Conopora verrucosa (Studer, 1878)

Cairns, Stephen D. & Zibrowius, Helmut, 2013, Stylasteridae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Filifera) from South Africa, Zootaxa 3691 (1), pp. 1-57 : 42

Conopora verrucosa (Studer, 1878)

Figs. 3 D, 27

Stylaster verrucosus Studer, 1878: 635 , figs. 6a–b.

Conopora pauciseptata Broch, 1951b: 41 –44.—Cairns, 1983a: 128–130, figs. 31C–D, 36A–G; 2011: fig. 8L. Conopora verrucosa: Zibrowius, 1981: 275 .—Cairns, 1983b: 490, figs. 21E–H, map 11; 1991: 72–73, pls. 57e–g, 58a–d (complete synonymy).

Types and Type Locality. The holotype of S. verrucosus is deposited at the ZMB (#1764). Type Locality: 35°02’S, 175°40’E (off northern North Island, New Zealand), 1092 m.

The holotype of C. pauciseptata (female colony) is deposited at the BM (2012.1). Type Locality: 42°03.9’S, 00°03.5’E (Discovery Seamount), 472 m.

Material Examined. MN SM129, 1 female colony, SAM; Valdivia 103, 1 colony, ZMB Cni 14537; holotypes of S. verrucosus and C. pauciseptata .

Remarks. Since so few specimens are reported herein, and this species is well described and illustrated elsewhere (see synonymy), a redescription is not provided. In brief, the specimen from MN SM129 is a female colony 24 mm in height, 21 mm in width, and 5.1 mm in basal branch diameter ( Fig. 3 D). Even at this stage the commensal polychaete tube is well developed. Cyclosystems are arranged sympodially, and are about 1.4 mm in diameter. Based on 8 cyclosystems there is a range of 3–11 dactylopores per cyclosystem, and an average of 7.12. Adcauline diastemas are common, especially in cyclosystems near the colony base. The colony has one female ampulla, with an efferent pore that opens into the adjacent gastropore chamber.

The type of C. pauciseptata is identical to typical C. verrucosa except that it does not have a symbiosis with a commensal polynoid, which even Broch (1951b) suggested was “fortuitous”, or somewhat unusual.

Distribution. Off southeastern South Africa from off Margate ( Natal) and eastern Agulhas Bank (Fig. 27), 500– 850 m. Elsewhere: widespread in Subantarctic South America and off Antarctica (see Cairns 1983a: map 11), New Zealand from Kermadecs to the Antipodes (Cairns 1991), Discovery Seamount, 198–2355 m.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Colonies of various species: A, Stenohelia venusta, holotype. B, Stenohelia spinifera, holotype. C, Conopora sola, holotype. D, Conopora verrucosa, Valdivia 104. E – F, Conopora tenuiramus, E, female paratype from PF 14306; F, holotype. G – I, Crypthelia micropoma, UCTES SCD 301 (H, male; I, female).