identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE7D87DF6D9C6.text	039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE7D87DF6D9C6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela Verrill 1879	<div><p>Anthothela Verrill, 1879</p><p>Anthothela Verrill, 1879a: 199; 1883: 40; Studer 1887: 28; Wright &amp; Studer 1889: xxxiii; (part) Broch 1912b: 4; 1916: 12–14;? Kükenthal 1916: 174; (part) 1919: 20–31, 43, 103–107, 685, 696, 725–728, 796, 818–826, 874–878, Tafel LVI Karte I., Tafel LXXV; (part) Verrill 1922: 18; (part) Kükenthal 1924: 9, 14; Aurivillius 1931: 10;? Deichmann 1936: 75, 78; (part) Stiasny 1937: 19; Carlgren 1945: 33; Bayer 1956a: 86; Bayer 1956b: F194; Bayer 1961: 67; Arantes &amp; de Medeiros 2006: 12.</p><p>?Gymnosarca Saville Kent, 1870 but see Stiasny, 1937: 19.</p><p>Type species: Briareum grandiflorum Sars, 1856, by designation</p><p>Diagnosis: Monomorphic scleraxonians which form both membranous and branched colonies. Branched colonies are tangled with no central or main stem; anastomoses common; cortex separated from medulla by a ring of intact coelenteric canals (boundary canals); coelenteric canals almost always absent from central medulla (occasionally present as only a thinning in the density of sclerites); calyces distinct, cylindrical to conical, spread irregularly throughout colonies with some free space between but tending to crowd together at branch tips; polyps often exsert but may be partly or fully invaginated into calyces; medulla sclerites are straight, simple sticks and spindles with light to moderate tuberculation; all other sclerites are sticks and spindles, clubs and hockeystick spindles, many clubs being bent with thorny tips; sticks and spindles are arranged as collaret and points on polyp head and longitudinally along the aboral side of the tentacle rachis; pinnules are crowded with longitudinally arranged, narrow spatulate clubs; the pharynx has small tuberculate rods. Membranous colonies are as above but lack a medulla.</p><p>Remarks: Specimens of Anthothela have historically been understood to be of relatively common occurrence amongst deep-water samples from the Northern Atlantic. In reality, the understanding of Anthothela had been so modified and expanded as to ultimately incorporate specimens which were actually from other genera. The removal of these specimens means the diagnosis of Anthothela has now been refined and tightened. The worldwide distribution of the genus remains with confirmed records from the North and South Atlantic Ocean, southern Indian Ocean, North and South Pacific Ocean and on the northern boundary of the Southern Ocean. All occurrences are restricted to cold waters with most specimens collected deeper than 100 m down to over 1800 m in depth.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE7D87DF6D9C6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE6277FE2DD8D.text	039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE6277FE2DD8D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothelidae Broch 1916	<div><p>ANTHOTHELIDAE Broch, 1916</p><p>Anthothelidae Broch, 1916: 14</p><p>Diagnosis: (sensu stricto). Monomorphic scleraxonians with a central medulla, which may contain longitudinal coelenteric canals, formed of tightly packed but not fused sclerites, separated from the cortex by a boundary of longitudinal canals; polyps retractile into calyces; sclerites comprised of tuberculate rods, sticks and spindles (often clavate or bent), clubs and capstans.</p><p>Remarks: The family Anthothelidae was originally created to incorporate scleraxonian specimens with a ring of boundary canals separating the cortex from the medulla. This family grouping is now in doubt with evidence that the family is polyphyletic and indications that this morphological feature has evolved multiple times (McFadden et al. 2010; Cairns &amp; Wirshing 2015).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E53FFA2FF4BE6277FE2DD8D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E52FF91FF4BE4BF7FD6DEDD.text	039B87ED3E52FF91FF4BE4BF7FD6DEDD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela grandiflora (Sars 1856)	<div><p>Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856)</p><p>(Figs. 4–15)</p><p>Briareum grandiflorum Sars, 1856: 63 –65, Pl. X Figs. 10–12; 1857: 238; Storm 1879b: 123; 1892: XXVII.</p><p>Anthothela insignis Verrill, 1879a: 15 .</p><p>Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Verrill 1879a: 199; 1879b: 32; 1883: 40, Pl. IV Figs. 6, 6 a; 1885: 535; Storm 1896: XXI; Whiteaves 1901: 32; (part) Broch 1912b: 5 –9, Figs. 1–3; (?part) Molander 1918c: 6 –8, Fig. 1;? Kükenthal 1919: 17, 19, 26, 43–44, 672, 681–685, 730, 788, 796, Figs. 17, 315; (part) Verrill 1922: 18 –19, Fig. 2, Pl. VI Figs. 1–4;? Kükenthal 1924: 14 –16, Figs. 13–14; (part) Thomson 1927: 16 –18, Pl. I Fig. 20, Pl. III Fig. 34, Pl. IV Figs. 6, 16, Pl. V Fig. 28; Molander 1929: 35 –37; Thomson 1929: 4; Aurivillius 1931: 10;? Deichmann 1936: 75, 78–79; (part) Stiasny 1937: 20 –23, Figs. F1, F2, Pl. I Figs. 6, 7;? Verseveldt 1940: 37 –47, Figs. 13–15; (part) Madsen 1944: 32 –33, Fig. 32; Carlgren 1945: 33 – 34, Fig. 8; Bayer 1956b: F194, Fig. 140,3; Bayer 1961: 67 –68; Tixier-Durivault &amp; d'Hondt 1974: 1393; Grasshoff 1981: 745, Karte 1, 942; Carpine &amp; Grasshoff 1985: 11 –12; Verrill in Bayer &amp; Cairns 2004: Pl. 64 Fig. 8, 8 b; Watling &amp; Auster 2005: 292; Arantes &amp; de Medeiros 2006: 11 –17, Figs. 1–4.</p><p>? Gymnosarca bathybius Saville Kent, 1870: 397, Pl. 21 Figs. 1–4 but see Stiasny 1937: 19.</p><p>NOT: Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Möbius 1873: 260 [thought to be Eunephthya ?] see Madsen 1944</p><p>NOT: Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Storm 1879: 144 [found to be Anthelia fallax Broch, 1912a]</p><p>NOT: Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Grieg 1890: 11 [thought to be Paramuricea sp.]</p><p>NOT: Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Grieg 1894: 3, Pl. I Figs. 1–2 [found to be Lateothela grandiflora n. comb.]</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: NHM, UIOslo B1365, Öxford, Finmark, northern Norway, depth 365 m, no date recorded; ZMUC ANT- 000470, same data as holotype and labelled as a “co-type”.</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.752&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.646" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.752/lat 63.646)">Other</a> material: NTNU-VM 63139, Agdeneståa, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.646°N, 9.752°E, depth 100– 250 m, Torkild Bakken, 21st June 2001 ; NTNU-VM 63141, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.999&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.468" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.999/lat 63.468)">Rødberg</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.468°N, 9.999°E, depth 200–300 m, Torkild Bakken, 5th December 2006 ; NTNU-VM 40341 (part), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.757&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.603" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.757/lat 63.603)">Dyrviknes</a> 27, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.603°N, 9.757°E, depth 120 m, 18th May 1965 ; NTNU-VM 67148 &amp; 67149, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.798&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.659" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.798/lat 63.659)">Brettingen</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, RV Gunnerus, stn. 2011022, 63.659°N, 9.798°E, depth 200– 100 m, Torkild Bakken, 14th June 2011 ; NTNU-VM 40338 &amp; 40339, unknown locality, determined by Broch 1912; ZMUB 17759 (part), Skarnsundet, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, August 1899 ; ZMUB 12187, Molde, Julneset, Midfjord, Norway, RV G.O.Sars, stn. 101, depth 275 m ; ZMUB 60328, Langenuen, Klinkholmen, Tysnes, Norway, August 1894 ; ZMUB 455, Haakonsund, Norway, determined by Danielessen &amp; Koren ; NHM, UIOslo B1366, Selsövik, Norway, depth 182 m; ZMUC-ANT-000470, Brettingsnes, Trondhjemsfjord, Norway, depth 150 m, 21st September 1934 ; ZMUC-ANT-000469, Rødberg, Trondhjemsfjord, Norway, depth 150–300 m, 17th July 1911 ; ZMB 5527 (part), Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth 300–350 m, 1913 ; MCZ 51047, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-58.033&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=44.217" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -58.033/lat 44.217)">Banquereau Bank</a>, off Nova Scotia, Canada, U. S. Fish Commission no. 5705, Gloucester Fisheries Lot 418, 44.217°N, 58.033°W, depth 320 m, 1973 ; MCZ 51048, unknown locality; MCZ 50734, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-64.333&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=42.517" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -64.333/lat 42.517)">Browns Bank</a>, east coast of Canada, schooner Chester B. Lawrence, 42.517°N, 64.333°W, depth 300 f (feet or fathoms), Capt. Wm. H. Greenleaf ; MOVI 20919, east coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 34.324°S, 51.572°W, depth 822 m, 5th March 2002; unregistered specimen, NEREIDA 0 610, zone NAFO, tow DR72, 46.0239°N, 46.686°W, depth 710 m, collected by Tina Molodtsova thanks to Mar Sacau and Javier Murillo Perez (IEO, Vigo, Spain) and sampling program NEREIDA, 28th June 2010 .</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is made up of many fragments of a tangled colony which once was described as “die Grösse eines Menschenkopfes” (translated as “the size of a human head”) (Broch 1912b) (Fig. 4 A). There is no central trunk or evidence of main branches and there is no consistent arrangement of branching. In Sars’ original description, he made it clear (“D'ailleurs il n'y a aucune différence entre les tiges et les branches: elles ont la même apparence, la même forme, la même grosseur“) that there is no difference between stems or branches: they have the same appearance, same form and same size. Many of the fragments are small pieces of narrow branches which are often twisted and tangled so it is impossible to reconstruct the colony into the original shape. There are also multiple anastomoses and bifurcations throughout the colony fragments (Fig. 4 B). Examples of membranous portions of the colony are evident including the holdfast which is encrusting a piece of coral rubble. Several branches emanate from the membranous parts of the colony. Most branches are of a relatively uniform diameter (approximately 2.2–3.4 mm), although there are some outside this range (1.3–4.2 mm), and they are basically circular in cross-section, although calyces and bifurcation points tend to cause some distortion.</p><p>Calyces occur with no apparent order along and all around the branches throughout the colony. The greatest distance between calyces is approximately 12 mm although they are more commonly closer together. Tight bunches of calyces occur on the branch tips where there is very little or no space between them (Fig. 5 A). Isolated calyces are also evident on the membranous parts of the colony.</p><p>The colony is in good condition, albeit in many fragments, with many polyps still attached and, in general, the cortex is complete.</p><p>Colour: In the original description no mention was made regarding the live colour, although Sars did comment that the medulla is a darker colour than the cortex. The holotype is now light brown to cream in alcohol. Other specimens recently collected are creamy pink (Fig. 13 B, C).</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are tall, flat-topped, robust cylinders which protrude basically at right angles from the branches (Fig. 5 B). They are usually between 2.2–3.2 mm high although there are some larger ones up to 4.5 mm. Polyps may extend 1.4–2.6 mm above the lip of the calyx and are approximately 2–3mm wide. Calyces and polyps are usually taller than they are wide. Sars considered the relatively large size of the calyces and polyp as a distinguishing factor, mentioning that the height of the “cellules polypifères” is generally twice the diameter of the branches. The calyces do not have obvious longitudinal ridges although there can be slight bulges where the base of the tentacles meet the calyx lip. Most of the polyps are partly retracted such that the base of the polyp head rests on the lip of the calyx and the polyp neck is not visible (Fig. 5 B) but there are some examples where polyps are fully retracted into their calyx (Fig. 5 Aa) despite Sars stating that he did not observe any in this state. Occasionally fully exsert polyps occur, with the polyp neck visible—a polyp and calyx combined then being up to 6.5 mm high. All polyp heads are well protected by crowded sclerites arranged as points and an indistinct collaret, and the visible polyp necks are also covered in sclerites. The tentacles fold into the polyp mouth so the polyp heads are rounded mounds with eight distinct furrows (Fig. 5 B). There are approximately 12 pinnules along each side of the tentacles with a fan of pinnules around the tip.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The central medulla is made up of tightly packed, longitudinally and obliquely placed sclerites, surrounded by a thin cortex which is separated from the medulla by a ring of longitudinal boundary canals (Fig. 5 C). The canals run parallel and close together throughout the colony and remain identifiable as individual canals. They do not extensively anastomose or form a boundary space as such but do provide a clear separation of the medulla from the cortex. In the thickest branches, presumably older and from closer to the base of the colony, there may be some patches where the density of medulla sclerites lessens. These patches appear as indistinct canals in the central medulla (Fig. 5 D) and are easily deformed or obscured by sclerites during the making of a crosssection. In thinner branches, presumably younger and farther from the base of the colony, the ill-defined canals in the centre of the medulla are only occasionally visible in cross-section.</p><p>For polyps along the branches, body cavities truncate abruptly forming a flat base where they abut the medulla, while polyps which are clumped at the branch tips have a body cavity which extends somewhat deeper within the branch, eventually finishing at the start of the medulla proper.</p><p>Sclerites: Polyps, calyces and cortex are all covered in crowded sclerites. On the polyp head transversely arranged sclerites form an indistinct collaret approximately 8 sclerites deep, while above they are arranged en chevron grading to longitudinal in the points (Fig. 5 B). These sclerites are mostly straight or slightly curved sticks and spindles with simple tubercles (Fig. 6). Sizes can range from 0.4–1.3 mm but most are between 0.45–0.85 mm. Some sclerites have the distal tip with mildly more developed tubercles or spines (Fig. 6 a). Very occasionally, sclerites can have complex warts. Below the collaret, similar sclerites are arranged obliquely on the polyp neck, sparser than on the polyp head, presumably to allow the polyp to invaginate at the neck area.</p><p>Along the aboral side of the tentacle, sclerites are arranged longitudinally (Fig. 7 A) and are all mostly similar to the sclerites from the points although shorter. They are straight or slightly curved tuberculate sticks and spindles with complex warts occurring occasionally and processes slightly more developed on one end (Fig. 7 B). Sclerites grade in size from longest (0.5 mm) at the proximal end of the tentacle to shortest (0.25 mm) at the distal end.</p><p>Long, thin, spatulate clubs extend longitudinally most of the way down the pinnules (Fig. 8 A). These sclerites are crowded, with the spatulate tip toward the distal end of the pinnules, and are easily broken during dissection. The spatulate clubs have long, narrow handles and flattened, occasionally forked, tips and are usually straight but can be curved or with bent tips (Fig. 8 Ba). There are also short rods with sparse tubercles, narrow sticks and spindles without a flattened tip and very small spindles in the pinnules (Fig. 8 Bb). The size of the spatulate clubs ranges from 0.34–0.5 mm while the smaller rods and spindles are approximately 0.08–0.21 mm long.</p><p>Small rods (0.08–0.24 mm long) with cone-like prominences and sparse warts occur in the pharynx (Fig. 9 A). These sclerites are arranged in ill-defined lines in the pharynx corresponding to the mesenterial insertions and are not crowded (Fig. 9 B).</p><p>The sclerites of the calyx are arranged in a dense layer, longitudinally to obliquely in the wall. They are short, straight or slightly curved sticks and spindles mostly with simple tubercles (Fig. 10). Occasionally more complex warts occur and some sclerites have a clavate tip with slightly flared or foliose spines (Fig. 10 a) but they do not form true thorn clubs. The sclerites have a small size range, only varying from approximately 0.23–0.45 mm long.</p><p>The sclerites from the cortex are similar to those in the calyces—small, straight, tuberculate sticks and spindles of a fairly uniform shape and size (Fig. 11). Most of the sclerites are between 0.16 and 0.38 mm in length but slightly longer sclerites also occur. Occasionally, sclerites with more complex warts occur but more commonly the tubercles are simple and relatively sparse. Some sclerites can have one marginally more complex tip making them slightly clavate (Fig. 11 a).</p><p>The medulla is composed of tightly packed sclerites, mainly sticks and spindles with simple to complex tubercles (Fig. 12). There are examples of fusion, branching and forking among the sclerites resulting in quite complex forms. The length of the sclerites can vary considerably (0.2–0.9 mm) and the longest are probably underrepresented in the figure as it is difficult to sample them without breakage.</p><p>All sclerites are transparent and colourless under transmitted light.</p><p>Variability: Variability of sclerite development within this species appears to be quite substantial. The holotype is from the northern tip of Norway, at the extreme northern point of the distribution of the specimens examined, and it is a specimen with a very consistent form of sclerites (sticks and spindles with simple tubercles) from the aboral side of the tentacles, points, collaret, calyx and the cortex (unfortunately no specimens which are geographically close to the holotype were available). Other specimens have considerable variation in the complexity and shape of the sclerites. One specimen, NTNU-VM 67149, from Trondheimsfjord, Norway, has sclerites from the calyx which are more often club-shaped with very complex warts and spines in addition to the sticks and spindles with simple tubercles like those in the holotype (Fig. 13 A). Such complex sclerites in the calyx are common in other specimens investigated, particularly in specimens from the Trondheimsfjord, yet the colony, polyp form and the other sclerites are similar to those in the holotype. Photographs of two specimens from Trondheimsfjord taken soon after collection (NTNU-VM 67149 and NTNU-VM 67148) demonstrate the live colour to be creamy pink (Fig. 13 B, C). In addition, there are many specimens with more complex and larger sclerites from the tentacles, points and surface than those observed in the holotype. In particular, despite much similarity with the holotype in other areas, the sclerites from the tentacles of ZMUC-ANT-000470 and NTNU-VM 40338 have more developed processes on the distal tips (Fig. 14 A, B). At this stage, it is assumed they are more complex versions of those in the tentacle rachis of the holotype, although further collections may allow a definitive delimitation within these degrees of complexity.