Tethocyathus endesa, Cairns & Häussermann & Försterra, 2005

Cairns, Stephen D., Häussermann, Verena & Försterra, Günter, 2005, A review of the Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) of Chile, with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 1018 (1), pp. 15-46 : 33-36

Tethocyathus endesa , new species

Figs. 2F, H , 4A–E , 7

Third species (N) — Försterra & Häussermann, 2003: 119, 121, 126–128 (5 sites in shallow water of southern Chilean fjords).

Material Examined/Types. — Holotype: north shore of Quintupeu fjord, South Chile (42°09'S; 72°25'W), 23–26 m, Sept 2003, 1 specimen, ZSM 20050148 . Paratypes: same locality, 23–26 m, 13 Feb 2004, 1 specimen, ZSM 20050149 ; same locality, 23–26 m, 13 Feb 2004, 1 specimen, IZUA­CNI­0057 ; same locality, 23–26 m, Sept 2003, 2 specimens, RMNH Coel. 33208; Caleta Gonzalo, Reñihue Fjord, Chile (42°33'12.7'S, 72°35'22.3'W), 28 m, 23 Feb 2001, 1 specimen, USNM 1022414 ; Caleta Gonzalo , Reñihue Fjord (42°32'46.6'S, 72°37'00.2"W), 30 m, 7 Feb 2001, 1 corallite, ZSM ; off Concepción , Central Chile (36°29,9'S; 73°40,8'W), 240 m, July 2003, 3 specimens, MZUC ( UCCC) — 29548, —29549 and —29550 .

Type Locality. —north shore of Quintupeu fjord, South Chile

Description. — Holotype tympanoid, a squat cylinder 8.3 mm in CD and 6.6 mm in height, previously attached to a rock by a polycyclic base. Largest specimen 10.8 x 10.3 mm in calicular diameter and 8.3 mm in height, having 48 septa arranged: 11;11:22:4. First thecal ring of polycyclic base about 0.9 mm in diameter, second 1.4 mm in diameter, and third about 3.2 mm. Costae poorly defined, the theca bearing low granules and covered with a thin tectura; corallum white. Septa hexamerally arranged in 4 cycles according the formula: S1>S2>S4>S3, resulting in 48 septa; however, in the largest specimen the septa are S1=S2>S3>S4. S1 not exsert, their upper outer edges forming a deep and wide depression adjacent to the theca. S1 extend about three­quarters distance to columella, each bearing one vertical rod on its lower axial margin. S2 only slightly smaller than the S1 and of the same shape, each bearing 1–2 vertical rods on their lower axial margin. S3 about three­quarters width of the S2, are not depressed near the theca, each S3 bearing a narrow paliform lobe, obliquely oriented on the lower axial margins. S4 often slightly wider than the S3, but do not have axial lobes. Fossa of moderate depth, containing a papillose columella composed of 20–25 granular rods that are indistinguishable from the lower axial septal lobes and pali.

Legend: Seno de Reloncaví : Punta Chaica / Lenca (S1: 41°38'303''S, 72°40'116''W); Fiordo Comau: numerous localities including Lilihuapi Island at mouth of fjord (S2: 42°19'40''S; 72°27'04''W, 42°20'28''S; 72°26'54''W, 42°22'28''S; 72°25'42''W, 42°23'15''S; 72°27'38''W, 42°23'29''S; 72°27'27''W, 42°23'42''S; 72°25'12''W; 42°0,9'S, 72°36'W) ; Fiordo Quintupeu (S3: 42°09'35''S; 72°25'35''W, 42°09'36''S; 72°26'06''W); Fiordo Reñihue: several localities (S4: 42°2'46,6''S; 72°37' 0,2''W, 42°33'S, 72°36'W, 42°33'12,7''S; 72°35'22,3''W, 42°33,494'S; 72°36,271'W); Isla Cailín / Quellón (S5: 43°09'02,1''S; 73°35'30,9''W) ; Fjord Pitipalena (S6: 43°47'09,1''S, 72°55'34,2''W); Bahía Santo Domingo (S7: 43°58'18,4''S, 73°07'00,6''W) ; Seno Ventisquero (S8: 44°23'34,5''S; 72°34'54,9''W, 44°31,608'S; 72°32,107'W); Canal Puhuhuapi (S9: 44°43'29,1''S; 72°41'24,2''W, 44°49', 72°52'W); Bahía TicToc : Puerto Escondido (S10: 43°37'01,8''S, 72°52'50,5''W) ; Estero de Reloncaví (S11), Melinka, Guaitecas Islands (S12: 43°53'S; 73°44'W) .

Tissue always clear transparent, sometimes slightly whitish­grey; Pharynx in some individuals slightly orange. Spherulae distinct, whitish. Color appearance may vary due to endolithic algae.

