Paragorgia wahine, JUAN ARMANDO SÁNCHEZ, 2005

JUAN ARMANDO SÁNCHEZ, 2005, Systematics of the bubblegum corals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Paragorgiidae) with description of new species from New Zealand and the Eastern Pacific, Zootaxa 1014, pp. 1-72 : 47-49

Paragorgia wahine sp. nov.

( Figs. 30–31 )

Material examined. Holotype: NIWA 3326 , H­846, J247 , 42 ° 47.47' S – 179 ° 59.33' W, “ Diabolical seamount ”, 890–1000m, 17 April 2001 (RV Tangaroa 0104/113, epibenthic sled).

Diagnostic characters. Slim branches up to 2 mm in diameter at the portions without autozoids. Surface sclerites highly ornate, 8­radiate, capstan­like sclerites ( Fig. 31 ), averaging 0.07 mm and 1.7 times longer than wide, averaging 0.04 mm in width. Medulla with long, slim, highly ornate, spindles up to 0.3 mm.

Description. The holotype is a fragile and slim single branch up to 2 mm in diameter at the portions without autozoids ( Fig. 30 ). Autozoids with gregarious tendency, with clusters up to 7 mm in diameter, but occasionally isolated on the other portions of the branch ( Fig. 30 ). Autozooid polyps fully retracted. Autozooid polyp apertures low. Colony easily breakable, 50 mm in length ( Fig. 30 ). Color variable between pink and red. Medulla in the terminal portion of the branch perforated by 5–7 small, circular, internal canals. Polyps with blunt, long spindles in tentacles, up to 0.1 mm in length, with radial ornate belts of multiple acute cones ( Fig. 31 A–C). Surface sclerites highly ornate, 8­radiate­derived, capstan­like sclerites ( Fig. 31 D–H), averaging 0.07 mm (0.004 SD, n=10). Surface sclerites 1.7 times longer than wide, averaging 0.04 mm in width (0.002 SD, n=10). Subsurface with spindle­like sclerites of intermediate form. Medulla with long, slim, highly ornate, spindles up to 0.3 mm in length ( Fig. 31 I).

Morphological variation. Unfortunately, only one specimen was available for this species. It was possible to see a great deal of variability in the ornamentation of the surface and medulla sclerites.

Distribution. Known only from “Diabolical Seamount”, east of New Zealand.

Species comparisons. All the sclerites from P. wahine sp. nov. are similar to those from P. splendens . However, P. splendens surface sclerites are overall larger than P. wahine . Surface sclerites average 0.089 mm in P. splendens compared to 0.071 in P. wahine . Likewise, medullar sclerites are up to 0.5 mm in P. splendens and usually less than 0.3 mm in P. wahine . More obvious differences between the two species are in the external appearance, where P. wahine is certainly slimmer and smoother than P. splendens .

Etymology. Wahine , “bride”, “wife” or “woman” in Maori, was an inter­island ferry in New Zealand that sunk on 10 April, 1968. The species is named in remembrance of all the victims of the disaster.

Figures

Figure 30. Paragorgia wahine sp. nov., holotype (NIWA 3326): colony fragment and detail (calliper open at 20 mm).

FIGURE 31. Paragorgia wahine sp. nov., holotype (NIWA 3326): A – B, stereo pairs of the sclerites from the polyps (scale 10 m); C, additional sclerites from the polyps (scale 20 m); D – H, radiate sclerites from the colony surface (scales 10 m) (D to G are stereo pairs); I, sclerites from the colony medulla (scales 100 m).