</p><p>Similarly, the colony surface of sample NTNU-VM 63139, along with small sticks and spindles like those of the holotype, has numerous short, straight, club-shaped forms with smooth areas as well as more developed spines and warts (Fig. 15). These surface sclerites were recorded in lesser amounts in other specimens as well, but not the holotype.</p><p>Distribution: Confirmed records are from the north eastern Atlantic Ocean in deep coastal waters and fjords of Norway and Iceland; north western Atlantic Ocean, in deep waters off the coast of Canada and USA; the Gulf of Biscay, off the west coast of France; and the south western Atlantic Ocean off the coast of southern Brazil.</p><p>Depth: Confirmed specimens 100–960 metres; most commonly between 100–500 metres.</p><p>Remarks: There has been much confusion over many years between A. grandiflora and material that has herein been assigned to the new genus Lateothela . In every collection examined which contained specimens of A. grandiflora, specimens of Lateothela n. gen. were also found, almost always erroneously determined as A. grandiflora . In Broch’s (1912b) extensive re-description of A. grandiflora it now seems clear that he included more than one specimen in his description, and at least one of these was likely to have been a specimen of Lateothela grandiflora n. comb. The figure of the small, warty rodlets from the calyces and cortex (Broch 1912b Fig. 2a, b), which are common in L. grandiflora n. comb. but do not occur in any significant number in A. grandiflora, perpetuated the confusion between the two genera. One of the chief morphological differences between these two species is the preponderance of these rodlets in the calyces and cortex of L. grandiflora n. comb. (mixed with tuberculate sticks and spindles) compared with their rarity in A. grandiflora . Other differences between the two species are colony form and differences in the pinnule and tentacle sclerites.</p><p>Much of the subsequent literature perpetuated Broch’s (1912b) incorrect description, thus some later determinations and descriptions of specimens are clearly incorrect or cannot be confirmed (Verrill 1922; Stiasny 1937; Verseveldt 1940; Madsen 1944) and many specimens remain incorrectly identified. For example, Verrill (1922) when describing A. grandiflora stated the figures are “from the type described in 1869”, but Plate VI Fig. 1 in particular, and his description of the appearance of the calyces, appears to depict L. grandiflora n. comb. with the small warty rodlets in the calyx and surface. However, the colony depicted in Verrill’s Text Figure 2 is more like the holotype of A. grandiflora and not of a colony of L. grandiflora n. comb. There is no way to confirm exactly which specimen (or specimens?) Verrill figured in this paper, however it is possible it may not have been the holotype of A. grandiflora, or perhaps he used more than one specimen to assemble the description. Additionally, this current research has confirmed that of the specimens listed as A. grandiflora in Madsen (1944) three are valid, but one specimen (‘Thor’ Stat 168) is an example of L. grandiflora n. comb. —another instance of the confusion of the two species.</p><p>The variation observed amongst specimens of A. grandiflora shows the holotype to be a specimen with minimal complexity in the warts and tubercles of the sclerites and in the shape of the sclerites themselves. Nevertheless, the tangled colony form, long thin spatulate clubs in the pinnules and generally simple tuberculate sticks and spindles with a tendency to be clavate seem to be consistent across the specimens examined. At this stage there are not enough consistent differences to reliably delimit other species within the sample set, however, considering the large geographic range which is currently recorded for this species it would not be surprising if future studies can confidently define other Anthothela species within this group.</p><p>A. grandiflora as detailed here appears to be reasonably wide-spread in the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Anthothela tropicalis and Anthothela quattriniae n. sp. also occur in the Atlantic, although A. quattriniae n. sp. is currently only recorded from the Gulf of Mexico. Both of these species have large thorn clubs, which are thorny in A. tropicalis (Fig. 38) and bulbous in A. quattriniae n. sp. (Fig. 63), and both have colonies with very prickly surfaces with the thorn clubs projecting outwards. A. grandiflora lacks true thorn clubs and has a relatively smooth surface. Anthothela pacifica has currently only been recorded from the northern Pacific Ocean, and has small, straight sticks, spindles and clubs in the calyces and cortex which are smaller than those recorded in A. grandiflora . Specimens of another species herein assigned to Anthothela, A. vickersi n. comb., carry the same haplotype as specimens of A. grandiflora using two mitochondrial gene regions (mtMutS and igr1– cox1). However, the morphological and geographical differences between these populations were deemed enough to maintain separation into two species. Chiefly, the sclerites in a calyx of A. vickersi n. comb. are large, bent thorn clubs which project out from the calyx wall (Figs. 21; 27), while the smaller sclerites in a calyx of A. grandiflora, although at times complex, do not consistently have spear tips which project out of the colony. Additionally A. vickersi n. comb. has short, relatively broad, tuberculate rods that are common in the cortex (Fig. 31), and long, narrow sticks and spindles in the tentacle rachis and pinnules (Fig. 25), both of which are not common in A. grandiflora; the branches of the colonies of A. vickersi n. comb. are not as narrow or flexible as A. grandiflora; and A. vickersi n. comb. has been recorded from southern Australia and New Zealand while A. grandiflora is only known from the Atlantic Ocean.</p><p>Anthothela aldersladei n. sp. from Western Australia differs from A. grandiflora by having short, bent, spiky thorn clubs in the calyces and cortex, giving the colony a very spiky appearance, and has very large sclerites (relative to the polyp head) in the points (Figs. 43; 46).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E52FF91FF4BE4BF7FD6DEDD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E60FF97FF4BE5157913DB95.text	039B87ED3E60FF97FF4BE5157913DB95.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela pacifica (Kukenthal 1913)	<div><p>Anthothela pacifica (Kükenthal, 1913)</p><p>(Figs. 16–19)</p><p>? Sympodium armatum Wright &amp; Studer, 1889: Nutting 1909: 686 (see Kükenthal 1913: 221). Clavularia pacifica Kükenthal, 1913: 221, 237–239, Figs. e–g; Hickson 1915: 543; Kükenthal 1916: 456; Williams 2000: 338. Scleraxonia ( Briareidae ?) Molander 1929: 18.</p><p>Anthothela pacifica (Kükenthal, 1913): reassignment author unknown; Bayer 1961: 70; Fautin, Siebert &amp; Kozloff 1987: 70 (“shallow subtidal”).</p><p>Material examined. Lectotype (here designated): ZMB 6304, La Jolla, China Point, California, USA, depth 92 m, 1912 (colony remnants).</p><p>Other material: fragment of USNM 57981, Strait of Georgia, 4 Mile NE of Entrance Island, British Columbia, Canada, depth 350 m, 14th August, 1973</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: Unfortunately, there is nothing remaining of the syntype lodged at the Museum of Natural History, Wroclaw University, Poland (MZW #49), only the sponge on which it grew. No further mention is made of this syntype.</p><p>The lectotype is a tiny, encrusting colony growing on a small cream sponge (Fig. 16 A, B). The piece of sponge is approximately 20 mm long and 15 mm wide with the octocoral colony growing on only a small part of it. The colony is difficult to discern on the very similar coloured sponge but there are very few remaining polyps and they are quite damaged. Three polyps are grouped close together at one end of the sponge. They appear to be attached to one another via stolons and a spreading membrane as mentioned by Kükenthal (1913), with no discernible branching.</p><p>Colour: Kükenthal (1913) states the colour as light yellow.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are prominent and approximately 2 mm tall (Kükenthal mentioned 2.5 mm tall) formed from a thin layer of sclerites (Fig. 16 C). Some appear to have rounded longitudinal furrows but they are not pronounced. In most of the remaining polyps, the polyp body is partly retracted such that the base of the polyp head rests on the lip of the calyx, hiding the polyp neck. The polyp heads are approximately 1.5–1.7 mm wide and polyps are approximately 1.5–2 mm tall (2.5 mm tall in Kükenthal’s description). There are some smaller polyps, possibly juveniles (0.9 mm wide and 1.2 mm tall). The tentacles fold over the mouths of the polyps forming eight distinct furrows on the polyp head and a star-liked apex to each polyp. The number of pinnules per tentacle could not be determined.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: No medulla evident.</p><p>Sclerites: All polyps, calyces and colony surface are covered in a dense layer of sclerites, chiefly sticks and spindles. Sclerites on the polyp head are in a clearly defined collaret and points arrangement (Fig. 16 D). At the collaret, sclerites are basically transverse but grade en chevron up the points to become longitudinal in the distal part. These sclerites are short, straight or only slightly curved rodlets and spindles with fairly sparse, conical tubercles (Fig. 16 F). The lengths of the sclerites are 0.1–0.3 mm (mostly 0.1–0.2 mm) only, making them significantly smaller than those found in other Anthothela species.</p><p>Distal from the points, sclerites continue longitudinally to obliquely, along the aboral side of the tentacles (Fig. 16 E). They are curved rodlets and spindles, some slightly clavate, with sparse, conical tubercles (Fig. 16 G), and they grade in size from largest at the proximal end of the tentacle to smallest distally and seem to curve around the sides of the tentacles. Tentacle sclerites are 0.14–0.34 mm long which again is smaller than the range found in other Anthothela species but the ranges do overlap.</p><p>In the pinnules are found very short, almost squat, spatulate clubs, with a narrow handle and a flattened, wide tip, along with numerous short rods (Fig. 17 A). The spatulate tip is oriented distally in the pinnules and some of them have quite well developed ‘teeth’ or jagged edges. Spatulate clubs range from 0.09–0.16 mm only—much smaller that the equivalent spatulate clubs in A. grandiflora where the range is 0.26–0.5 mm. The rodlets are short and narrow, with simple, small tubercles, and are also crowded longitudinally in the pinnules (Fig. 17 A). They range in size from 0.06–0.18 mm.</p><p>On the calyx, sclerites are arranged at all angles in a relatively thin but crowded layer. Sclerites again are straight, short rods and spindles with sparse tubercles, ranging in size from 0.16–0.34 mm (Fig. 17 B). One straight club with a thickened distal tip was found (Fig. 17 Ba), which corresponds to a sclerite figured by Kükenthal (1913), although he states it is from the top part of the polyp.</p><p>No samples of a pharynx were examined, so the presence, absence or nature of sclerites in the pharynx remains undocumented.</p><p>Surface sclerites are a mixture of two sorts: short, straight, tuberculate rods and spindles (0.07–0.18 mm long) (Fig. 17 C) and longer, straight sticks and spindles, mostly smooth or with minimal tubercles, sometimes with forked ends (0.13–0.24 mm long) (Fig. 17 D). The latter are reminiscent of the sclerites found in the medulla of other species of Anthothela .</p><p>Variability: A small fragment of the specimen USNM 57981 was examined. The largest portion of the colony consists of four narrow branches emanating from a membranous base with some anastomoses evident; it has no main stem and calyces are distributed throughout but also tend to form terminal bunches (Fig. 17 E). There is an additional fragment (Fig. 17 F) that has well-defined ridges on the calyces and most of the polyps partly retracted so only the top part of the polyp head is visible in the mouth of the calyx. The fragment examined was a small branch tip with a few polyps crowded together (Fig. 18 A). The tallest polyp is partly extended and is 1.5mm tall and 1.6 mm wide (Fig. 18 B) while the calyces are approximately 1.5–2.5 mm tall and 1.5–1.8 mm wide. Under a dissecting microscope the sclerites are opaque and white and they are brown under transmitted light, perhaps indicating the specimen was originally fixed in formalin. There is slight damage evident in some of the sclerites. The fragment available for examination is small, and the only medulla portion available is affected by the junction of a polyp, so it is impossible to be definite regarding coelenteric canals penetrating the medulla and even the expected boundary canals are distorted and difficult to discern. Nevertheless it is clear there is an axial medulla and a cortex.</p><p>The pinnules have numerous spatulate clubs, many having a long, narrow handle with a wide, flattened spatulate tip, and they are longer than those of the lectotype (0.12–0.22 mm); but there are also some short, squat spatulate clubs similar to the lectotype (Fig. 18 C). The small, narrow rodlets from the pinnules are of similar length in this specimen (0.04–0.18 mm) as in the lectotype. The tentacles have mostly curved, short, narrow tuberculate rods, arranged longitudinally on the aboral side of the rachis (Fig. 18 D). These are very similar to the lectotype in form and length (0.14–0.35 mm). Sclerites in the points are long tuberculate sticks and spindles, slightly curved or straight (Fig. 18 E), plus some straight sclerites with a clubbed, thorny tip (Fig. 18 Ea) which are not present in the small sample from the lectotype. Most point sclerites are significantly larger than those from the lectotype (0.19– 0.68 mm cf. 0.1–0.28 mm). This specimen had a low number of sclerites in the pharynx, mostly short, simple spindles varying in length from 0.07–0.19 mm (Fig. 19 A). Most of the sclerites from the calyx are tuberculate sticks and spindles (Fig. 19 B) although there are some clavate sclerites which resemble the clubbed sclerite from the lectotype (Fig. 17 Ba). These are all a similar size to the lectotype at 0.14–0.38 mm long. The cortex sclerites are similar to those from the calyx although with fewer clavate sclerites (Fig. 19 C). Most of the cortex sclerites are 0.12–0.24 mm long but there are also longer sclerites, up to 0.44 mm long. Occasionally, straight clubs are found in both the cortex and the calyx. As mentioned above, there is very little true medulla available in the fragment investigated and no sclerites similar to those found in the medulla of other Anthothela species were observed.</p><p>Distribution: In deep water off the west coast of USA and Canada, specifically southern California, USA and Strait of Georgia, Canada.</p><p>Williams (2000) defines the distribution for Clavularia pacifica as “southern California (Monterey Bay to San Diego County)”. This includes the specimens identified as Sympodium armatum by Nutting (1909).</p><p>Depth: 90–350 metres.</p><p>Remarks: At this stage, it has not been possible to confirm when and who proposed Clavularia pacifica should be reassigned to Anthothela . Molander (1929) simply listed C. pacifica as “ Scleraxonia ( Briareidae ?)” with no accompanying reasons or discussions. No further mention has been found in the literature until Bayer (1961) where, in the remarks of his description of Anthothela tropicalis, simply stated that A. pacifica (Kükenthal) is a sister species to A. tropicalis . There is no discussion regarding why or when Bayer believed C. pacifica had been reassigned to Anthothela . Currently Clavularia pacifica is still listed as a valid species in some international databases, and Williams (2000) mentions C. pacifica in a comparison with the new species Cryptophyton goddardi Williams, 2000 .</p><p>There is so little remaining of the ZMB lectotype specimen (and nothing left of the MZW syntype) that the placement of A. pacifica is difficult to confirm. At this stage we contend it should be in Anthothela as a distinct species, but we do this with some reservation. There are no branches in the lectotype to be able to examine the arrangement of coelenteric canals in a medulla and the spatulate clubs in the pinnules are much smaller than those normally observed in other Anthothela species. However, some of the main defining characteristics of Anthothela are evident in the lectotype—the presence of (albeit small) spatulate clubs in the pinnules; all other sclerites as tuberculate sticks and spindles with some clavate; sclerites arranged as collaret and points on the polyp head; sclerites arranged longitudinally on the tentacle rachis and in the pinnules; and the presence of a calyx. Although there is no evidence of branches, there are what are traditionally considered medulla sclerites present in the sample taken of the surface sclerites, perhaps indicative of the ability to form a medulla. All these points support the placement of this specimen in Anthothela but do not preclude alternative placements.</p><p>The other specimen determined as A. pacifica, USNM 57981, does have a colony form consistent with Anthothela plus it has distinctive long spatulate clubs in the pinnules. This makes the placement of this specimen in Anthothela unambiguous. The uncertainty regarding the placement of A. pacifica thus becomes more a question of whether the USNM specimen and the lectotype are the same species and how they differ from other Anthothela species. This decision is hampered by the size of the very small fragment of the USNM 57981 specimen available for examination here and its poor condition (possibly formalin affected).