Comparisons. —Of the four recent species of Tethocyathus , T. endesa is quite similar to T. prahli Lattig & Cairns, 2000 , a species known from Cocos Island ( Costa Rica), the Atlantic coast of Columbia, and off French Guiana (reported herein, USNM 100483), at depths of 267– 333 m. T. endesa differs primarily in having a wide depression on the upper outer edges of their S1–2.

Etymology. —The species was named after the company ENDESA which promotes biodiversity research and conservation at the Huinay Scientific Field Station and with their donation to the BIOPAT program (www.biopat.de). As a coincidence, endeca is the Greek word for eleven, a septal symmetry that is often found in T. endesa .

Habitat and Biology. — In the Chilean fjords Tethocyathus endesa was found on primary and biogenic hard substratum including the shell of a giant barnacle ( Austromegabalanus psittacus ) and shells of dead and living sessile mollusks (e.g. Crepidula sp. , Aulacomya atra ) below 20 m. Single specimens were found as shallow as 15 m, but always below the influence of the low salinity layer. It can be found on surfaces with no to slight coverage of fine or soft sediment (e.g. faeces and pseudo­faeces of mytilids) that does not exceed 5 mm in thickness. In crevices, caverns and on boulders, T. endesa can always be found on the upright (upward directed) surfaces. In many cases only the oral disc and the tentacles protrude out of the soft sediment.

Off Concepcion an aggregation of T. endesa was found in a grab sample of hardened sediment taken by the research vessel Kay­Kay of the Universidad de Concepción. The sample was taken in 240 m depth from benthic communities in the center of the Oxygen Minumum Zone (OMZ) with oxygen concentrations that practically never exceed 0.5 ml/l. Tethocyathus endesa is the least common of the three coral species found in the upper infralitoral in the Chilean fjord region. This species was only found as isolated individuals or in small aggregations of less than 10 specimens but often in neighborhood of Caryophyllia huinayensis and Desmophyllum dianthus . Due to its low growth, broad base, and strong attachment it is very difficult to sample specimens of this species undamaged. Several specimens were observed to have larvae or eggs in the tentacles.

Associated species. — Tethocyathus endesa is regularly found on rocky surfaces that are covered by crustose red algae. In the shallow water habitat it is almost always found in close proximity to Epizoanthus sp. , which is much more abundant. Its small size and its association with the similar Epizoanthus species , in combination with its strong similarity in appearance to the abundant corallimorpharian Corynactis carnea , with which it may share habitat, makes it easy to overlook. In crevices and caverns, T. endesa can be associated with Caryophyllia huinayensis and Desmophyllum dianthus , with the latter two species found on the vertical parts and in upside down positions close to the entrance whereas T. endesa generally inhabits the lower and inner portions in upright position. In many light­exposed specimens of T. endesa endolithic algae stain the corallite pink or yellowgreenish.

Distribution. —Northern Patagonian fjord region: Fiordo Comau: numerous localities (S2); Fiordo Quintupeu (S3); Fiordo Reñihue (S4); Bahía TicToc: Puerto Escondido (S10); Fjord Pitipalena (S6); Bahía Santo Domingo (S7); off Concepción, Central Chile. 15–40 m (Chilean fjords), 240 m (off Concepción) ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–C, Caryophyllia huinayensis (A, paratype, USNM 1021991; B–C, holotype, ZSM 20050146): A, stereo view of calice, x 5.3; B, calicular view, x 5.3; C, lateral view of corallum, x 4.5; D–E, Caryophyllia diomedeae, USNM 83522, calicular and lateral views, x 3.0, x 2.0, respectively; F, H, Tethocyathus endesa (F, holotype, ZSM 20050148; H, paratype, USNM 1021980): F, stereo calicular view, x 5.2; H, calicular view, x 4.9; G, Caryophyllia sp. cf. C. quadragenaria, USNM 1021992, calicular view, x 7.3; I, Deltocyathus parvulus, USNM 1021993, oblique calicular view, x 6.1; J, Solenosmilia variabilis, USNM 1022415, colony fragment, x 0.75. Scale bars for A–C, F–I = 2 mm; D–E = 5 mm; J = 2 cm.

FIGURE 4. Tethocyathus endesa. Larger specimens on each photo with approximately 8–10 mm LCD: A, small aggregation in a typical habitat in a gap (arrows show T. endesa), surrounded by Desmophyllum dianthus, Comau fjord, 25 m; B, group of specimens in thin layer of fine sediment in rock crevice lacking endolithic algae; Comau fjord, 18 m; C–D, specimens differently stained by endolithic algae, C with orange, D with white pharyngeal tissue, Quintupeu Fjord, 25 m; E, typical view of a Tethocyathus endesa­Epizoanthus sp.­ association, Comau Fjord, 30 m.

FIGURE 7. Sites in southern Chilean fjord region where corals were found. Triangles: Desmophyllum dianthus, circles: Caryophyllia huinayensis, squares: Tethocyathus endesa.