Vaughanella concinna Gravier, 1915

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

Vaughanella concinna Gravier, 1915

Fig. 7A-D

Vaughanella concinna Gravier, 1915: 10. - Gravier 1920: 63, pl. 9, fig. 138-143. - Zibrowius 1980: 104-105, pl. 52, figs A-K, pl. 53, figs A-L. - Cairns 1999a: 90-91, fig. 11G, H. - Cairns et al. 1999: 25. - Cairns 2009: 12. - Kitahara and Cairns 2021: 439-440, figs 237D-F, 238.

Vaughanella oreophila . - Cairns 1995: 70, pl. 18, figs D, E.

Type locality.

South of São Jorge, Azores ('Prince de Monaco Expedition’ stn. 1349: 38°35'30"N, 28°05'45"W); 1250 m ( Gravier 1920),

Type material.

The lectotype and 6 paralectotypes are deposited at the MOM ( Zibrowius 1980).

Material examined.

SAMC_A072973 (1 specimen): Locality data unknown; 517 m.

Imagery data.

MN_SM134 (1 specimen): Eastern margin, 36 km off Port Shepstone/49 km off Mtentu Estuary, 30°43'11.99"S, 30°48'47.99"E; 900 m.

Description.

Corallum trochoid, robust, and firmly attached to substrate through a thick and reinforced pedicel (PD:GCD = 0.40-0.5) and encrusting base. Calice circular to slightly elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.0-1.1), sometimes slightly flared, with serrated calicular margin. Largest imaged specimen (MN_SM134) 20.0 × 18.0 mm in CD, 8.0 mm in PD, and 19.0 mm in H. Costae well-developed, but unequal in width. C1-2 wider than remaining costae. C3-5 progressively narrower. Intercostal striae, broad. All costae finely granular. Corallum white.

Septa hexamerally arranged in five cycles, the last cycle being incomplete, according to the formula: S1 ≥ S2> S3> S4> S5 (only one pair of S5 present in the specimens examined = 50 septa). S1-2 highly exsert, extending towards columella with straight axial margins. Each S1-2 bears a pointed and tall palus. P1 fuses to columellar elements. S3 less exsert and ¾ the width of S2, bearing tall and well-defined pali, which are separated from septa by a wide notch. S4 less exsert and dimorphic in size: generally, ¼ the width of S3 (S4 rudimentary in SAMC_A072973) but same size as S3 when flanked by S5. S5 restricted to calicular margin. All septa have straight axial margins, except for S3 which have straight to slightly sinuous axial margins. Septal faces slightly granular. Pali smooth, indistinguishable from columellar elements, except for P3 which are thicker than P1-2 and rise higher in fossa. Fossa moderately deep, containing a papillose columella composed of a compact group of rods.

Distribution.

Regional: Eastern margin of South Africa, off Port Edward; 517-900 m. Elsewhere: Wallis and Futuna ( Cairns 1999a); New Caledonia ( Kitahara and Cairns 2021); New Zealand ( Cairns 1995); Celtic Sea, Azores, and Madeira Archipelago ( Zibrowius 1980); 500-3018 m.

Remarks.

Both specimens reported (one of which is represented by imagery data) meet the known taxonomic distinction of Vaughanella , particularly V. concinna in having all higher cycle septa (S1-3) bearing pali (P1-3). However, they differ in costae extending from calicular margin towards base, as compared with theca being smooth and porcelaneous ( Cairns 1995). The presence of P3 and one palus per septa distinguishes this species from the other two Pacific congeners, one of which lacks P3 ( V. oreophila Keller, 1981) and the other has multiple lobes per septa ( V. multipalifera Cairns, 1995). The South African representative (SAMC_A072973) displays convergence of S4 towards S3, a feature reported in the Atlantic forms, but differs in pali being smooth as compared with being granulated ( Zibrowius 1980). Nonetheless, regional distribution is based on MN_SM134 (imagery data) as SAMC_A072973 lacks locality information.

Figures

Figure 7. A, D Vaughanella concinna A, B (MN _ SM 134, off Port Edward, 900 m) A calicular view B lateral view C, D (SAMC _ A 072973, locality data unknown, 517 m) C calicular view D lateral view E, F Deltocyathus rotulus (USNM 91550, off Scottburgh, 1360 m) E calicular view F lateral view G, H Atlantia denticulata sp. nov. (SAMC _ A 090157, off Gouritsmond, 170 m) G close-up of corallites H full view I, J Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) bonaespei (USNM 1423303, off the Agulhas, 32 m) I calicular view J lateral view K, N Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) capensis K, M (SAM _ H 3048, off Cape Point, depth unknown) calicular view L, N (BMNH _ 1939.7.20.479 - 500, locality data unknown) lateral view O, P Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) diademata (SAMC _ A 073016, off Richards Bay, 500 m) O calicular view P Lateral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A-H, K-P); 100 mm (I, J).