</p><p>In the lectotype, the sclerites in the pinnules are spatulate clubs but the handles are markedly shorter than those found in any other Anthothela species thus far described. In fact, all the sclerites from the lectotype are, on average, shorter than their equivalents in other Anthothela species. In Kükenthal’s (1913) drawing (Figure E) he displays the sclerites as very small in relation to the size of the polyp, arranged haphazardly up the calyx and polyp body. The size difference is noticeable, with average calyx sclerite length in the A. pacifica lectotype at 0.25 mm while the average length is 0.33 mm in A. grandiflora .</p><p>The differences between A. grandiflora and the A. pacifica lectotype include the average size of the sclerites, especially the spatulate clubs in the pinnules, and the single straight club found in the calyx of the lectotype (Fig. 17 Ba). Kükenthal also figures a sclerite like this but states it is from the top part of the polyp. In this study, only one such sclerite was located in the tiny sample taken of the calyx of the lectotype and they are similarly uncommon in the USNM 57981 specimen.</p><p>We contend the lectotype of A. pacifica and the USNM 57981 specimen are conspecific, and given the relatively similar geographic location of the two specimens, the small sclerites and the presence of the straight clubs, this species can be distinguished from other Anthothela species. Nevertheless, the validity of this species remains questionable due to the paucity of type material and the condition of the other available material. Further material from the type location may be able to resolve this question, particularly using molecular differentiation.</p><p>The specimen which Nutting determined as Sympodium armatum and was synonymised with Clavularia pacifica by Kükenthal, was not available for investigation. However, another specimen, collected from the same station on the same day and placed in A. pacifica by Bayer in the Smithsonian collection (USNM 49519), was found to be too badly affected by formalin to be confidently assigned. It has slightly larger sclerites in the calyx and some curved and bent thorn clubs are present, suggesting it may not be A. pacifica .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E60FF97FF4BE5157913DB95	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E66FF87FF4BE23C7CEADCC5.text	039B87ED3E66FF87FF4BE23C7CEADCC5.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela vickersi (Benham 1928) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Anthothela vickersi (Benham, 1928) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 20–31)</p><p>Spongioderma (?) vickersi Benham, 1928: 81 –83, Figs. 25–31.</p><p>Homophyton vickersi (Benham, 1928): van Ofwegen et al. 2000–2007 http://www.marinespecies.org/ aphia.php?p=taxdetails&amp;id=288708 accessed May 2017.</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: OMNZ IV8728, 21 miles north of Doubtless Bay, east coast of the North Island, New Zealand, H.M.C.S. Iris, col. Lieut. Vickers, depth 945 m, 1926–1928.</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.131&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.162" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.131/lat -44.162)">Other</a> material: TMAG K3984, S-Tasmania Slope (~ 1000 m), Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 9, sample 23 (SS 200702 /009-023), 44.154– 44.162°S, 147.128– 147.131°E, depth 800–920 m, 31st March 2007 ; TMAG K3985, Hill U seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 15, sample 38 (SS 200702 /015-038), 44.322°S, 147.181– 147.185°E, depth 1100–1200 m, 1st April 2007; TMAG K3986, Z9 Seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 58, sample 53 (SS 200702 /058-053), 44.202– 44.199°S, 147.318– 147.320°E, depth 1020–1100 m, 7th April 2007; TMAG K4264, Dory Hill seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 49 (SS199701/49), 44.322– 44.34°S, 147.115– 147.072°E, depth 1167 m, 29th January 1997; TMAG K4109, Hill J 1 seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 40 (SS199701/40), 44.243– 44.273°S, 147.36– 147.323°E, depth 1024–1548 m, 27th January 1997; TMAG K4110, U (R) Hill seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 41 (SS199701/41), 44.318°S, 147.115°E, depth 1314 m, 28th January 1997; TMAG K4111, Dory Hill seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 48 (SS199701/48), 44.313– 44.34°S, 147.142– 147.073°E, depth 1456 m, 29th January 1997; TMAG K4112, Hill A 1 Reserve seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 62 (SS199701/ 62), 44.328– 44.322°S, 147.268– 147.325°E, depth 1261–2253 m, 30th January 1997; TMAG K4113, Hill V seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 67 (SS199701/67), 44.393– 44.387°S, 147.147– 147.23°E, depth 1614 m, 31st January 1997; TMAG K4114, Hill V seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 69 (SS199701/69), 44.397– 44.398°S, 147.147– 147.178°E, depth 1262–1854 m, 31st January 1997; TMAG K4265, Mongrel seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-386-06, sample 0 1, 44.254°S, 147.115°E, depth 982 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 23rd December 2008 ; MNHN IK-2009- 535, Ile Amsterdam, Southern Indian Ocean, N/O Marion Dufresne, stn. 2 (JASUS, MD50, stn.2, CP07), 37.783°S, 77.65°E, depth 940–1680 m, 9th July 1986; MNHN IK-2009-534, Ile Saint Paul, Southern Indian Ocean, N/O Marion Dufresne, stn. 23 (JASUS, MD50, stn.23, CP113), 38.917°S, 77.633°E, depth 1065–1125 m, 19th July 1986; NIWA 40439, Macquarie Ridge, NE of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=159.114&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-53.738" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 159.114/lat -53.738)">Southern Ocean</a>, NIWA RV Tangaroa, stn. 77 (TAN 0803 /77), 53.738°S, 159.114°E, depth 1014– 925 m, 11th April 2008 ; NIWA 40508, Macquarie Ridge, NE of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=159.131&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-53.715" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 159.131/lat -53.715)">Southern Ocean</a>, NIWA RV Tangaroa, stn. 79 (TAN 0803 /79), 53.715°S, 159.131°E, depth 770– 810 m, 12th April 2008 ; NIWA 40578, Macquarie Ridge, NE of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=159.166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-53.731" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 159.166/lat -53.731)">Southern Ocean</a>, NIWA RV Tangaroa, stn. 81 (TAN 0803 /81), 53.731°S, 159.166°E, depth 1150–1270 m, 12th April 2008 ; NIWA 41129 &amp; NIWA 41865, Macquarie Ridge, S of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=158.901&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-59.048" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 158.901/lat -59.048)">Southern Ocean</a>, NIWA RV Tangaroa, stn. 118 (TAN 0803 /118), 59.048°S, 158.901°E, depth 1400–1615 m, 19th April 2008 ; NTM CO12800, North Macquarie Ridge, NE of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=159.098&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-53.932" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 159.098/lat -53.932)">Southern Ocean</a>, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 97 (SS199901/97), 53.932°S, 159.098°E, depth 364 m, 26th January 1999 ; NTM CO12801 (ex TMAG K1398), North Macquarie Ridge, NE of Macquarie Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=159.158&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-53.645" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 159.158/lat -53.645)">Southern Ocean</a>, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 120 (SS199901/120), 53.645°S, 159.158°E, depth 1050 m, 30th January 1999 .</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is a piece of a larger colony, and is approximately 60 mm long and 30–40 mm in diameter (Fig. 20 A, B). There is a sharp bend approximately in the middle of the branch. Benham (1928) states that the colony “had been put into a phial too narrow and too small for it, so that the stem is bent and some of the branchlets are broken off”. There are one or two small circles where the cortex of the colony is missing and the medulla is visible—these may be the origins of the branchlets mentioned by Benham, although they could also be evidence of broken polyps (Fig. 20 Ba). One end of the main branch is slightly flattened and broadened where there once was a side branch (Fig. 20 Bb). There are two small side branches remaining, each emanating close to the sharp bend in the colony. One is 13.3 mm long and 3.3 mm wide (Fig. 20 Aa) while the other is simply a polyp bunch and is 10 mm long (including the length of the terminal polyp) and 11.5 mm wide (which includes two transversely arranged polyps) (Fig. 20 Ab). The main branch is approximately circular in cross-section although slightly distorted at bifurcation points where it tends to be elliptical. There is no evidence of membranous parts of the colony or anastomoses.</p><p>One side of the colony appears to be clear of polyps but this is an artefact of the storage conditions where the colony was secured to a glass slide for many years. Most of the polyps which were on that side of the colony have been bent aside or broken off (Fig. 20 A cf. Fig. 20 B). The calyces are arranged on all sides without order. They occur close together throughout the colony, with the largest distance between polyps at 4 mm, and are particularly crowded or clumped at the tip of the side branches with no free surface between them.</p><p>Grossly, the colony is in reasonably good condition with approximately 30 intact polyps and 18 empty calyces. The surface of the colony is mostly complete and undamaged.</p><p>Colour: According to Benham, the colony was “a pale colour” but he is clearly describing it sometime after preservation given he mentions the distortion of the colony due to limited space in the “phial”. It is now light beige in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and Calyces: Calyces are mostly cylindrical, sometimes taller than wide, and are usually at right angles to the branches except for those at the tip which tend to extend at oblique angles from the branch (Fig. 21 A) and they range from 2.3–4.5 mm high and 2.4–3.5 mm wide. The exsert part of the polyps varies from approximately 2.2–4.5 mm tall; most are partly retracted so the polyp head rests on the lip of the calyx (Fig. 21 B) but one or two polyps are somewhat more extended so the polyp neck is partly visible (Fig. 21 C). There are no fully retracted polyps although there is one polyp which only projects very slightly. Tightly crowded sclerites occur throughout, with those on the polyp head arranged as points and a collaret and those on the calyces having the tips projecting out from the surface, giving the calyces a prickly appearance (Fig. 21 B, C). The tentacles in most of the polyps are folded over into the polyp mouth and so form a rounded mound with eight furrows. According to Benham there are 4–6 “long and narrow” pinnules along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The branches are composed of a thin cortex surrounding a medulla composed of sclerites tightly packed together. Sclerites are arranged longitudinally to obliquely in both the medulla and cortex. In a cross-section of the axis, a ring of longitudinal boundary canals distinctly separates the cortex from the medulla (Fig. 22 A). These canals run parallel and close to one another but do not appear to frequently anastomose. Therefore they do not form a true boundary space. There are no obvious coelenteric canals occurring in the central medulla. Two small cross-sections were made from one cut end of the central branch only, so there was no opportunity to assess the occurrence of central coelenteric canals throughout the colony. In one of the crosssections, in the centre of the medulla the density of the sclerites thinned slightly giving an indistinct impression of a central canal. Benham (1928) describes and depicts the boundary canals and later states “it [the medulla] presents no canals, but a few small sub-circular spaces occur towards the centre, which I take to be due to spicules having dropped away”.</p><p>Sclerites: The majority of the sclerites are in good condition; however those that project out from the colony (mostly from the calyx and the top of the points) have a smooth and rounded tip. On close investigation, these predominately clavate sclerites have a slight fuzziness around the perimeter of their projecting tip and the tip is brown while the remainder of the sclerite is clear (Fig. 22 B). Sclerites which do not project from the surface do not have this feature. Given that other species have thorny sclerites of similar size and shape projecting from the calyx and points, it seems most probable that the projecting tip of these sclerites was originally thorny but the ornamentation has been eroded, leaving only slight rounded isolated bumps, perhaps due to a short immersion postmortem in an acidic medium. The damaged sclerites are figured, however caution is necessary when comparing with sclerites from other Anthothela species.</p><p>The collaret consists of many transversely arranged sclerites which grade en chevron up the points to be longitudinal in the distal part with many sclerites bunched together and projecting slightly past the base of the infolded tentacles (Figs. 21 B; 22C). Point and collaret sclerites consist chiefly of long, narrow, straight or slightly curved sticks and spindles with relatively simple tubercles, sometimes sharp (Fig. 23), and warty thorn clubs, some with a smoothed tip (Fig. 23 a). The simple spindles range in length from 0.11–0.96 mm while the thorn clubs are 0.27–0.56 mm long. There are also rare small crosses and spindles with tubercles in girdles arranged amongst the larger sclerites.</p><p>Between the well-defined points, a small number of intermediate sclerites occur, arranged in a narrow line with the ends of the sclerites slightly overlapping each other (Fig. 21 Ba). They are narrow, tuberculate spindles similar to those found in the points.</p><p>The aboral face and the sides of the tentacles are covered in a dense layer of crowded sclerites all arranged longitudinally or obliquely (Fig. 22 C) with some sclerites projecting above the surface, giving the tentacles a prickly appearance. Most of the tentacle sclerites are short, straight rodlets with simple, relatively sparse tubercles (Fig. 24 A). Some of the sclerites have a slight curve at one tip where they curve around the side of the tentacles. Most of the rachis sclerites range in size between 0.1 and 0.4 mm long but there are also very small forms, with tubercles mainly in girdles, that appear to be from the distal end of the tentacles where they tend to jumble together and mix with the sclerites in the pinnules. Additionally there are rare, short, thorny clubs (Fig. 24 B) which are probably from the base of the tentacle rachis and resemble the upper points—these are approximately 0.15–0.46 mm long.</p><p>The pinnules are packed with many long, narrow spatulate clubs and sticks and spindles arranged longitudinally with the spatulate end of the clubs in the distal tip of the pinnules (Fig. 25). The spatulate tips are sometimes not well-developed, with some sclerites lacking a markedly splayed end (Fig. 25 a). Sizes ranges from 0.2–0.52 mm long with no obvious order to the arrangement of the different sizes within the pinnules. There are also small sticks and spindles in the pinnules (Fig. 25 b) which range from approximately 0.08–0.25 mm long. There are long, narrow sticks and spindles, which are usually straight, with sparse tubercles (Fig. 25 c), and range from 0.3–0.6 mm long. These appear to extend down into the pinnules but can also be concentrated along the sides of the tentacles.</p><p>In the pharynx there are small spindles and rods with simple tubercles usually arranged in girdles (Fig. 26 A). Most of these sclerites are 0.04–0.20 mm in length. They are not crowded and tend to be grouped in indistinct longitudinal lines in the pharynx which correspond to the insertion of the mesenteries (Fig. 26 B).</p><p>The calyces are covered in a dense layer of sclerites, many of which project from the surface giving the calyces a prickly appearance (Fig. 21 B). A large proportion of the sclerites from the calyx are thorn clubs with an exposed, irregular tip which often appears to be damaged or partially dissolved as mentioned previously (Fig. 27 a). The latter forms appear to have unaffected warts and tubercles on the embedded portion with some of these being quite complex. Most of the clubs are slightly curved and are 0.29–0.62 mm long. There are other sclerites also present in the calyx, seemingly unaffected, which include many sticks and spindles, 0.18–0.6 mm long, with numerous tubercles, some smaller, clubbed sclerites (0.28–0.33 mm long) and short spindles with tubercles in indistinct girdles (0.11–0.18 mm long; Fig. 27 b).</p><p>The cortex has rough, knobbly patches created by densely occurring tuberculate sclerites (Fig. 21 A). The sclerites are mostly short, stout tuberculate rods and longer, narrower spindles (Fig. 28 A). The short rods are approximately 0.12–0.28 mm long while the spindles are from 0.2–0.5 mm long. In the only cortex sample taken, a single sclerite was found which could be considered a true thorn club, apparently undamaged (Fig. 28 Aa). Benham (1928) states the surface “presents a coating of obliquely and irregularly-disposed, short, knobby spicules, very densely fitted together, and below them occur longitudinally-disposed, long, thorny spindles.” This layering may simply be the cortex and medulla.</p><p>Sclerites from the medulla also tend to be of two forms; sparsely tuberculate sticks and warty spindles (Fig. 28 B). The small sample of medulla taken for this re-description has many broken sclerites so their length is difficult to estimate, however Benham (1928) described “long spindles with thorny outgrowths and, the short knobbly rods”. Here the (mostly unbroken) warty spindles range from 0.2–0.5 mm long while the (mostly broken) sparsely tuberculate sticks are 0.13–0.44 mm long. It is likely the tuberculate sticks can be much longer. There is evidence of fusing and branching of the sclerites.</p><p>The sclerites are all translucent and colourless under transmitted light except for the damaged tips of the projecting sclerites which are brown.</p><p>Variability: The apparent degradation of the tip of the thorn clubs in the points and calyx of the holotype hinders a definitive diagnosis of the species but given factors such as the gross morphology of the colony, general sclerite architecture and geographic proximity, many specimens are here determined as conspecific with the holotype. The assumption is that the rounded tips are an anomaly restricted to the holotype, and the clubs would have once resembled the thorn clubs found in recently collected specimens presented here. If future fresh samples from the type location have similar rounding of the thorn clubs it may be considered a natural feature of the species and determinations herein should be reassessed.