Eunicea, Lamouroux, 1816

Sánchez, Juan Armando, 2009, Systematics of the candelabrum gorgonian corals (Eunicea Lamouroux; Plexauridae; Octocorallia; Cnidaria), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 157 (2), pp. 237-263 : 239-241

SUBGENUS ( EUNICEA ) LAMOUROUX, 1816

Diagnostic character: Surface layer sclerites enlarged clubs (>> 0.1 mm) with the handle thin, conic, and multiple transversal ornamented rows.

EUNICEA PINTA BAYER & DEICHMANN, 1958

( FIG. 1A )

Eunicea pinta Bayer & Deichmann, 1958: 232 (holotype: USNM 50563 ).

Eunicea pinta: Shi et al., 2002 .

Letters refer to some scanning electron micrograph images from Figure 2 as examples when necessary, see also the Supporting Information.

Scale of calyx low <ring <lip <long lip <long, low is near absent and long is up to 10 mm and usually tubular, lip is when the lower part is longer than the upper, and ring is low but uniform.

Description: Colonies up to 80 cm in height with cylindrical (circular in cross section) elongated branches (2–2.5 mm diameter) (1A). Colour in alcohol or dry specimens pale beige. Branches grow continuously without ramifications up to 50 cm. No calyx in the polyp aperture, just a small prominence around the aperture. Middle layer of interpolyp coenenchyme with ornamented spindle sclerites about 1 mm long, in some instances up to 1.8 mm ( Bayer & Deichmann, 1958). Inner layer, or axial sheath, with purple sclerites exhibiting conic, stubby, and prominent lateral ornamentations. Superficial layer with abundant club sclerites (torch-like) up to 0.24 mm long, thin handle and much acute ornamentation in the head.

Diagnostic features: The anthocodial sclerites are flat rods of several sizes with some deformations. These rods are placed either on the base of the polyp or on the tentacles ( Bayer, 1961).

Distribution and habitat: Lesser Antilles, Florida, Bahamas, San Andrés I. ( Colombia), and Bermuda. Oceanic reefs in depths between 40 and 70 m.

Examined material: USNM 50563 . Holotype, (70% ETOH), North Atlantic Ocean; Bahamas, Great Bahaman Bank, between Andros and Great Exuma Islands (23° 34′ 00″N, 076° 33′ 00″W), 65 m, USFC, 12.iv.1886, Albatross R / V. USNM 57999 (70% ETOH), North Atlantic Ocean ; Bermuda, Bermuda Island (32° 06′ 00″N, 065° 05′ 00″W), 55 m, 31.vii.1964, Pillsbury R / V, University of Miami. Without catalogue number USNM, Jamaica, Discovery Bay , R. Kinzie , 1970, 45 m.

Figures

Figure 1. Photographs of Caribbean candelabrum corals in situ. A, Eunicea pinta Bayer & Deichmann Roncador Bank Colombia, 25 m; B, Eunicea palmeri Bayer, Roncador Bank, Colombia, 12 m; C, Eunicea succinea (Pallas) Bocas del Toro, Panama, 12 m; D, Eunicea laxispica (Lamarck), fore-reef terrace, 20 m, Abaco, Bahamas (2000); E, Eunicea mammosa Lamouroux, Roncador Bank, Colombia, 12 m; F, Eunicea tourneforti Milne Edwards & Haime, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, 8 m; G, Eunicea asperula Milne-Edwards & Haime, outer slope edge, Cat island, Bahamas (2001); H, Eunicea laciniata Duchassaing & Michelotti, shallow fore-reef, 10 m, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize (2001); I, Eunicea fusca Duchassaing & Michelotti, White Horse Reef, fore-reef, 20 m, Exuma Cays, Bahamas (2000).

Figure 2. Scanning electron micrograph images of sclerites of Eunicea spp. and Plexaura spp. A–D, sclerites (ornamented spindles) from the middle layer: A, Eunicea flexuosa (Lamouroux, 1821) (scale bar = 0.2 mm); B, Eunicea laciniata Duchassaing & Michelotti (scale bar = 100 Mm); C, Plexaura kuna Lasker et al. (scale bar = 0.1 mm); D, Eunicea clavigera (scale bar = 0.2 mm). E–P, club sclerites from the coenenchyme surface: E, P. kuna (scale bar = 0.1 mm); F, stereopair, Eunicea laxispica (Lamarck) (scale bar = 0.02 mm); G–H, E. laxispica (scale bar = 0.05 mm); I, Eunicea mammosa Lamouroux (scale bar = 0.02 mm); J, E. flexuosa (scale bar = 0.04 mm); K, E. clavigera Bayer (scale bar = 0.01 mm); L, Eunicea pallida Garcia-Parrado & Alcolado (scale bar = 0.02 mm); M, Eunicea calyculata (Ellis & Solander) (scale bar = 0.02 mm); N, Eunicea tourneforti Milne Edwards & Haime (scale bar = 0.02 mm); O, Eunicea fusca Duchassaing & Michelotti (scale bar = 0.01 mm); P, Eunicea tayrona sp. nov. (scale bar = 0.01 mm). Q–U, axial cortex layer sclerites: Q, stereopair, E. laxispica (scale bar = 0.02 mm); R, E. tourneforti (scale bars = 0.06 mm, respectively); S, E. calyculata (scale bar = 0.05 mm); T, Eunicea pallida (scale bars = 0.02 mm); U, E. clavigera. V–Z, polyp sclerites: V, anthocodial rods, E. tourneforti (scale bar = 0.06 mm); W, E. calyculata (scale bar = 0.06 mm); X, E. clavigera (scale bars = 0.01, 0.05, and 0.02 mm); Y, E. mammosa (scale bar = 0.06 mm); Z, octoradiates from the tentacles (stereopair), E. asperula (scale bar = 0.01 mm).