Paracalyptrophora echinata Cairns, 2009

Cairns, Stephen D., 2018, Primnoidae (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Calcaxonia) of the Okeanos Explorer expeditions (CAPSTONE) to the central Pacific, Zootaxa 4532 (1), pp. 1-43 : 37

Paracalyptrophora echinata Cairns, 2009

Figs. 1U , 17 F–J

Paracalyptrophora echinata Cairns, 2009: 414 –416, figs. 1C, 2–3.

Types and Type Locality. The holotype (USNM 1115283) and paratypes are deposited at the NMNH. Type Locality: 24˚16.369’N, 166˚2.132’W (Brooks Bank, Northwest Hawaiian Islands), 708 m.

Material Examined. EX 1703-10-1, 0.835˚N, 176.63˚W (near Howland Island), 545 m, 1 colony and SEM stubs 2515-2518, USNM 1453739 .

Remarks and Comparisons. This species was adequately described and figured by Cairns (2009) and thus will not be redescribed or fully figured herein. Paracalyptrophora echinata is similar to P. hawaiiensis , as discussed in the previous account of that species, but differs primarily in lacking adaxial buccal scales. That region is instead covered by an adaxial process of the large abaxial buccal scales. Furthermore, P. echinata differs in having a uniplanar colony ( Fig. 1U ) (not bushy), shorter distal branches, and taller basal spines ( Figs. 17 F–H).

This is the first record subsequent to its original description, and extends its known distribution from Hawaii to Howland Island, and its depth range from a minimum of 708 to 545 m.

Distribution. Northwest Hawaiian Islands from Brooks Bank to Nihoa (Cairns 2009), Howland Island, 545– 1475 m.

Figures

FIGURE 1. In situ images of various species: A, Callogorgia cracentis, holotype. B, Calyptrophora lyra, holotype (not in situ). C, C. diaphana, EX1606-9-1. D, C. carinata, holotype. E, C. clarki, EX1605-L3-6. F, C. pourtalesi, holotype. G, C. distolos, holotype. H, Candidella gigantea, EX1606-6. I, Macroprimnoa ornata, holotype. J, Narella virgosa, holotype. K-L, N. aurantiaca, holotype. M, N. merga, holotype. N, N. horrida, EX1703-2-3. O, N. fordi, holotype. P, N. calamus, holotype. Q, N. virgosa, paratype, EX1504-L4-9-4. R, N. macrocalyx, EX1606-7. S, N. hawaiiensis, EX1504-9-2. T, Paracalyotrophora hawaiiensis, EX1703-2-1. U, P. echinata, EX1703-10-1. V, P. spiralis, holotype. W, Plumarella circumoperculum, EX1603-2-3. X, Thouarella hilgendorfi, EX1605-L1-17.

FIGURE 17. A–E (Paracalyptrophora hawaiiensis from USNM 1453680): A, lateral stereo view of polyp. B, basal scales. C, buccal scales. D, adaxial buccal scale. E, coenenchymal scales. F–J (P. echinata from USNM 1453739). F–G, stereo views of lateral and abaxial sides of a polyp. H, basal scales. I, buccal scale. J, coenenchymal scales. Scale bars in mm.