</p><p>Most of the specimens examined are reasonably consistent with the holotype. In all the samples, long, narrow sticks are arranged along the sides of the tentacles and extend into the pinnules where long spatulate clubs are longitudinally arranged (Fig. 29 Aa). These sticks are often more frequent than in the holotype but otherwise the tentacle sclerites have a similar form (Fig. 29 Ba, C). All specimens have thorn clubs in the points (Fig. 30 A) and calyx (Fig. 30 B) with more developed thorns and spines on their pointed tip compared with the damaged tip of those in the holotype. Additionally, in the Tasmanian seamount samples, the short, tuberculate rods in the cortex often have one clubbed or pointed, smooth tip (Fig. 31 Aa) which is not common in the small sample taken of the holotype surface.</p><p>Some of the specimens have a large number of long, well-developed thorn clubs in the cortex. The small sample of the holotype cortex had only a single large thorn club but a larger sample may have revealed more given the prickly appearance of the colony surface.</p><p>Photographs taken shortly after collection of specimens from the Tasmanian seamounts suggest the live colour is light creamy pink (Fig. 31 B, C). The Tasmanian seamount specimens are all relatively small suggesting the species does not grow particularly large. Photographs taken on the Tasmanian seamounts suggest it is a reasonably common species, with many colonies of what is presumed to be A. vickersi n. comb. (based on quantity collected, light creamy pink colour and general colony form).</p><p>Distribution: Northern New Zealand and the seamounts south of Tasmania, Australia; Southern Indian Ocean.</p><p>Depth: 800–1600 metres.</p><p>Remarks: When discussing the holotype, Benham acknowledged the lack of relevant literature available to him and his sparse knowledge of the group, and admitted he placed the specimen in the genus Spongioderma “with much hesitation”. He in fact included a question mark in the original designation (“ Spongioderma (?) vickersi ”). It has remained in this now defunct genus mainly due to lack of any comprehensive review of the related taxa and an uncertainty as to the whereabouts of the holotype. Fortunately, the holotype could be located and re-described and it can now be confirmed as a species of the genus Anthothela, based on the spatulate clubs crowded in the pinnules, boundary canals separating the cortex from the medulla, no or indistinct canals in the medulla and sclerites which are chiefly tuberculate clubs and sticks and spindles. This specimen thus represents the first valid record of a species of Anthothela in the southern hemisphere.</p><p>Unfortunately, defining the species is more problematic due to the assumed damage to the tips of the projecting sclerites. The cause of this partial dissolution of the sclerites is unknown. In Benham’s description there is no mention of the medium in which the specimen was originally preserved. He mentions “poor preservation” when discussing the boundary canals but does not elaborate. He also states that the “projecting points are covered with a thin stainable membrane, the mesogloea” and that the “column [calyx] is provided with short, stout, round-ended rods with many rounded knobs”. This suggests the brown, rounded, fuzzy tips on the calyx sclerites were present when Benham was originally describing the specimen and thus the damage may have already occurred. The sample was removed from an old, sealed jar for this re-description. It was found to be in 50% ethanol with trace amounts of benzene. Nevertheless, A. vickersi n. comb. can be distinguished from other species included in Anthothela by the presence of the very long, narrow sticks with sparse tubercles in the tentacle rachis and pinnules, thorn clubs in the calyx, and numerous, short, stout tuberculate rods in the cortex. This differs from A. tropicalis, which has many large and bent thorn clubs and minimal short rods in the cortex, and strongly bent, large thorn clubs in the calyx. A. quattriniae n. sp. differs by the presence of large bulbous thorn clubs. A. aldersladei n. sp. has a preponderance of short thorn clubs in the cortex and very large spindles in the points and collaret. A. pacifica and A. grandiflora do not have the knobbly surface or prickly calyces evident in A. vickersi n. comb. .</p><p>Specimens of A. grandiflora carry the same haplotype as specimens of A. vickersi n. comb. using two mitochondrial gene regions (mtMutS and igr1– cox1). However, the morphological and geographical differences between these populations were deemed enough to require separation into two species. A. vickersi n. comb. has been recorded from southern Australia and New Zealand while A. grandiflora is only known from the Atlantic Ocean. The sclerites in the calyx of A. vickersi n. comb. are large, bent thorn clubs which project out from the calyx, while the sclerites in the calyx of A. grandiflora, although at times complex, do not consistently have tips which project out of the colony. Additionally, A. vickersi n. comb. has short, relatively broad, tuberculate rods common in the cortex and long, narrow sticks in the tentacles and pinnules which are not common in A. grandiflora, and the branches of the colonies of A. vickersi n. comb. are not as narrow or flexible as those in colonies of A. grandiflora .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E66FF87FF4BE23C7CEADCC5	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E76FFF2FF4BE7167C15DFFA.text	039B87ED3E76FFF2FF4BE7167C15DFFA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela tropicalis Bayer 1961	<div><p>Anthothela tropicalis Bayer, 1961</p><p>(Figs. 32–41)</p><p>Anthothela tropicalis Bayer, 1961: 68, Fig. 13.</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-93.027&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.533" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -93.027/lat 27.533)">Material</a> examined. Holotype: USNM 50650, southeast of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-93.027&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.533" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -93.027/lat 27.533)">Galveston</a>, Texas, Gulf of Mexico, Oregon stn. 534, 27.533°N, 93.027°W, depth 732–823 m, 11th April 1952.</p><p>Other material: USNM 1090549, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-79.633&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.849" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -79.633/lat 29.849)">St. Augustine</a>, Reed Peak #160, Atlantic Ocean, 29.849°N, 79.633°W, depth 742–828 m, 9th Nov 2005.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: According to Bayer (1961), originally the holotype was a rambling colony with “crooked” branches forming a “tangled mass” with no central stem; he figured only a small fragment (Fig. 32 A). The holotype now consists of seven fragments (Fig. 32 B); five of these are straight to slightly bent pieces of branch and two are pieces of tangled branch with anastomoses evident. There is no central stem or obvious holdfast. There are many calyces present but very few remaining polyps. The calyces apparently were “widely separated on all sides” but no distances between calyces or measurements of colony surface without polyps were given. On the holotype fragments, calyces are evident on all sides of the branches and distributed evenly throughout. There is no mention or evidence of clumps of polyps which is a common feature in other species of Anthothela . Only a tiny fragment of the holotype was examined for this study (Fig. 32 C) so parts of the original description have been incorporated here. The fragment is 1.9–2.1mm in diameter (which corresponds with “about 2.0 mm” from Bayer) and is basically circular in cross-section.</p><p>Colour: According to Bayer, “the colonies (sic) are ivory white in alcohol”. The fragment examined here is also white in alcohol. There is no mention of live colour.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces, as described by Bayer, are cylindrical in shape, “about 1.5 mm tall” and 2–3 mm wide from his figure (Fig. 32 A). Bayer does not give the dimensions of polyps in the text but from the figure the head of the polyp extends approximately 2 mm from the lip of the calyx and is 1.8–2 mm wide. Most of the polyps were preserved exsert although Bayer mentions that the “polyps are fully retractile”, and in his figure a polyp head is partly retracted such that the base of the polyp head rests on the lip of the calyx (Fig. 32 A). One of the few remaining polyps visible on the holotype fragments resembles that figured by Bayer (Fig. 32 Ba).</p><p>The fragment examined here has two mound-shaped calyces which are approximately 1.2 mm tall and 2 mm wide with no discernible ridges. The single polyp present is fully retracted within its calyx and appears poorly developed—it may in fact be a juvenile polyp (Fig. 32 Ca). The calyces and the colony surface are covered in large sclerites which have a projecting tip, giving the colony a very prickly appearance (Fig. 32 D). The polyp head has sclerites arranged in a distinct collaret and points (Fig. 33 A) and the tentacles are folded tightly into the mouth forming eight mounds and furrows, giving the top of the polyp a starred appearance. A single row of approximately 10 pinnules are arranged along each side of the tentacles but it was impossible to accurately determine the number of pinnules with the material available.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: Bayer included a figure of a cross-section of the colony (Fig. 32 Aa), and a cross-section from the fragment of holotype here generally confirms this figure (Fig. 33 B). The branch fragment consists of a medulla of tightly packed sclerites, longitudinally or obliquely arranged, surrounded by a thin cortex. The cortex and the medulla are separated by a series of longitudinal canals, running adjacent to each other and so close as to form a circle of boundary canals. They are, however, still discernible as individual canals and do not appear to frequently anastomose. There is no evidence, either in Bayer’s figure or the small cross-section taken here, of internal coelenteric canals within the medulla. However, Bayer qualifies his description by admitting that the “material is not sufficiently well-preserved to determine the extent to which the medulla is penetrated by solenia”. There is insufficient material to investigate the canal arrangements any further.</p><p>Sclerites: The polyp head is covered in closely packed sclerites, with approximately 10 transverse rows of sclerites forming a collaret and others arranged en chevron to longitudinally in eight points. These sclerites (0.2– 0.87 mm long) are mainly curved or straight sticks and spindles with relatively simple tubercles (Fig. 34). Occasionally in the points, there are sclerites where one end has developed short spines or thorns and these are positioned such that these tips project above the base of the folded tentacles (Fig. 35). It was impossible to adequately determine the arrangement of the sclerites on the polyp neck due to the limited material available.</p><p>The tentacles are crowded with sclerites that are arranged longitudinally along the aboral side and angled obliquely on the flanks. They are mostly short tuberculate rods, usually straight, sometimes curved, and are approximately 0.1–0.4 mm long (Fig. 36 B). Bayer mentions that the tentacle sclerites have “spines larger at one end than elsewhere” and includes them in his figure (Bayer, 1961 Fig. 13 a). A few sclerites like those figured were found in this study (Fig. 36 Ba) although they were not the dominant sclerite type in the tentacles. However, not specifically mentioned by Bayer is the fact that the pinnules are packed with longitudinally arranged spatulate clubs, with an enlarged and flattened tip, along with some simple small tuberculate rodlets, particularly in the tip of the tentacle (Fig. 36 A). Sclerites from the pinnules range in size from 0.06–0.35 mm long, with the spatulate clubs falling mainly into the range of 0.19–0.35 mm long.</p><p>Bayer mentions that the pharynx has “numerous slender, spinose spindles about 0.1 mm long”. In this study sclerites were found to be very numerous and densely arranged throughout the pharynx, leaving very little free tissue (Fig. 37 A, B). They are small, slender spindles with sparse, small tubercles, approximately 0.05–0.12 mm long (Fig. 37 C).</p><p>The calyces and cortex are covered with tightly packed, relatively large sclerites with projecting tips, making the calyces and colony surface very prickly (Fig. 32 D). These sclerites are usually strongly bent or curved and are mostly covered in simple to quite complex tubercles (Figs. 38 A; 39A) except at the tips which have foliose and flattened thorns but little or no tuberculation directly on the smooth spines. These sclerites are termed “bent hockey-stick spindles” by Bayer but conforming to the much later published octocoral glossary (Bayer et al. 1983), they are here termed thorn clubs. These thorn clubs range in length from 0.28–0.68 mm long in the calyx. In the cortex, the thorn clubs tend to be of similar size (0.33–0.78 mm long) but there are more numerous small ones (Fig. 39 A). Mixed in with the thorn clubs, in both the calyces and cortex, are straight or slightly curved tuberculate spindles and sticks (Figs. 38 B; 39B). These range in length from 0.18–0.6 mm long in the calyx and 0.33–0.57 mm in the cortex where they appear to be more common. This supports Bayer’s description where he stated “in the cortex [the bent hockey-stick spindles] are smaller and many ordinary spindles are mixed with them”.</p><p>Sclerites in the medulla are mostly long, narrow sticks and spindles with sparse, simple tubercles (Fig. 40). Occasionally, there are large sclerites with a greater covering of tubercles or warts. In the small sample taken here the sclerites ranged from 0.32–0.66 mm long, although Bayer mentions that the medulla sclerites often exceed “a length of 0.5 mm ”. There is evidence of sclerites occasionally fusing and branching.</p><p>The sclerites are all translucent and colourless under transmitted light.</p><p>Variability: The tiny fragment of USNM 1090549 (Fig. 41 A) examined consists of only three polyps arranged as a terminal branch cluster (Fig. 41 B). The sclerites differ slightly from the holotype in having more numerous thorn clubs in the points. The polyps and calyces are taller and narrower than those from the holotype (calyx 2.2 mm high with the polyp fully extended 3.4 mm above that; polyp head 1.6 mm wide) but the colony has the spiky surface characteristic of A. tropicalis and, apart from those in the pharynx, the other sclerites correspond with those of the holotype. In the pharynx, it has only loosely arranged sclerites and lacks the densely arranged pharynx sclerites found in the holotype, however the taxonomic importance of this character is unproved. This specimen is from the east coast of Florida.</p><p>Distribution: Gulf of Mexico; northern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, USA.</p><p>Depth: 732–828 metres.</p><p>Remarks: Regretfully, there are very few polyps remaining on the holotype, and only a tiny fragment was available for study. Nevertheless, further specimens are likely to be collected in the future. In fact, in Bayer’s description he mentioned “colonies are white in alcohol” so although he only explicitly mentioned and figured the holotype he appeared to have more than one specimen at his disposal.</p><p>Of the specimen USNM 1090549, a similarly small fragment was available for study. Unfortunately, with so little material available, the phylogenetic importance of calyx and polyp form and size is impossible to assess. Geographic proximity and the presence of large thorn clubs in the calyx and cortex are the main features tying these specimens together. Future research, particularly some molecular analysis not possible for these specimens, may also assist with this species delineation.</p><p>Distinguishing A. tropicalis from other species in Anthothela centres on the presence and, in fact, dominance of the characteristic thorn clubs in the calyx and surface. A. grandiflora has, at times, quite complex sclerites in the calyx but it does not have the true thorn clubs with smooth, sharply pointed tips. Consequently, the surface and calyces of A. grandiflora are not as thorny as those of A. tropicalis . Additionally, sclerites in the pharynx are always sparsely arranged in A. grandiflora while those in the A. tropicalis holotype are crowded, with little scleritefree tissue.</p><p>A specimen collected from a location very close to that of the holotype of A. tropicalis is herein described as the new species A. quattriniae . It too has thorn clubs in the calyx and surface of the colony but these thorn clubs are bulbous and swollen (Fig. 63).</p><p>Bayer compared A. tropicalis with A. pacifica, calling them “a twin pair”, one from the Pacific Ocean and one from the Gulf of Mexico. He claims A. tropicalis has “smaller and more numerous spicules in the crown and a broader collaret”. In fact, the lectotype of A. pacifica has very small sclerites, in general much smaller than those of A. tropicalis . Using the limited material from both type specimens here, it appears A. pacifica lacks the large, bent thorn clubs of A. tropicalis, instead having straight clubbed sclerites in the calyx and points.</p><p>A. aldersladei n. sp. has thorn clubs dominant in the calyx and surface but they are usually shorter than those in A. tropicalis (0.19–0.54 mm cf. 0.33–0.78 mm). In the surface of A. aldersladei n. sp. the small thorn clubs are almost exclusive with very few straight sticks and spindles as opposed to A. tropicalis which has a far higher percentage of the latter mixed in with the thorn clubs. Additionally, A. aldersladei n. sp. has very large points and collaret sclerites relative to the size of the polyp. At this stage, A. aldersladei n. sp. has only been recorded from the Indian Ocean, in waters off Western Australia.</p><p>A. vickersi n. comb. is a very similar species to A. tropicalis . It has similar sized thorn clubs in the calyx but they only rarely occur in the surface. The surface sclerites of A. vickersi n. comb. are a mixture of straight, tuberculate sticks and spindles with numerous short, rounded clubs with a slightly developed tip which A. tropicalis lacks. Additionally, A. vickersi n. comb. has only been recorded from the southern Pacific Ocean.</p><p>Finally, Bayer mentions that in A. tropicalis, the polyps are “widely separated on all sides”. This might be considered a difference with other Anthothela species which all tend to have polyps closely bunched and, at times, quite crowded.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E76FFF2FF4BE7167C15DFFA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E03FFFEFF4BE63E7DD2D958.text	039B87ED3E03FFFEFF4BE63E7DD2D958.