Zygophylax tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890

Peña Cantero, Álvaro L. & Marques, Antonio C., 2004, Redescription Of Acryptolaria Normani Nutting, 1927, Junior Synonym Of The Western Pacific Species Zygophylax Tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Lafoeidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (1), pp. 1-6 : 4-5

Zygophylax tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890

( Fig. 2C )

Zygophylax tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890: 12-13 , Pl. 3 Fig. 3; Jäderholm, 1903: 277; 1919: 10; Clarke, 1907: 16; Stechow, 1913a: 144; 1913b: 11, 117; 1923: 10; Dawydoff, 1952: 56; Yamada, 1959: 48; Hirohito, 1983: 6, 33-34, Fig. 13; 1995: 150, Fig. 47a-d, Pl. 10 Fig. B; Rees & Vervoort, 1987: 66-67; Vervoort, 1987: 91, Fig. 10.9.

Perisiphonia tizardensis - Vanhöffen, 1910: 316.

Acryptolaria normani Nutting, 1927: 209 , Pl. 41 Figs. 1-2 .

Material examined. – Zoologische Staatssammlung München ( ZSM – no number) Sta. 362d, Sagami Bay. Doflein 04 (cf. Stechow, 1913b).

Remarks. – Colonies of Z. tizardensis have been reported up to 60 mm high ( Hirohito, 1995), with similar features as described above; the same applies to the hydrothecae ( Fig. 2C ). However, Hirohito (1995) reported “one nematotheca borne on basal part of each pedicel”, whereas the material described herein has a pair of nematothecae on each hydrothecal pedicel (except that of the basal hydrotheca). The description of Kirkpatrick (1890: 12-13) stated: “sarcothecae numerous,.1 to.4 millim., on tubes composing the main stem and larger branches; a pair at the base of each hydrotheca”. Hirohito’s observation may be incorrect or there is also the possibility that his material represents a variation.

The female gonosome was described by Hirohito (1983: 33- 34, fig. 13b): “Coppinia almost spherical about 5 cm in diameter, developed on branch. Rather a small number of separate gonothecae aggregated into cluster. Gonotheca sacklike, bearing two or three curved opening tubes at distal end. Many protective tubes with nematothecae, branching and anastomosing each other, covering cluster of gonothecae like a canopy.” Hirohito (1995: 150, fig. 47d) stated “Gonosomes borne on stem, consisting of aggregated but not contiguous gonothecae and many branched tubes surrounding gonothecae; tubes bearing nematothecae. Gonothecae pouchlike, with two or three processes at distal end; the processes often twisted, with the apertures facing to various directions. Only female gonothecae containing planulae were observed.”

Distribution. – Zygophylax tizardensis has been reported from depths from 63 ( Kirkpatrick, 1890) to 720 m ( Jäderholm, 1919). It is known from Japanese waters [Sagami Bay ( Stechow, 1913b; Jäderholm, 1919; Hirohito, 1995), off the Bonin Islands ( Jäderholm, 1919) and Izu Oshima and Niijima Islands ( Hirohito, 1983)], from Tizard Reef ( China Sea) ( Kirkpatrick, 1890) and from off the Philippines ( Nutting, 1927 as Acryptolaria normani ).

Figures

Fig.2. Acryptolaria normani Nutting, 1927 (= Zygophylax tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890):A, origin of hydrocladium showing first hydrotheca (note the absence of nematothecae on hydrothecal pedicel); B, hydrotheca. Zygophylax tizardensis: C, hydrotheca. (A, B from holotype of Acryptolaria normani; C from Stechow’s material). Scale bar: 250 m.

Fig. 1. Acryptolaria normani Nutting, 1927 (= Zygophylax tizardensis Kirkpatrick, 1890). A, general appearance of a fragment of stem with hydrocladia and hydrothecal arrangement (note the presence of a broken secondary stem); B, cauline nematothecae; C, pedicel of first, basal, hydrotheca (note the absence of nematothecae); D, nematotheca of hydrothecal pedicel; E-F, hydrothecae.(All photographs from holotype).