Deltocyathus suluensis Alcock, 1902

Kitahara, Marcelo V. & Cairns, Stephen D., 2009, A revision of the genus Deltocyathus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848 (Scleractinia, Caryophylliidae) from New Caledonia, with the description of a new species, Zoosystema 31 (2), pp. 233-248 : 239-240

Deltocyathus suluensis Alcock, 1902 ( Fig. 1C)

Deltocyathus italicus – Alcock 1902c: 19 (in part).

Deltocyathus magnificus var. suluensis Alcock, 1902c: 20 , 21. — Faustino 1927: 76, 77. — Yabe & Eguchi 1937: 129. — Van Soest 1979: 111, pl. 2, figs 3, 4.

Deltocyathus formosus Cairns, 1995: 73 , 74, pl. 19, figs f, g.

Deltocyathus suluensis . — Cairns & Zibrowius 1997: 125, fig. 16d. — Cairns 1998: 382; 1999a: 92; 2004: 281. — Cairns et al. 1999: 22.

TYPE MATERIAL. — The types of D. suluensis are presumed to be deposited at the IM. The holotype (CO266) of D. formosus and one paratype (CO228) are deposited at the MoNZ. Additional paratypes are deposited at NZOI (station numbers: stn K826 [1], K828 [2], and K870 [1]), and at the USNM (94171 [3], 94172 [1], and 94173 [6]).

TYPE LOCALITY. — 5°43’N, 119°40’E- 6°11’N, 120°37’E (Sulu Archipelago), 450-522 m ( D. magnificus var. suluensis ). 29°13.96’S, 177°52.84’W (Kermadec Ridge), 530-567 m ( D. formosus ).

NEW RECORDS. — BATHUS 3, stn DW 786, 3 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0005). — BATHUS 4, stn CP 889, 2 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0006). — NORFOLK 2, stn DW 2097, 3 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0007); stn DW 2104, 1 specimen (MNHN-Scl.2008-0008).

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia waters from 21°00.83’S, 164°27.34’E to 24°44’S, 169°49.15’E, 416- 752 m. Previous records: Indian Ocean off western Australia from Dampier Land to Port Hedland ( Cairns 1998; 2004), 401-530 m; Pacific Ocean from Philippines and Indonesian region ( Cairns & Zibrowius 1997), 204-540 m to southern Norfolk Ridges, New Zealand ( Cairns 1995), 142-565 m, including Wallis and Futuna region and Vanuatu region (Cairns 1999), 400-650 m, and off Queensland, Australia ( Cairns 2004), 246-1050 m.

DESCRIPTION

Corallum circular with base flat to slightly convex. Calicular margin serrate but not lancetted. Largest specimen examined (BATHUS 3, stn DW 786) 22 mm in calicular diameter and 7 mm in height. Costae present as round granular ridges separated by well-defined same width intercostal furrows. Only C1-2 originates at centre of base.

Septa hexamerally arranged in 5 complete cycles (S1≥S2>S3>S4>>S5). S1 only independent septa and extend half distance to columella, being separated from their pali by a moderately wide notch. Higher septal cycles progressive less wide. S1-4 and P1-4 arranged in a typical Deltocyathus fashion, fusing through porous processes. S5 rudimentary.

Fossa shallow containing a well-developed papillose columella.

REMARKS

See Remarks of D. magnificus and D. rotulus .