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela aldersladei Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Anthothela aldersladei sp. nov. Moore &amp; Miller in Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/A55A7194-F698-4F8B-A9B9-E4FCC8759297 (Figs. 42–55)</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=115.166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-19.874" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 115.166/lat -19.874)">Material</a> examined. Holotype: WAM Z 31463, 190km NW of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=115.166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-19.874" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 115.166/lat -19.874)">Karratha</a>, Pluto Gas Field, Western Australia, SKM Pluto Gas Field Survey (PF06/S1–600/R2), 19.874°S, 115.166°E, depth 600 m, 7th December 2005.</p><p>Paratypes: WAM Z13059, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=113.966&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-21.48" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 113.966/lat -21.48)">North West Cape</a>, Exmouth, Western Australia, AIMS North West Cape Survey II 2002, Fromont, J., Marsh, L.M. &amp; Alderslade, P.N., stn. 0 4, 21.48°S, 113.966°E, depth 570 m, 20th March 2002 ; WAM Z90585, Perth Canyon, SE Indian Ocean, Western Australia, CSIRO RV <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=115.105&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-31.965" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 115.105/lat -31.965)">Southern Surveyor</a>, stn. 73 (SS 200510 /073-020), 31.9650°S, 115.105°E, depth 1000 m, 30th November 2005 .</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is broken into 6 small, irregular pieces of branches, all with calyces and polyps (Fig. 42 A). It is not possible to confidently reconstruct the shape or size of the colony, however the slightly twisted nature of the branches and the many bifurcation points indicate the colony form was probably tangled with irregular branching. The pieces of colony range in length from 10.6 mm to 24.6 mm and all are narrow (1.2–2.2 mm) and relatively delicate. The branches are usually circular in cross-section although they tend to flatten or distort at bifurcation points and where calyces arise. One piece has some evidence of anastomoses. All the colony pieces are in good condition with many intact polyps and undamaged surfaces.</p><p>On three of the colony pieces, calyces are crowded into clavate terminal bunches with no space between the bases (Fig. 42 B). Proximal to the terminal bunches and on the remainder of the colony pieces, calyces occur sparsely, on all sides of the branches and project at right angles. There are sections of the branches which have no calyces; the largest of these spaces is 8.8 mm long.</p><p>Colour: There is no record of live colour for this specimen; it is now light beige in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and Calyces: Calyces are large relative to the branch diameter, and range from 1.5–2.5 mm in height and 2–2.5 mm in width. They tend to be conical, and are clearly differentiated from the polyp neck and head by the arrangement and alignment of the sclerites (Fig. 43 A), which are small, crowded, arranged longitudinally and project out from the surface of the calyx giving it a prickly appearance. In contrast, immediately above the calyx lip, on the polyp neck and head much larger sclerites are arranged transversely, covering the polyp neck with no obvious thinning of the dense arrangement as is usually the case in other Anthothela species. These large sclerites continue obliquely to longitudinally up eight well-defined and quite spectacular points. All polyps are exsert with little or no invagination of the neck region and often with the polyp head bent over (Fig. 43 Ba), protruding 2.2–3.2 mm from the lip of the calyx and having a diameter of approximately 1.2–2.2 mm. The eight tentacles fold over the mouth of the polyp creating eight rounded ridges on the top of the polyp head. There are approximately 10 pinnules arranged in a single row along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The branches of the colony are composed of a central medulla, made up of tightly packed longitudinally arranged sclerites, that is surrounded by a cortex that is approximately 0.1–0.2 mm thick. The cortex and medulla are separated by a crowded series of adjacent longitudinal canals which encircle the medulla, allowing it to be easily separated from the cortex. A cross-section taken at the widest available part of the branches clearly shows the boundary canals, with no obvious, internal coelenteric canals (Fig. 44 A). In a narrower part of the colony, another cross-section demonstrates the same clear boundary canals with perhaps some indistinct canals in the central medulla (Fig. 44 B) which are more likely a thinning of the sclerites rather than defined canals. The body cavities of the polyps along the branches terminate at the medulla while the gastric canals of the polyps that are arranged in bunches at the tips of some branches tend to extend internally down the branch a short distance.</p><p>Sclerites: The polyps and calyces are covered with a dense layer of crowded sclerites which are mostly tuberculate sticks and spindles on the polyp head and spiky thorn clubs on the calyx and colony surface. On the polyp head sclerites are very large, relative to the polyp, and are not as crowded as elsewhere on the colony. The largest sclerites are crescents or bent tuberculate hockey-sticks, with the straight, longest part of the sclerite arranged longitudinally in the points and the proximal portion curving to be transverse at the base of the points (Figs. 43 A; 45). Some have roots (or small branches) at the base and many have a serrated, thorny tip (Fig. 46) that can project out from the polyp head and above the back of the folded tentacles (Fig. 45). There is no true collaret, rather curved spindles are arranged transversely and obliquely down the polyp neck with no diminution of the sclerite cover at the neck area. Sclerites in the points range in size from 0.40–0.90 mm approximately, while those from the neck are slightly smaller (0.26–0.77 mm).</p><p>From the tip of the points, sclerites continue obliquely along the tentacle rachis (Fig. 47). These sclerites are bent or straight tuberculate rods and sticks and spindles often with the shorter, curved end (Fig. 48 Aa) extending onto the tentacle flanks towards the pinnules. Straight sclerites are more commonly along the middle ridge of the tentacle rachis. The sclerites diminish in size along the tentacle; on the proximal end, the largest sclerites are approximately 0.58 mm long grading to the distal end of the tentacle where the smallest sclerites are approximately 0.20 mm long.</p><p>In the pinnules, sclerites are crowded longitudinally and are delicate and easily broken (Fig. 47). Spatulate clubs are common, with a tapered handle and a broad, spatulate, almost leaf-like end, that is oriented distad in the pinnules (Fig. 48 B). These sclerites vary in length from 0.12–0.32 mm and the handle can be narrow and cylindrical or wide and flat. The smaller sclerites grade from spatulate clubs to simple tuberculate rods. There are also short flat rods (0.08–0.1 mm long) with sparse tubercles and narrow curved sticks and spindles (0.14–0.21 mm long) inter-dispersed with the spatulate clubs (Fig. 48 C, D).</p><p>Calyces are covered in a dense and prickly layer of sclerites, almost all of which are small, bent, tuberculate thorn clubs (Fig. 49), orientated with the foliaceous, thorny tips distal on the calyx and angled out from the surface giving the calyx its prickly appearance. For the smaller sclerites there is some gradation between thorn clubs and those which are less developed at the tip and could be termed a wart club. Most calyx sclerites range from 0.22– 0.52 mm, however there are some smaller, straight, tuberculate sticks and spindles mingled with the thorn clubs, which only reach approximately 0.17 mm in length.</p><p>Very small sclerites with conical spines occur in the pharynx (Fig. 50 A). They are quite numerous and tend to occur in bunches. The size ranges from 0.05–0.12 mm long.</p><p>The cortex contains sclerites very similar to those in the calyx—small, bent, warty thorn clubs with quite complex, at times foliose, spear-tips (Fig. 50 B). They are tightly packed with the tips projecting out from the surface giving the branches a very prickly appearance. Size does not vary much with most of the sclerites being from 0.19–0.43 mm long but occasionally there are some up to 0.53 mm long and as small as 0.12 mm. Amongst these short thorn clubs are some simple, tuberculate sticks and spindles (of a similar length) but the thorn clubs are far more common.</p><p>The medulla is composed of tightly packed, longitudinally arranged sclerites—mostly sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles (Fig. 51). Occasionally there are larger sticks and spindles with only sparse tubercles, often with branches, forks and fused areas. Most sclerites are from 0.20–0.53 mm long although many of those sampled showed evidence of breakage. It was difficult to ensure these long sclerites remained undamaged during sampling so the prevalence of these cannot be estimated. Occasionally there are small spindles only 0.1 mm in length.</p><p>Sclerites are uniformly transparent under transmitted light.</p><p>Variation: The paratype, WAM Z13059, is membranous only, thinly encrusting large, straight sponge spicules (Fig. 52 A, B). It is from a site close to where the holotype was collected and was found at a similar depth. There is a similarly obvious delineation between the calyx and the polyp body (Fig. 52 A, C) and no retracted polyps were noted. Straightened out, the largest polyp is 5 mm long with the head 1.7 mm long and 1.4 mm wide. The sclerites on the points and neck region are smaller than those of the holotype (the largest measured at 0.58 mm) and slightly more crowded (Fig. 52 C, D) but the serrated ridges and thorny tubercles on the distal tips of the point sclerites resemble those of the holotype (Fig. 53 A) as do those sclerites from the neck (Fig. 53 B). Between each group of point sclerites there are two small intermediate sclerites which are narrow, curved spindles (Fig. 53 C). The arrangement of sclerites in the tentacles is similar to that in the holotype (Fig. 54 A) with bent tuberculate rods and bars (Fig. 54 B) arranged obliquely along the aboral side of the tentacle rachis and down onto the flanks, diminishing in size towards the distal tip, and the pinnules packed with spatulate clubs arranged longitudinally (Fig. 54 C). Some small rodlets with sparse, simple tubercles were found in the pharynx (Fig. 54 D). The calyces have well-developed, foliose thorn clubs similar to those in the holotype (Fig. 55 A), which project out from the surface giving it a prickly appearance (Fig. 52 Aa). The basal membrane of the colony contains predominantly rodlets, up to 0.2 mm long (Fig. 55 B). The larger spindles and small foliose, thorn clubs shown in the lower part of this figure are not common.</p><p>The other paratype colony is also membranous only, growing on straight sponge spicules, but otherwise corresponds well with the holotype. Interestingly, it is geographically separated from the other two specimens, occurring in the Perth Canyon off southern Western Australia.</p><p>Distribution: Western Australian coast</p><p>Depth: 570–600 metres.</p><p>Remarks: This species is different to other species in the genus Anthothela in having such large sclerites on the neck and in the points and predominately small thorn clubs in the calyces and cortex.</p><p>The paratype is membranous only. Colony form has been such a large part of historical determinations in octocorals that linking this colony with scleraxonians which are predominantly branched is not immediately intuitive. In the absence of a medulla, the presence of spatulate clubs in the pinnules, well-developed calyces and clavate sclerites can provide a trigger to assess specimens with regards to Anthothela .</p><p>It was only possible to obtain successful sequences of the two mitochondrial gene regions mtMutS and igr1– cox1 from the holotype. Across the length of the two gene regions combined there was only a single nucleotide difference from a clade consisting of A. grandiflora and A. vickersi n. comb. specimens. In the phylogenetic analysis this was sufficient for the A. aldersladei n. sp. specimen to be positioned outside the A. grandiflora / A. vickersi clade but with low support. A single nucleotide in a single specimen may be no more than sequencing error so further attempts to sequence other specimens are necessary for a more robust result.</p><p>Etymology: This species is named in honour of Dr Philip Alderslade, the first author’s PhD supervisor, who originally recognised the paratype as a possible Anthothela species and used the specimen as the catalyst for this revision.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E03FFFEFF4BE63E7DD2D958	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E11FFEAFF4BE4BF7E86D98E.text	039B87ED3E11FFEAFF4BE4BF7E86D98E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anthothela quattriniae Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Anthothela quattriniae sp. nov. Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/CB327C2D-3D3D-41DA-8F40-85E6E6C44350 (Figs. 56–67)</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-93.589&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.426" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -93.589/lat 27.426)">Material</a> examined. Holotype: USNM 1207951, Gulf of Mexico, USA, Lophelia II, (LII–10–464), ROV Jason, J2-531 GB535, NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, 27.426°N, 93.589°W, depth 522 m, 20–21st October 2010.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is a tangled colony with narrow branches and no main stem, and is approximately 80 mm high and 90 mm wide (Fig. 56 A). Six fragments of the colony were available for examination (Fig. 56 B), all with polyps and calyces arranged along narrow branches. The pieces range in size from 6–20 mm long and 4– 14.5 mm across at the widest parts and the largest piece has six bifurcations with no distinguishable order or arrangement. There is some evidence of previous anastomoses. Branches are circular to elliptical in cross-section and range from 0.6–2.2 mm wide; there is some distortion of the branches at the bifurcation points and where the calyces occur. There is no holdfast or evidence of any membranous growth forms in the fragments examined but in the photograph of the whole colony it appears to be attached to a solitary coral and possibly has more than one attachment point (Fig. 56 A).</p><p>Calyces and polyps occur along and around all of the branches. The largest space between two calyces is approximately 2 mm but most are closer than that, and they are crowded together at the branch tip, making it clavate (Fig. 57 A, B).</p><p>The fragments are in good condition with many intact polyps and the cortex is complete.</p><p>Colour: Soon after collection the colony was recorded as white. The fragments of the holotype examined are white in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are mostly low cylinders, projecting usually at right angles from the branches and bearing large projecting sclerites (Fig. 58 A). There are many smaller, probably juvenile polyps and calyces mixed amongst the larger ones (Fig. 57 A, B)—the larger calyces are approximately 1–2 mm high while the juveniles are approximately 0.6–1.0 mm high. Calyces tend to be as wide or slightly wider than they are tall with larger calyx widths ranging from 1.5–2.5 mm (juvenile calyces between 1–1.5 mm wide). They have a very rough, prickly appearance due to the projecting sclerites and, although there are not true longitudinal ridges on the calyces, there is a slight tendency for the largest projecting sclerites to be arranged in longitudinal columns with the sclerites between the columns tending to be smaller.</p><p>Most polyps are partly retracted so the base of the polyp head sits on the lip of the calyx and the polyp neck is not visible (Figs. 57 B; 58A). These polyps protrude approximately 1–1.5 mm from the lip of the calyx with the juvenile polyps protruding only 0.5–0.8 mm. Occasionally there are polyps fully retracted within the calyces with just a small round aperture obvious at the apex of a cone-shaped calyx (Fig. 58 B). These calyces are approximately 1–1.2 mm high. Only one polyp in the holotype fragments examined is slightly extended, and this is only on one side of the polyp, otherwise there are no extended polyps. Polyp heads are approximately 1–2 mm wide and are crowded with large sclerites arranged into a collaret and points (Fig. 58 A, C). Large sclerites project spectacularly from the points above the flat top of the polyp, which is formed where the tentacles fold over the mouth. Thus the polyp heads have imposing spiky peaks with the distinction between the points and the tentacle rachis being quite pronounced. There is a single row of 12 pinnules along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The colony branches have a central medulla surrounded by a thin cortex. Both the medulla and cortex are comprised of tightly packed sclerites arranged longitudinally or obliquely. A ring of coelenteric canals, running longitudinally along the branches, surrounds the medulla, clearly separating it from the cortex (Fig. 58 D). The canals are adjacent to each other but do not seem to anastomose or join thus they are always discernible as separate canals. They do not form a true boundary space. There are no obvious canals in the medulla.</p><p>The gastric cavity of the polyps arranged along the branches terminates in a flat base at the medulla while the polyps at the branch ends are slightly more elongated with the gastric cavities extending internally down the branches a small distance.</p><p>Sclerites: A robust covering of sclerites encases the colony pieces. Polyp heads have an impressive circlet of protruding spikes formed by large, more or less longitudinally arranged sclerites in the points, which grade from en chevron to transverse at the base of the polyp head to form a stout collaret, approximately 5–6 large sclerites in depth. The most common sclerite types in the collaret and the base of the points are straight or slightly curved, sometimes clavate, sticks and spindles with simple tubercles (Fig. 59). These sclerites mostly grade from 0.5–0.7 mm long. At the top of the points there are large, bulky, slightly spiny thorn clubs projecting above and away from the polyp head. These sclerites (Fig. 60) have a short, warty handle and a long, large head. The lower part of the head is bulbous and commonly narrows to a long end with small spiny projections. The handles are reasonably crowded with complex warts while around the bulbous middle of the sclerites there are usually low and fairly simple tubercles. Most of these bulky thorn clubs range in length from 0.45–0.8 mm although there are smaller ones only reaching approximately 0.3 mm long. On the single polyp which has some neck exposed, the neck region is covered in similar sclerites to the collaret, all transversely arranged. These are still quite large and crowded, surprisingly so considering the polyps can invaginate into the calyces.