Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) scobinosa Alcock, 1902

Filander, Zoleka N., Kitahara, Marcelo V., Cairns, Stephen D., Sink, Kerry J. & Lombard, Amanda T., 2021, Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa, ZooKeys 1066, pp. 1-198 : 1

Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) scobinosa Alcock, 1902

Fig. 2O, P

Caryophyllia scobinosa Alcock, 1902a: 90. - Alcock 1902b: 8, pl. 1, figs 2, 2A. -Gardiner and Waugh 1938: 177-178. - Cairns 1991: 12. - Cairns and Keller 1993: 235. -Cairns 1994: 45-46, pl. 20, figs A, B (in part). - Cairns 1995: 52-53, pl. 10, figs G-I, pl. 11, figs A-C. - Cairns and Zibrowius 1997: 94. - Cairns 1999a: 75. - Cairns et al. 1999: 20. -Kitahara 2007: 498, 507, 510, fig. 2K. - Kitahara et al. 2008: 16, fig. 2D. -Cairns 2004: 278. - Kitahara et al 2010a: 109, figs 113,117.

Caryophyllia cultrifera Alcock, 1902b: 7-8, figs 1, 1A. -Faustino 1927: 67-68, pl. 8, figs 8, 9. - Veron 1986: 905.

Caryophyllia clavus . -von Marenzeller 1904a: 281 (in part ' Valdivia '-246), pl. 16, figs 9C-G.

Type locality.

Off Flores and Sulu Seas (HMS ‘Siboga’ stns. 45 and 102: 7°24'00"S, 118°15'20"E and 6°04'10"N, 120°44'00"E, respectively); 535-794 m ( Alcock 1902a).

Type material.

Six syntypes are deposited at the ZMA (Cairns 1994; Kitahara et al. 2010).

Material examined.

SAM_H1248 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 17 km from DURBAN/ 8 km off Mdloti Estuary, 29°42'34.21"S, 31°05'50.82"E; 91 m.

Description.

Corallum ceratoid, unattached, and curved to a narrow pedicel (PD:GCD = 0.2). Calice slightly elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.1), with jagged calicular margin. Specimen examined 9.5 × 8.6 mm in CD, 2.0 mm in PD, and 11.3 mm in H. Costae granular, flat, and separated by narrow intercostal furrows that fade towards base. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in four cycles according to the formula: S1-2> S3> S4 (48 septa). S1-2 thick, slightly exsert, and extend to columella deep in fossa with straight to slightly sinuous axial margins. S2-3 progressively less exsert. S3 axial margin more sinuous than remaining septa. S3 ~ 2/3 the width to S1-2, each bearing a sinuous pali (12 P3). S4 rudimentary, but joining adjacent S1 and S2 at calicular margin to form rectangular lancets. All septal faces bear small pointed granules. Fossa relatively shallow containing a fascicular columella composed of five ribbon-like elements.

Distribution.

Regional: Eastern margin of South Africa, off Durban; 91 m. Elsewhere: Brazil (Kitahara 2007); New Zealand ( Cairns 1995); New Caledonia (Kitahara et al. 2010; Kitahara and Cairns 2021); Australia ( Cairns 1995, 2004; Kitahara et al. 2010); Tanzania (von Marenzeller 1904; Gardiner and Waugh 1938); Madagascar Plateau; Walter Shoal ( Cairns and Keller 1993); Sulu Sea; Celebes Sea ( Alcock 1902a); off Tonga and Samoa ( Cairns 1995); Philippines; Indonesia ( Cairns and Zibrowius 1997); Wallis and Futuna Islands; and Vanuatu ( Cairns 1999a); 253-2450 m.

Remarks.

As noted by Kitahara et al. (2010), Caryophyllia (C.) scobinosa can be distinguished from other unattached Indo-Pacific Caryophyllia in having 48-72 septa, 12-14 pali, and a jagged calicular margin. The South African representative of C. scobinosa superficially resembles C. stellula Cairns, 1998 but can be distinguished by its S4 being more exsert than S3, and also by joining neighbouring S1 and S2 at the calicular margin forming triangular lancets. Corallum size and density also differentiate the adult forms of these two species. Although C. scobinosa has been previously reported in neighbouring areas ( Cairns and Keller 1993), the current study confirms the occurrence of this species further south in the South African territory.

Figures

Figure 2. A, B Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) grandis (SAMC _ A 073150, off Mazeppa Bay, 480 - 490 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, D Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) lamellifera (SAMC _ A 090155, off Sodwana Bay, 120 m) C calicular view D lateral view E, F Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) profunda (DTE Valdivia Stn 108, off Agulhas, 126 m) E calicular view F lateral view G, H Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) quadragenaria (USNM 91539, Eastern coast, off Shaka's Rock, 350 m) G calicular view H lateral view I, J Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) rugosa (SAMC _ A 090071, off Kosi-Kumpungwini (Sifungwe) Estuary, 370 m) I calicular view J lateral view K, N Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) sarsiae K, L (MN _ SM 226, off Mazeppa Bay, 710 - 775 m) K calicular view L lateral view M, N (MN _ SM 174, off Kidds Beach, 760 m) M calicular view N lateral view O, P Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) scobinosa (SAM _ H 1248, off Durban, 91 m) O calicular view P lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm.