratype): New England Seamounts , 39º21’21.888”N, 65º21’34.488”E, 1865 m ; YPM–35498 (paratype): New England Seamounts , 39º48’34.74”N, 66º14’57.192”E, 1983 m ; MIL 112–1 (paratype): Corner Rise Seamounts , 34º48’44.28”N, 50º30’13.68”E, 1310 m ; REH 103–1 : New England Seamounts , 37º27’38.376”N, 59º57’4.788”E, 1909 m .

Material examined. Brazil, off São Paulo; 26º25’0.001”S, 45º43’59.988”W; depth: 887 m. Date: 07/2002. Collection: Mar Salada; Obs: PROA donation (P.R.Pezzuto). Alcohol 70% ( MNRJ 6582 , 1 fragment) .

Diagnosis. “Stem largely pinnulate, colony sparsely branched to the second order, primary branches not restricted to one plane, branches directed distally and curving outward. Pinnules arranged in two anterolateral rows, in alternate or subopposite arrangement, but occasionally with two pinnules in a row on one side. Internal angle of approximately 70º between opposite pairs of pinnules on the primary branch collected. Pinnules directed distally at an angle from the axis of the branch. Pinnules long, up to approximately 30 cm on the stem, 18 cm on primary branches, and 9 cm on secondary branches, decreasing notably in length near branch tips. Primary branch has an average 2.8 pinnules per cm, spaced 0.8–1.0 cm apart in each row. Secondary branches have 2–3 pinnules per cm, spaced 0.7–0.8 cm apart in each row. Proximal sections on both secondary branches without pinnules, or very sparsely pinnulated. Primary branch sparsely populated with polyps, with some spaces between pinnules devoid of polyps. In contrast, secondary branches have 1–2 polyps between pinnules. Polyps arranged uniserially, with densities of 0–1 polyps per cm on the primary branches, and 1–2 polyps per cm on the secondary branches and pinnules. Polyps are 4.0– 7.1 mm in transverse diameter on the fragment. Skeletal spines simple, smooth, compressed laterally, conical or sometimes curved, in which case they are generally directed proximally. Spines are 0.019 –0.068 mm tall; 0.012 –0.041 mm in transverse diameter at their base. Spines on the polypar sides of the pinnules are slightly larger than on the abpolypar side: 0.029 –0.068 mm and 0.019 –0.061 mm, respectively. This characteristic is difficult to observe with a dissecting scope, though the discrepancy is more pronounced in the juvenile specimen. Number of spines in each row 2–6 per mm.” ( MacIsaac et al., 2013).

Description of Brazilian specimen. Fragment (MNRJ 6582) monopodial and pinnulate, with pinnules arranged in two rows, without basal portion ( Fig. 23a ). Damaged and broken pinnules on one side of the coral ( Fig. 23b ). Fragment height of approximately 32 cm, and stem thickness of 4.62 mm. Pinnules organized bilaterally in subopposite pairs, but sometimes alternately. Pinnules with a length between 30 and 93 mm. Approximate distance between cycle of pinnules 3–6 mm. Internal angle between pinnules of opposite rows varying from 100° to 130°. Pinnulated branch arising approximately 23 cm from the most basal end of the fragment 3.2 cm in length. Thickness of the branch at the proximal end 1.3 mm. Spines arranged in 5 to 8 regular rows in lateral view ( Fig. 23c ). Spines on pinnules triangular, smooth, with rounded apex, occasionally with bifurcated apex ( Fig. 23d ). Size of spines 0.029 to 0.100 mm. Width at the base of the spines between 0.03–0.15 mm. Distance between spines of the same row from 0.11–0.33 mm. Density of spines in the same row usually around 6 per millimeter (range 3–7 per millimeter).

Remarks. The material described here is severely damaged, with pinnulation on one side of the coral completely absent, and pinnules broken at the base. The basal disc is absent, and the pinnules on the branches also have a broken top. The tissue, although still present, did not present preserved polyps. The material studied here resembles Telopathes magna MacIsaac & Best, 2013 in the organization of the pinnules, in two bilateral rows, in subopposition or occasionally alternate, with branches following the same pattern of pinnulation. The spines described here also resemble in shape and number of rows the material of the type series of T. magna (see figure 7 of MacIsaac et al., 2013). However, the studied sample has slightly larger spines and with a larger base than that reported for Telopathes magna (0.019 –0.068 mm high and 0.012 –0.048 mm wide at the base in T. magna , against 0.029 –0.100 mm high and 0.03 to 0.15 mm wide at the base described herein).

Distribution. Northwest Atlantic Seamounts (New England Seamounts and Corner Rise Seamounts) New Scotia, Canadá ( MacIsaac et al., 2013), and Southwestern Atlantic, Brazil, off São Paulo (this work) ( Fig. 24 ); from 887 m (this work) to 1402 m depths ( MacIsaac et al., 2013).

Figures

FIGURE 23. MNRJ 6582: Telopathes cf. magna MacIsaac & Best, 2013. a—Corallum morphology; b—Pinnulation pattern; c—Organization of spines; d—Spines magnified.

FIGURE 24. Geographic distribution of Telopathes magna MacIsaac & Best, 2013. Yellow circles: records extracted from the literature (MacIsaac et al., 2013) and based on Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). Red circle: record made in the present work.