</p><p>At the top of the polyp head where the tentacles fold over, there is an abrupt change in the form of the sclerites. The bulky thorn clubs from the points give away to slightly curved rods, with simple tubercles, arranged almost en chevron along the aboral side of the tentacle rachis (Fig. 61 A). These sclerites tend to curve over the sides of the tentacle and they grade down to small rods arranged haphazardly at the very tip (Fig. 61 B). The sclerites grade continuously from 0.1–0.4 mm long.</p><p>The pinnules are tightly packed with longitudinally arranged, narrow sclerites (Fig. 62). The most distinctive type is the spatulate club. They are long and narrow with a flattened spatulate tip positioned distad in the pinnules (Fig. 61 A) and range from 0.1–0.3 mm in length. There are also small, straight, narrow sclerites with sparse, small tubercles and some flattened rods also with sparse tubercles; both these groups range from 0.07–0.25 mm long.</p><p>The calyces have three distinctive types of sclerite. Firstly, large, bulbous, slightly spiny thorn clubs, some with a rounded head, some with spear tips (Fig. 63), project out from the calyx giving it a very prickly, complex surface (Fig. 58 A). Many of these clubs are bent, with the projecting head arranged distally in the calyx. These sclerites have quite complex, crowded warts, particularly on the handle, while the head has sparse tubercles and small spines. Most of these are 0.4–0.6 mm long, although there are some smaller, less developed ones. The second type of calyx sclerites is much smaller sticks and rods, a few clavate, with simple to complex tubercles and these are only 0.1–0.5 mm long (Fig. 64). All sclerites are mixed together on the calyx except for just below the lip where the large, bulbous sclerites cease and only the smaller sclerites are present, arranged haphazardly (Fig. 58 A).</p><p>Small (0.5– 0.15 mm long), narrow rodlets with sparse simple tubercles, often in girdles, occur in the pharynx (Fig. 65 A). Overall they are not prolific; however they tend to occur more densely in line with the mesenterial attachments than in between them (Fig. 65 B).</p><p>The cortex sclerites tend not to be thorn clubs with pointed tips as in the calyx, but more commonly are rounded, swollen sclerites covered in large, complex warts (Fig. 66 A). The rounded ends of the sclerites project out from the surface of the colony. There tends to be a gradient from the largest bulbous sclerites, with the dense covering of complex warts (approximately 0.2–0.43 mm long), to narrower sticks and spindles, also with complex warts, right through to long sticks and spindles with simple tubercles (approximately 0.2–0.57 mm) (Fig. 66 B). These sclerites are mixed together in the cortex with no discernible order to their placement.</p><p>The medulla sclerites resemble the simple sclerites from the cortex. There is a mixture of straight sticks and spindles with sparse, simple tubercles through to those with a denser arrangement of complex warts (Fig. 67). Most of the sclerites with sparse tubercles range from 0.17–0.5 mm long but there are larger sclerites, up to 0.8 mm long. The sclerites with more complex warts and knobs range from 0.2–0.4 mm long.</p><p>The sclerites are all translucent and colourless under transmitted light.</p><p>Distribution: Gulf of Mexico, USA</p><p>Depth: 522 metres</p><p>Remarks: This specimen was first separated from the other Anthothela specimens using molecular results shared with the first author by Andrea Quattrini (Temple University, USA). Subsequent morphological investigation supported this separation due to the distinctive bulbous sclerites present in the calyx and surface of this specimen, not found in any other Anthothela species. The basic characteristics of the genus Anthothela are present, such as: the spatulate clubs crowded in the pinnules, sticks and spindles placed longitudinally (to en chevron) along the aboral side of the tentacle rachis, adjacent boundary canals separating the medulla and cortex, an absence of obvious internal medullary coelenteric canals, and multiple branch anastomoses.</p><p>A. quattriniae n. sp. is probably most closely related to the sympatric species Anthothela tropicalis which also has thorn clubs in the calyx and cortex. The holotypes from both A. tropicalis and A. quattriniae n. sp. were collected from similar geographic locations. However, the bulbous nature of the thorn clubs in A. quattriniae n. sp. distinguishes the species from A. tropicalis which has narrow, pointed thorn clubs (see Fig. 63 cf. Fig. 38). The size of sclerites may also be informative, however, unfortunately the fragment of the holotype of A. tropicalis examined here is very small, has many broken sclerites, and has only a single polyp, so comparisons of size of polyps and sclerites are prone to possible misinterpretation. No other specimen examined displayed the bulbous sclerites of A. quattriniae n. sp. Unfortunately, no specimens with the same morphological characteristics as A. tropicalis were available for molecular studies, but future comparisons of DNA sequences from A. quattriniae n. sp. and A. tropicalis may be elucidatory.</p><p>Other known Anthothela species all lack the bulbous spear-spindles present in A. quattriniae n. sp.</p><p>Etymology: The species was named in honour of Andrea Quattrini, then a fellow student from Temple University, California, USA, who recognised specimens she was working on were potentially Anthothela, and then shared these specimens and their DNA sequences with the first author.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E11FFEAFF4BE4BF7E86D98E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E1CFFEEFF4BE4BF7947DF4E.text	039B87ED3E1CFFEEFF4BE4BF7947DF4E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lateothela Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Lateothela gen. nov. Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/45E8D773-D627-45BC-A604-F6FCD829309B</p><p>Diagnosis: Monomorphic scleraxonians which form bulky, complex colonies; often with an extensive membranous or encrusting growth, from which multiple, upright, robust branches may emanate; some secondary branching can occur along with anastomoses; medulla without well-defined coelenteric canals; ring of boundary canals encircling medulla, clearly defining the cortex; distinct, robust calyces with a smooth mat-like surface; sclerites include tuberculate sticks and spindles, rodlets and spiky clubs; preponderance of short, stout warty rodlets in calyces and surface; longitudinally arranged tuberculate sticks and spindles and spiky clubs in the tentacle rachis; thorny josephinae clubs crowded and longitudinally arranged in the pinnules.</p><p>Type species: Parerythropodium grandiflorum Tixier-Durivault &amp; d'Hondt, 1974 by designation and monotypy.</p><p>= Lateothela grandiflora new combination</p><p>Remarks: Morphologically comparable genera include Anthothela, Victorgorgia and Briareopsis Bayer, 1993 . Specimens of Lateothela n. gen. have been mistakenly identified as Anthothela grandiflora for over 150 years. Superficially the colonies are similar with a complex construction of both encrusting and branched forms, similar colour and habitat and comparable appearance of calyces and polyps.</p><p>The main features of Lateothela n. gen. which differ from those of Anthothela are: preponderance of short, stout, warty rodlets in the cortex and calyx ( Anthothela specimens chiefly have tuberculate sticks and spindles); many thorny josephinae clubs in pinnules and tentacle rachis, few or no flat spatulate clubs ( Anthothela specimens have many spatulate clubs and few or no josephinae clubs); crowded mixed sclerite forms on the polyp neck and tentacle rachis that include spiky clubs ( Anthothela specimens have only sparse tuberculate sticks and spindles on the polyp neck and tentacle rachis).; colony robust, with a tendency for multiple branches to grow roughly perpendicular from a membrane with only minor secondary branching or anastomosing ( Anthothela specimens have many narrow, tangled, commonly anastomosing branches growing without any discernable organisation). The main features of Lateothela n. gen. which differ from those of Victorgorgia are: thorny josephinae clubs in the tentacles ( Victorgorgia has josephinae clubs which lack thorns and have only small, rounded tubercles); no central coelenteric canals in the medulla ( Victorgorgia has clearly defined central coelenteric canals in the medulla); growth form not aborescent ( Victorgorgia has arborescent colonies); sclerites present in the pharynx ( Victorgorgia species lack pharynx sclerites). Lateothela n. gen. could be compared to Briareopsis due to a similarity of sclerites but Briareopsis has a distinct single main stem which then branches dichotomously, the cortex is divided into two layers (the inner layer is very spongy), the medulla and cortex are only poorly differentiated by boundary canals and the calyces are very low (Bayer 1993).</p><p>Lateothela n. gen. actually appears to be relatively common in the northern eastern Atlantic, especially around Norway and in the north western Atlantic along the North American continental shelf (Scott France, pers. comm.), and can form large and extensive colonies, however its true identity has remained overlooked due to the erroneous assumption it was Anthothela grandiflora . The type species of Lateothela n. gen., Parerythropodium grandiflorum Tixier-Durivault &amp; d'Hondt, 1974 (currently known as Alcyonium grandiflorum) was described as a membranous colony, and more recently other membranous colonies were identified by Stokvis &amp; Ofwegen (2006) as Alcyonium grandiflorum . There is a possibility that many specimens from Lateothela n. gen. have been collected as membranous colonies only, presumably prior to the formation of branches with a medulla, and thus not associated with the scleraxonia . In fact, Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen (2006) describe a number of Alcyonium species which are all membranous and have similar sclerites to Lateothela n. gen. . In particular, some of the specimens have thorny josephinae clubs in the pinnules and tentacles as well as the short, stout, tuberculate rods and short clubs in the calyx and cortex. Both morphological and molecular characters of Lateothela n. gen. appear to be very similar to that of some nominal Alcyonium species, and these intricately entwined relationships are worthy of further investigation.</p><p>The genus is placed tentatively in the family Anthothelidae with the knowledge that the family as currently recognised (Williams &amp; Cairns 2015) is polyphyletic (Cairns &amp; Wirshing 2015), and the phylogenetic position of Lateothela n. gen. is entwined with some nominal Alcyonium (Alcyoniidae) species. It is possible that Lateothela n. gen. and some of these nominal Alcyonium species form a family separate from Anthothelidae and Alcyoniidae but this decision requires a revision of both families. Given that L. grandiflora n. comb. differs significantly, morphologically and genetically, from the type species of Alcyonium ( A. digitatum Linnaeus) it was thought that it is unlikely to be considered a true Alcyoniidae and for the species to be placed in Alcyoniidae would require a significant broadening of the diagnosis of the family. The gross morphological characterisitics, chiefly the scleraxonian axis and colony formation place the genus within the current definition of Anthothelidae .</p><p>Etymology: The new generic name is derived from the Latin, lateo (to lurk, lie hidden or escape notice) and thela in recognition that the genus has long been mistaken for specimens of Anthothela .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E1CFFEEFF4BE4BF7947DF4E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E1FFFC7FF4BE59F7F3EDD76.text	039B87ED3E1FFFC7FF4BE59F7F3EDD76.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lateothela grandiflora (Tixier-Durivault & d'Hondt 1974) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Lateothela grandiflora (Tixier-Durivault &amp; d'Hondt, 1974) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 68–89)</p><p>Anthothela grandiflora (Sars, 1856): Broch 1912b (?part): 5–9, Figs. 1–3; Molander 1918 (?part): 6–8, Fig. 1; Kükenthal 1919 (?part): 17, 19, 26, 43–44, 672, 681–685, 730, 788, 796, Figs. 17, 315; Verrill 1922 (?part): 18–19, Fig. 2, Pl. VI Figs. 1–4; Kükenthal 1924 (?part): 14–16, Figs. 13–14; Stiasny 1937 (?part): 20–23, Figs. F1, F2, Pl. I Figs. 6, 7; Verseveldt 1940 (?part): 37–47, Figs. 13–15; Carlgren 1945 (?part): 33–34, Fig. 8; Grasshoff 1981 (?part): 745, Karte 1, 942.</p><p>Parerythropodium grandiflorum Tixier-Durivault &amp; d’Hondt, 1974: 1373, Figs. 9–10; Weinberg, 1977: 148</p><p>Alcyonium grandiflorum (Tixier-Durivault &amp; d'Hondt, 1974): Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen 2006: 165–167; Figs. 1a, 2–3, 4 a–c</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-24.6&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=16.583" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -24.6/lat 16.583)">Material</a> examined. RMNH <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-24.6&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=16.583" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -24.6/lat 16.583)">Coel.</a> 33874, S of Raso, Cape Verdo, “ Tydeman ” Cape Verde Islands Expedition 1986, CANCAP-VII, stn. 7.140, 16.583°N 24.60°W, depth 1200 m, 4th Sept 1986 ; NTNU-VM 63143, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=10.0&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.468" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 10.0/lat 63.468)">Rødberg</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.468°N, 10.0°E, depth 200–300 m, 5th December 2006 ; NTNU-VM 68106, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.766&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.656" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.766/lat 63.656)">Agdenesflua</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.656°N, 9.766°E, depth 202–291 m, 12th June 2012 ; NTNU-VM 67147, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.766&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.656" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.766/lat 63.656)">Agdenesflua</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.656°N, 9.766°E, depth 150– 50 m, 30th June 2011 ; NTNU-VM 63140, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.763&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.651" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.763/lat 63.651)">Agdenesflua</a>, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.651°N, 9.763°E, depth 84–147 m, 1st July 2008 ; NTNU-VM 40341 (part), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.757&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=63.603" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.757/lat 63.603)">Dyrviknes</a> 27, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, 63.603°N, 9.757°E, depth 120 m, 18th May 1965 ; NTNU- VM 40336, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, determined by Broch as Anthothela grandiflora, depth and date unknown ; NTNU-VM 39877, Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth 400–500 m, 9th September 1911 ; ZMUB unregistered, Norway, Zoological Museum of Bergen, collected by Håkon Mosby-Møre, stn. 1, 10th October 2005 ; ZMUB 60246, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=5.586&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=59.813" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 5.586/lat 59.813)">Handangerfjord</a>, Norway, determined by A. Fosshagen as Trachymuricea kukenthali, 59.813°N, 5.586°E, depth 180–260 m, 6th June 1959 ; ZMUB 17759 (part), Skarnsundet, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, determined by Storm as Anthothela grandiflora, depth unknown, August 1899 ; ZMUB 12120, Totlandsholmen, Bryggen, Nordfjord, Norway, determined by Grieg as Anthothela grandiflora, depth 450 m, July 1899 ; ZMUB 3897, Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth and date unknown ; ZMUB 548, Flora, Batalden, Norway, depth and date unknown ; NHM, UIOslo B1367, Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, determined by Jungerson as Anthothela grandiflora, depth and date unknown ; NHM, UIOslo B1368, Between Rūltetangen and Solsvik, Norway, depth 400–500 m, 21st October 1949; ZMUC-ANT-000467, Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, determined by Mortensen as Anthothela grandiflora, depth 300 m, 27th July 1911 ; ZMUC-ANT-000468, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, determined by Jungersen as Anthothela grandiflora, depth unknown, 27th April 1887 ; ZMB 5527 (part), Rødberg, determined as Anthothela grandiflora by Broch, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth 300–350 m, 1913 ; ZMB 5847, Skarnsund, Trondhjemsfjord, Norway, Scholtlaener Expedition 1911, depth 150– 240 m, 1911 ; ZMB 2686, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth 180 m, 1886 ; ZMB 2545, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, depth unknown, 1881 ; NHMUK 1962.7.20.210, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, H. Graham Cannon, depth and date unknown ; NHMUK 1898.5.5.38, Rødberg, Trondheimsfjord, Norway, Norman Collection, depth 457 m, date unknown ; NHMUK 1917.6.7.1, Pernambuco Plateau, east coast of Brazil, determined as Stereogorgia claviformis, 7.617°S, 34.433°W, depth 274 m, date unknown.