Neozoanthus sp.

Reimer, James D., Poliseno, Angelo & Hoeksema, Bert W., 2014, Shallow-water zoantharians (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia) from the Central Indo-Pacific, ZooKeys 444, pp. 1-57 : 8

Taxon classification Animalia Zoantharia Neozoanthidae

5. Neozoanthus sp. Figures 4C, D, 5

Specimen regions.

NA.

Specimens examined.

NA.

Photographic records

(n=8). Gili Selang, eastern Bali (08°23'55"S, 115°42'30"E), on June 3, 1998; Lembongan Bay, Nusa Lembongan, Lombok Strait (08°40'25"S, 115°26'18"E), on May 19, 26, 27, 29, 1998 (4 records); Tanjung Taal, Nusa Lembongan, Lombok Strait (08°39'33"S, 115°26'37"E), on May 25, 1998; station WAK.22, north channel pass of Karang Koromaha, REA Wakatobi National Park, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi (05°42'54"S, 124°10'53"E), on May 12, 2003; station WAK.13, southwest tip of Tolandono Island, REA Wakatobi National Park, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi (05°46'35"S, 123°53'38"E), on May 9, 2003.

Description.

Unique among zoantharians, species in this genus have an endodermal sphincter with brachycnemic mesentery arrangement. Polyps are only partially incrusted, with the oral end of polyps lacking incrustation (Figures 4C, D). Phylogenetically, this genus is closely related to Isaurus (within family Zoanthidae ). Zooxanthellate. Adapted from Herberts (1972), Reimer et al. (2012a).

Distribution.

Regions recorded in this study (Figure 5). Eastern Bali (5), Spermonde Archipelago (9), Tukang Besi Islands (12), Moluccas (14).

Previous records. Species of this genus have been reported from Madagascar ( Herberts 1972), southern Japan ( Reimer et al. 2011a, 2012a, 2013b), and the southern Great Barrier Reef ( Reimer et al. 2011a, 2012a).

Remarks.

This genus was originally described from Madagascar with the type species Neozoanthus tulearensis Herberts, 1972. Subsequently, two species have been reported from Australia and Japan ( Reimer et al. 2012a). As no specimens exist, it is impossible to determine if the Indonesian photographs constitute one or both of the species reported in Reimer et al. (2012a), or an as of yet undescribed species.