</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-84.727&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=26.204" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -84.727/lat 26.204)">Other</a> material: USNM 1139021, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-84.727&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=26.204" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -84.727/lat 26.204)">West Florida</a> slope, Gulf of Mexico, USA, USGS Discovre GOM 2009, Lophelia II (JSLII-09-GOM-3722), DSRV Johnson Sea Link II, RV Seward Johnson, 26.204°N, 84.727°W, depth 498 m, 16th September 2009 ; TMAG K4272, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-89.318&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=28.441" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -89.318/lat 28.441)">Gulf of Mexico</a>, USA, Lophelia II, stn. 276 (JSLII-09-276), 28.441°N, 89.318°W, depth 541 m, 10th September 2009 ; USNM 1207952, Gulf of Mexico, USA, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-88.017&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.166" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -88.017/lat 29.166)">Lophelia</a> II, (LII-10-312), ROV Jason, NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, 29.166°N, 88.017°W, depth 489 m, 22nd September 2010 ; USNM 1207953, Gulf of Mexico, USA, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-84.756&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=26.336" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -84.756/lat 26.336)">Lophelia</a> II, (LII-10-352), ROV Jason, NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, 26.336°N, 84.756°W, 507 m, 1st October 2010 .</p><p>The holotype of Parerythropodium grandiflorum is held at the MNHN, Paris and it was not possible to examine it during this project. However, Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen 2006 examined the holotype and assigned the specimen RMNH Coel.33874 to this species based on their comparison. We were fortunate to be able to examine their material and some figures are included here (Figs. 68–71). A sequence of the mtMutS gene region had previously been obtained from this specimen by Dr Catherine McFadden (Harvey Mudd College, USA) and was able to be included in the phylogenetic analysis within (attempts to sequence igr1– cox1 were unsuccessful). Most of the more detailed description further below is based on a representative specimen from the Trondheimsfjord in Norway (NTNU-VM 63143).</p><p>Description of RMNH Coel.33874. This specimen, collected from Cape Verde Islands in the western Atlantic Ocean, is a small colony which has encrusted a piece of green nylon rope (Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen 2006: Fig. 1a). Most of the colony is membranous and there are two distinct outgrowths where the colony has encrusted a dead hydroid, but there are also four or five instances where the colony has grown small but distinct scleraxonian branches with a number of polyps on each branch (Fig. 68 A–C). The branches available for dissection were all composed of a cortex with indistinct boundary canals surrounding a medulla (Fig. 68 D). There were no central medulla canals in the few cross-sections taken. As described by Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen, “the calyces are 2–6 mm high [and] the expanded polyps are 1.5–4 mm long and 1–3 mm wide”. Most polyps are partly or fully extended with the polyp neck exposed (Fig. 68 E). Sclerites are arranged into points and a diffuse collaret on the polyp head while sclerites on the neck are without a definite arrangement. The points consist of straight to slightly curved tuberculate sticks and spindles, (Fig. 69 A), up to 0.85 mm long (Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen 2006) which transition to tuberculate clubs (0.1–0.3 mm) and short, thick, warty rodlets (0.08–0.13 mm) along the rachis of the tentacles (Fig. 69 B). The warty rods are concentrated distally in the tentacle rachis and the clubs are orientated longitudinally along the tentacle. The base of the pinnules has many, longitudinally arranged, thorny josephinae clubs and smaller, lightly tuberculated rods (Fig. 69 C) which are 0.17–0.3 mm and 0.05–0.17 mm long respectively. The neck and the calyx have a dense covering of slender, tuberculate sticks and spindles (0.24–0.8 mm long) and short, thick, warty rodlets (0.1–0.26 mm long) (Fig. 70 A, B). The cortex has slender, tuberculate sticks and spindles, 0.13–0.5 mm long (Fig. 71 A), and the small piece of medulla sampled had mainly straight, lightly tuberculate sticks and spindles and sticks (Fig. 71 B), many of them broken during sampling, with some examples of fusion occurring.</p><p>Colour: The colour was recorded as “whitish” and the colony appears cream in Fig. 1a in Stokvis &amp; van Ofwegen 2007. The colour of the holotype was not recorded, however, a specimen from Norway (NTNU-VM 67147) was creamy peach to light apricot when alive (Fig. 72 C). Other specimens are recorded as being “peach” and “rose pink”.</p><p>Description of NTNU-VM 63143: Colony form: The specimen consists of seven fragments of what was probably one colony (Fig. 72 A). The main holdfast is an encrusting, membranous part of the colony, growing over coral rubble. From this, five branches emanate basically perpendicular to the membrane and roughly parallel to each other. There are examples of anastomoses, predominantly at the bases of the branches. These upright branches are slightly flexible, but will snap if bent, are reasonably robust, a relatively consistent diameter (4–6.4 mm) and range from 46–83 mm long. Occasionally, the upright branches have secondary branching but usually only close to the distal end, and these branches are quite short, ranging from 3.3–4.6 mm only. In general, the branches range between oval to circular in cross-section, but at places where polyps occur and at points of bifurcation, the branches can be distorted.</p><p>Polyps are distributed throughout the colony, on all sides of the branches and also on the membranous part. There is a tendency for their calyces to crowd together in terminal bunches (Fig. 72 B). The largest distance where there are no calyces is only approximately 5 mm with most closer together.</p><p>The colony, although in a number of fragments, is in good condition with many intact polyps and much unbroken colony surface.</p><p>Colour: Colour was not recorded when alive but is now light cream in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are relatively short, flat-topped, conical projections which protrude, in general, at right angles to the branches except at branch tips where they crowd together at many angles (Figs. 72 B; 73A). They range from 1.5–2.5 mm tall and 2.5–3.8 mm wide. All are covered with a layer of tightly packed sclerites giving a very smooth appearance. Some of the calyces have eight minor bulges or longitudinal ridges at the lip of the calyx corresponding to the eight points on the polyp head. The majority of polyps are partly retracted such that the base of the polyp head sits on the lip of the calyx or is partly enclosed in the calyx (Fig. 72 B; 73B). There are examples of entirely retracted polyps where the calyx has closed over the top of the polyp head and rare examples of partially extended polyps where the polyp neck area is visible, which can be slightly swollen or ballooned out above the firm calyx (Fig. 73 C, D). The exsert part of the polyps can be 3–5 mm tall but most commonly just the polyp head is visible, approximately 2–2.5 mm tall. Polyp heads are approximately 2–3 mm across at the widest point. Occasionally juvenile polyps occur; these are approximately 0.8–1.3 mm tall and 1.3–1.5 mm wide. All polyps have the tentacles neatly and tightly closed within the mouth, giving the polyps a consistent starred appearance with eight rounded mounds. There is a single row of 8–10 very fleshy pinnules arranged along each side of the tentacles, some of which extend around the tip.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The upright branches have a medulla composed of tightly-packed, longitudinally or obliquely arranged sclerites surrounded by a thin cortex. There are many small canals between the medulla and cortex running longitudinally throughout the colony, creating a distinct boundary between the medulla and the cortex. They are clearly defined, and do not appear to anastomose (Fig. 74 A). There are no obvious coelenteric canals within the medulla, either at the base of the branches or at the tips. Small solenia penetrate the medulla and cortex, facilitating connections between the polyps and the main boundary canals.</p><p>Along the branches, polyp body cavities truncate evenly at the medulla while in the terminal bunches, polyp body cavities extend as gastric canals only slightly within the branches, merging into the boundary canals.</p><p>Sclerites: The calyces, polyps and colony surface are all covered in sclerites. The heads of the polyps are coated in a crowded layer, which are arranged en chevron at the points and longitudinal at the base of the tentacles (Fig. 73 C). There are also many intermediate sclerites between the points. The point and intermediate sclerites are mostly slightly curved sticks and spindles with a light to moderate covering of simple, often tall, tubercles (Fig. 74 B). Occasionally, smaller sclerites with a tendency for one of the tips to be clavate were noted but they are not common (Fig. 74 Ba). Lengths range from 0.19–0.65 mm but most are between 0.2–0.6 mm long. Immediately basal to the points, similar sclerites are arranged transversely to obliquely and form a diffuse collaret when the polyp is retracted.</p><p>From the tip of the points, the crowded sclerites continue longitudinally along the tentacle rachis (Fig. 75). There are a mixture of forms: small clubs with flame-like spikes on the head (0.09–0.25 mm long) (Fig. 76 a); mostly straight, lightly tuberculate sticks and spindles (0.2–0.48 mm long) (Fig. 76 b) and short, straight, sparsely tuberculate flat rodlets (0.1–0.2 mm long) (Fig. 76 c). Most sclerites are arranged longitudinally along the tentacle rachis with any clubbed or spiny tips always arranged distad, although in the distal quarter of the tentacle the flat rods sometimes appear to lie transversely. The small clubbed sclerites (Fig. 76 a) are arranged along the centre of the tentacle rachis (Fig. 75) with the other types of sclerites occurring on the flanks of the tentacles. Sclerite length tends to decrease distally.</p><p>The pinnules are fleshy and relatively large with narrow sclerites crowded longitudinally (Fig. 75). However, this fleshy nature combined with few sclerites actually reaching the distal tip of the pinnules means it is possible to conclude, erroneously, that there are no sclerites in the pinnules. The sclerites include rodlets (0.1–0.2 mm long) and narrow, thorny josephinae clubs (0.2–0.4 mm long) (Fig. 77). Some of the thorny josephinae clubs are also found along the sides of the tentacles, extending into the top of the pinnules.</p><p>Below the polyp head and diffuse collaret, the polyp neck is covered in a crowded layer of haphazardly arranged sclerites (Fig. 73 C, D). The majority are short, straight, tuberculate sticks and spindles along with clubs and rodlets with relatively large warts and tubercles (Fig. 78 A). There are also occasionally small, tuberculate crosses, some of which are unevenly developed sticks and spindles, resembling those from the points. Lengths range from 0.2–0.45 mm for the sticks and spindles to 0.08–0.22 mm long for the small rodlets and clubs and the crosses are approximately 0.07–0.11 mm.</p><p>Numerous small sticks, spindles and rods with simple tubercles are found in the pharynx (Fig. 78 B). These are a relatively uniform size, with most only ranging from 0.09–0.15 mm long, although there are occasionally longer sclerites, up to 0.2 mm long. Small crosses are also occasionally found.</p><p>Calyces are covered in a dense, smooth layer of sclerites which are small enough to knit together to commonly create a mat-like appearance to the surface (Fig. 73 A, B), and it is difficult to see individual sclerites through a dissecting microscope. The sclerites comprise many short, thick, rodlets and clubs with relatively large tubercles and warts, and straight to slightly sinuous, tuberculate, narrow sticks and spindles (Fig. 79). The rodlets are a relatively consistent length, from 0.08–0.13 mm long while the clubs are from 0.09–0.19 mm long. Occasionally there are large spindles that can reach 0.65 mm long but most of them are approximately 0.14–0.5 mm long. Small crosses and irregularly branched forms with moderate tubercles occasionally occur.</p><p>The surface of the colony has very similar sclerites to those in the calyces (Fig. 80). The short, warty rodlets (0.07–0.16 mm long) are again common as are clubs and predominately straight sticks and spindles. Most of the sticks and spindles grade from 0.16–0.35 mm long, but much larger sclerites, up to 0.7 mm, were found. Very occasionally tuberculate crosses also occur.</p><p>The medulla has narrow, slightly curved or straight, sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles (Fig. 81). Many are brown in colour when viewed under transmitted light, and fragile so they tended to be broken during the sampling procedure. The brown sclerites were significantly more common in the centre of the medulla while the clear spindles were more likely to be from the outer part of the medulla. The clear spindles were usually from 0.09– 0.5 mm long while the fragile, brown sclerites from the centre of the medulla were estimated to be 0.12–0.62 mm long, which is probably an underestimate. Fusion and branching of sclerites were observed but these were not common.</p><p>Sclerites were all transparent under transmitted light except for some brown medulla sclerites.</p><p>Variation: Most of the specimens examined are generally consistent in colony form and sclerite shape. One of the notable exceptions in colony form and appearance is ZMUC-ANT-000468 (Fig. 82 A) which is a large, branching colony, with many anastomoses, the vertical branches joining and separating multiple times making it a much more complex colony than the one described in detail above. Additionally, most of the polyps are preserved exsert rather than retracted (Fig. 82 B), exposing the neck region so that the sclerite arrangement can be more easily assessed (Fig. 82 C). A longitudinal cross-section of a terminal polyp bunch (Fig. 82 D) shows the polyp body cavities do not extend very far into the medulla, that there are no obvious large canals, and that the cortex is firmly attached with only small boundary canals. The sclerites of this specimen are similar to those of the specimen described above but are larger and slightly more warty, particularly in the cortex where they include large, warty sticks and spindles.</p><p>Similarly, ZMUB 60246 is a large, robust colony. It consists of many pieces, but also has common anastomoses and most polyps exsert (Fig. 83 A). A small portion of the colony is peachy pink in colour (Fig. 83 B) while most is cream. Sclerites are similar to NTNU-VM 63143 with the exception of rare branched, warty sticks and spindles in the points. Most of the polyps are also exsert in the specimen ZMUB 3897 which again means the colony looks quite different to NTNU-VM 63143, but the usual colony form of multiple, vertical, anastomosing branches emanating from an encrusting membrane is still evident (Fig. 83 C). This specimen has some sclerites from the points, calyx and surface which are simple spindles with thorns rather than tubercles as in NTNU-VM 63143. Fragments of both L. grandiflora n. comb. and Anthothela grandiflora colonies were found in Lot ZMUB 17759, with both colonies looking very similar (Fig. 83 D). Another specimen, ZMUB 548 (Fig. 83 E), is very similar in form to NTNU-VM 63143 but other colonies have much more substantial anastomoses and membranous growths making the colonies complex (Fig. 83 F, G).</p><p>As mentioned above, in most of the examined specimens the surface of the colony between and on the calyces is a smooth mat of sclerites with most sclerites too small to be reliably discerned under a dissecting microscope. However, in the specimen ZMUB 12120 some calyces have obvious, long, longitudinally aligned spindles in an outer layer, while the short, warty rodlets are common in an inner layer (Fig. 84 A, B). This arrangement does not appear to be consistent, with some calyces having only a few long spindles obvious while others have only patches where long spindles are the dominant sclerite. As the polyp neck region invariably has a jumble of smaller sticks, spindles and rods, those polyps where long spindles dominate in the calyx show a clear demarcation between the calyx and polyp neck. There are also areas of the cortex between the calyces that have long spindles, but these again are not consistent. An unregistered ZMUB specimen has a similarly patchy distribution of long spindles although it appears to have the spindles in an inner layer of the calyx with the shorter sclerites forming an outer layer.</p><p>Specimens from Trondheimsfjord, Norway, recently obtained very close to the collection site of NTNU-VM 63143, were photographed soon after collection (Fig. 85 A, B). Their live colour varied from creamy pink to apricot, similar to those from the Gulf of Mexico. One of these samples was preserved with many polyps having the tentacles expanded (Fig. 85 C, D). An additional colony from Trondheimsfjord, photographed in situ (Fig. 86 A, B), appears likely to be an example of this species but was not available for examination, so this must remain unconfirmed.</p><p>A small piece of a colony collected from the east coast of Brazil (NHMUK 1917.6.7.1) has sclerites consistent with those from NTNU-VM 63143 and provides more evidence that the species is widespread.</p><p>In situ photographs of the specimens TMAG K4272 and USNM 1207953 from the Gulf of Mexico show extensive colonies hanging down from artificial structures, with many branches emanating from a membranous base (Fig. 87 A, B). The polyps are crowded and tall with large tentacles (Fig. 87 C). Colonies are cream to beige in situ but are closer to apricot in bright surface light soon after collection (Fig. 87 D, E) but are bleached to almost white in ethanol (Fig. 87 F). Sclerites are similar to those of NTNU-VM 63143 in most areas (Figs. 88; 89), although the spindles from the calyx are slightly shorter (0.2–0.36 mm long in TMAG K4272 cf. 0.14–0.5 mm from NTNU-VM 63143) and sclerites from the cortex are generally stouter and have wider tubercles than NTNU- VM 63143 (Fig. 89 B). Considering the geographic distance separating the Gulf of Mexico from Norway and that there are genetic character differences between these geographic groups, the Gulf of Mexico specimens may represent a separate species within this genus. However, without more significant morphological differences and a stronger understanding of what is sufficient genetic variation within this group they remain within this species.</p><p>Distribution: Northern Atlantic—relatively common along the coast of Norway; Iceland; east coast of Brazil; Gulf of Mexico.</p><p>Depth: 50–550 metres.</p><p>Remarks: The description of Parerythropodium grandiflorum in Tixier-Durivault &amp; d’Hondt (1974) is unfortunately brief and the sclerite depictions a little stylised. Given this and that the type specimen appears to be membranous it is perhaps understandable that this species has not before been associated with the much more substantial and structurally complex scleraxonian specimens included here. The taxonomic confusion around Anthothela has also contributed to specimens which were actually L. grandiflora n. comb. remaining unrecognised.</p><p>For over 150 years this species has been repeatedly mistaken for specimens of Anthothela grandiflora . This is understandable as the two species are sympatric, similar in colour, similar in colony form, and many of the sclerites in both species are tuberculate sticks and spindles. The initial mistake, made possibly by Sars not long after he described A. grandiflora, seems to have been compounded by Broch (1912b) in his influential re-description of A. grandiflora where he figured what appear to be the small, warty rodlets from the calyx and cortex common in L. grandiflora n. comb. Although stating that he viewed many specimens from a number of museums, including the holotype of A. grandiflora, he was not specific on exactly which specimen or specimens he figured. In his discussion he mentioned short, thick cylinders, only 0.1–0.2 mm long, as abundant in the calyces and in the colony surface (Broch 1912b). The holotype of A. grandiflora does not have sclerites like that but as they were figured in Broch’s re-description the misconception that it does has continued for many years. Additionally, Broch mentioned that there are no sclerites in the pinnules of A. grandiflora; this is clearly incorrect, as in the holotype of A. grandiflora the pinnules are packed with long spatulate clubs; however the sclerites in the pinnules of L. grandiflora n. comb. tend to be masked by the fleshiness of the pinnules and do not always reach the tip of the pinnule so it is feasible that Broch failed to notice them. The obvious hypothesis is that Broch used more than one specimen in his description and at least one of these specimens was L. grandiflora n. comb. This indeed seems to be the case, as sample lots labelled A. grandiflora that were investigated for this project (NTNU-VM 40341, ZMUB 17759, ZMB 5527 (determined by Broch)), had both species found together in the same jar. Subsequent researchers often used Broch’s 1912b re-description, sometimes finding the short, warty rodlets (so possibly actually investigating a specimen of L. grandiflora n. comb.) and sometimes failing to find them (so possibly with a true A. grandiflora specimen). For example, Verrill (1922) in his description of A. grandiflora stated the figures are “from the type described in 1869”, however Plate VI Fig. 1 appears to depict the sclerites of L. grandiflora n. comb. with the small, warty rodlets from the calyx and cortex. His description—”the cortex of the calicles and coenenchyme is finely granulous under a lens. when dried, and the surface is filled with an abundance of very irregular and pop-corn shaped spicules, with roughly warted and mostly spindle-shaped spicules beneath, mixed with some irregular clubs, rods, and many small irregular forms of various shapes” (Verrill 1922) is a good description of the sclerites found in the calices and cortex of L. grandiflora n. comb. instead of the holotype of A. grandiflora which has calyx and cortex sclerites that are chiefly long, narrow sticks and spindles. However, the colony depicted in Verrill’s Text Fig. 2 is much like the holotype of A. grandiflora and not of L. grandiflora n. comb.</p><p>Stiasny (1937) mentioned two colony forms in the specimens of Anthothela grandiflora he investigated. The first form had a flat membranous plate from which robust, upright branches with little or no anastomoses arise, much like that described here for L. grandiflora n. comb. The description of the colony form of the second specimen more closely matches that of A. grandiflora . The text figure of the sclerites may easily be depicting the warty rodlets from the calyces and cortex of L. grandiflora n. comb. (his Text Fig. 1 g–i). It is possible that the two colony forms mentioned by Stiasny actually represented the two confused species.</p><p>Considering that in every one of the six European museums visited for this study, and in collections obtained from NMNH and NHMUK, multiple, large specimens of this species were found, with most labelled as A. grandiflora, it seems highly likely there are more examples of this species still incorrectly identified as A. grandiflora in many other museums. Given that large colonies have been found in the Gulf of Mexico and noted off the coast east coast of the USA (Scott France, pers. comm.), combined with the many examples examined from Norway and the slender evidence of a presence off the east coast of Brazil, it would seem to have a widespread distribution in the Atlantic Ocean.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E1FFFC7FF4BE59F7F3EDD76	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E36FFC7FF4BE7877C0CD929.text	039B87ED3E36FFC7FF4BE7877C0CD929.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Williamsium Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Williamsium gen. nov. Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/2540CBA5-F386-4C40-B302-92EE309C0385</p><p>Diagnosis: Monomorphic scleraxonians which form arborescent colonies with a single, short main stem; simple, sparse branching basically in one plane; anastomoses absent; medulla without large, well-defined coelenteric canals, separated from the cortex by a ring of boundary canals; polyps sparse, retractile into tall calyces on all sides of branches but restricted to the distal half of the branches; sclerites predominately short, flat rods arranged transversely in the tentacle rachis, transverse scales in pinnules, small tuberculate rods in the neck and pharynx, and tuberculate sticks and spindles in the points, calyx, cortex and medulla.</p><p>Type species: Anthothela parviflora Thomson, 1916 here designated.</p><p>= Williamsium parviflorum new combination</p><p>Remarks: The genus is placed tentatively in the family Anthothelidae with the knowledge that the family as currently recognised (Williams &amp; Cairns 2015) is polyphyletic (Cairns &amp; Wirshing 2015). Of the recognised scleraxonian families with an unconsolidated axis, the lack of well-defined coelenteric canals in the medulla and the presence of pharynx sclerites excludes it from Victorgorgiidae n. fam.; the lack of radiate capstans among the cortex sclerites excludes it from Spongiodermidae; the lack of fused spindles in the medulla excludes it from Subergorgiidae; monomorphic polyps exclude it from Paragorgiidae; and the distinct ring of boundary canals excludes it from Briareidae . The boundary canals, prominent calyces and sclerites, and mainly tuberculate sticks and spindles in a collaret and point arrangement place it within the current diagnosis for Anthothelidae . However, given that the arrangement and shape of the sclerites in the tentacles differ significantly from those found in Anthothela specimens it is likely that this genus will need reassignment in the future.</p><p>Etymology: This genus is named in honour of Dr Gary Williams in recognition of the extensive research conducted by him on octocorals from the waters around South Africa, including a redescription of the type species of the genus.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E36FFC7FF4BE7877C0CD929	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3E36FF30FF4BE37E783EDB32.text	039B87ED3E36FF30FF4BE37E783EDB32.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Williamsium parviflorum (Thomson 1916) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Williamsium parviflorum (Thomson, 1916) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 90–97)</p><p>Anthothela parviflora Thomson, 1916: 3 –6, Pl. II Fig. 5, Pl. V Fig. 4; Williams 1992a, 185–186, Figs. 2–3, 4 A–D.</p><p>Material examined. Paralectotype: NHMUK 1962.7.20.40, off Algoa Bay, South Africa, ‘P.F. 524’, depth 183 m, 1st November 1898, S.J. Hickson collection.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The fragments examined here are from one of three syntypes, which was only briefly mentioned in Thomson’s (1916) original description. His description was based on the “most complete example” which was probably the specimen designated as the lectotype by Williams (1992a). Unfortunately it was not possible to view the lectotype which is stored at the South African Museum. The material examined here is from a different location to the lectotype but corresponds with Thomson’s extensive description and strongly resembles the figures in Williams (1992a).</p><p>The complete lot consists of a small, incomplete colony plus the three fragments examined here (Fig. 90 A). They are all pieces of branches with tall calyces emanating at right angles or obliquely from the branch (Fig. 90 B). The largest fragment is 51.5 mm long with eleven polyps spread evenly along it; another fragment is 28 mm long with seven visible polyps (approximately half of the branch is surrounded by an encrusting sponge); and the smallest fragment is 14 mm long with four polyps. The two smallest pieces have intact branch tips which have small clumps of adult polyps (one has two juvenile polyps on the very apex of the branch). None of the fragments examined have any evidence of branching, however the largest portion of the colony pictured in Fig. 90 A is consistent with the species description by Thomson; that is, colonies with a spreading base, sparse, irregular branching, basically in one plane, bifurcation at approximately 45 degrees and branches which are twisted or curved. There are no anastomoses noted for the three specimens described by Thomson (1916) or the four colonies examined by Williams (1992a), although Thomson does mention that colonies can be “creeping”, perhaps indicating this species can grow both membranous and branching forms. Williams, however, does not mention any such growth form from the four “whole” colonies included in his description.</p><p>The three branch fragments are circular in cross-section and diameter varies little (from 1–2 mm). In the larger colony portion pictured, the major branches are up to 3 mm wide while the bulky basal stem is approximately 5 mm wide.</p><p>All fragments are in good condition with mostly intact polyps and an undamaged colony surface.</p><p>Colour: No mention is made of live colour by either Thomson or Williams, although Thomson mentions that the (presumably preserved) colony has a “slightly silvery appearance”. This is more likely due to the dense layer of sclerites than colony colour. The fragments are now cream in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are sparsely arranged on all sides of the branches, approximately 3.5–5 mm apart. Terminal clumps of calyces are not large or overly crowded (Fig. 90 C). The calyces are tall and cylindrical, with eight distinct longitudinal furrows. Most calyces are approximately 3–4.5 mm tall and 1.5–2.0 mm wide although there are rare calyces only 2–2.5 mm tall. The exsert part of the polyps are approximately 1–2.3 mm tall but none are fully extended—most have the polyp head resting on the lip of the calyx (Fig. 90 D). Polyp heads are approximately 1.3–1.6 mm in diameter and some are fully retracted into the calyx (Fig. 91 A). The tentacles are often crumpled in a haphazard way over the polyp mouth (Fig. 91 B), although there are occasionally polyps with the tentacles folded in, across the polyp mouth, giving those polyps a mounded, starred apex to the polyp head. There is a single row of 10 very long and narrow pinnules along each side of the tentacles. The pinnules taper to a sharp tip and often twist and curl.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The medulla is constructed of tightly packed sclerites, arranged longitudinally in general, and is surrounded by a cortex, similarly consisting of crowded sclerites. The cortex is distinctly separated from the medulla by a ring of relatively large and well-defined boundary canals (Fig. 92 A). These canals do not obviously anastomose to form a boundary space but run longitudinally, adjacent to each other, the length of the fragments. This is similar to that seen in specimens of Anthothela although here the canals are much larger relative to the diameter of the branches; within the 1–2 mm branch diameter the boundary canals have approximate diameters of 0.1–0.15 mm. The cortex is approximately 0.1–0.2 mm thick while the medulla is approximately 1-1.5 mm in diameter. There are no coelenteric canals within the medulla. Thomson (1916) mentions “a few small canals” in the medulla but there was no indication of such found here.</p><p>Due to the scarcity of material, no investigation was conducted on the canal arrangement at the branch tips.</p><p>Sclerites: Sclerites cover the calyces and polyps. On the polyp head, straight or very slightly curved, tuberculate sticks and spindles are arranged in eight points (Fig. 92 B, C). These sclerites are 0.18–0.38 mm long and are arranged longitudinally on the central ridge of the points, and en chevron to obliquely on the sides of the points. A collaret is not present. There are intermediate sclerites arranged longitudinally between the points, with clumps of up to five proximally, reducing to only one or two distally (Fig. 92 Ba). They are similar in form to the sclerites of the points. In the distal part of the points, the longitudinally arranged sticks and spindles cease and are replaced by transversely arranged, small, lightly tuberculate, mostly flattened rods (Fig. 93 A, B) along the back and side of the rachis. They continue to the tip of the tentacle, decreasing in size distad, and range from 0.11–0.21 mm in length. The pinnules have numerous small, very lightly tuberculated scales (Fig. 93 C). Some are butterflyshaped or have a waist but most or straight with slightly crenulated edges. They are arranged transversely in the pinnules (Fig. 93 A), and although numerous, are not overly crowded. Their length ranges from 0.05–0.12 mm.</p><p>The polyps have an irregular arrangement of sclerites spread over the neck region, mostly short rods with simple tubercles (Fig. 94 A). Sizes range from 0.07–0.19 mm long.</p><p>The pharynx is fleshy and thick, and when contracted shows rounded, transverse ridges which are possible muscle bands (Fig. 94 B). Sclerites are rare or absent proximally but distally are arranged in indistinct longitudinal groups. They are short rods with few tubercles (Fig. 94 C), similar to those in the neck, and differ slightly from those pharynx sclerites found in the other genera included herein. They are approximately 0.08–0.13 mm long.</p><p>On the calyces, the sclerites are arranged mostly longitudinally or slightly obliquely and are quite crowded together. They are visible as a silvery layer with individual, large sclerites discernible for most of the calyx, but at the lip they overlap so only the sclerite tips are visible. Almost all are narrow to stout spindles with simple to relatively crowded tubercles (Fig. 95) and they range from 0.06–0.32 mm long.</p><p>In the cortex, the sclerites are similar to those from the calyx, that is, sticks and spindles with simple tubercles through to complex warts (Fig. 96) and they are 0.06–0.34 mm long. There tends to be a higher percentage of warty spindles, particularly short, stout ones (Fig. 96 a), in the surface than in the calyx but this may be an artefact of sampling or patchiness.</p><p>The medulla contains similar warty spindles as found in the cortex, as well as simple, lightly tuberculate sticks and spindles, short, mostly smooth spindles and rare warty crosses (Fig. 97). The tuberculate sticks and spindles are easily damaged or broken during the sampling process so maximum length is an underestimate, but they appear to be 0.11–0.4 mm long. The warty spindles are relatively consistent in length (0.18–0.25 mm) while the mostly smooth spindles are only 0.06–0.1 mm long.</p><p>All sclerites are universally transparent and colourless under transmitted light.</p><p>Distribution: This species has rarely been reported and it is assumed it is restricted to the waters around South Africa (Williams 1992b). Considering the report by Williams (1992a) on four full colonies in one trawl in an area outside the type locality, the species may be locally common.</p><p>Depth: 180–500 metres.</p><p>Remarks: This species was originally placed in the genus Anthothela by Thomson on the then justifiable grounds of a similar scleraxonian medulla and mostly comparable polyp and sclerite form. Based on the redefinition of Anthothela herein, this species can no longer be considered an example of the genus due to the distinct differences in the sclerites of the tentacles and pinnules and in the colony form. Anthothela species have tuberculate sticks and spindles arranged longitudinally along the rachis of the tentacle, while W. parviflorum n. comb. has short, flat rods arranged transversely along the tentacle. Similarly, Anthothela species have long, narrow-handled spatulate clubs crowded longitudinally in the pinnules where W. parviflorum n. comb. has short scales arranged transversely. Differences in colony form are also noteworthy—specimens of Anthothela have no single trunk or main stem, having instead a tangled, anastomosing colony form with little consistent structure and crowded polyps, while specimens of W. parviflorum have single trunks with no noted examples of anastomoses and only sparse branching and relatively isolated polyps.</p><p>In his discussion comparing his new species with Anthothela grandiflora, Thomson (1916) mentioned that A. parviflora has “long, thin spindles or rods with few processes” in the tentacles and that these are similar to those found in A. grandiflora “but apparently in some cases at least are much longer”. This description does not correspond to the short, flat transverse rods found in the tentacles in this study. In his re-description of the species where the lectotype was designated, Williams (1992a) does not document the placement of sclerites on the polyp, mentioning only that there are “numerous needle-like spindles or a few stout rods”. Just before publication there was an opportunity to examine the lectotype (South African Museum) and there was good congruence between the fragment examined and the paralectotype described and figured here. Thus it appears likely that Thomson was erroneously referring to the sclerites from the points.</p><p>The combination of a sparsely branching, arborescent colony with no coelenteric canals in the central medulla, widely dispersed, tall calyces, short, flat, transverse rods and scales in the tentacles and a predominance of broad, warty spindles in the calyx distinguishes this colony from all other genera in the family Anthothelidae .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3E36FF30FF4BE37E783EDB32	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EC0FF32FF4BE7D9794FDF4F.text	039B87ED3EC0FF32FF4BE7D9794FDF4F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia josephinae Lopez Gonzalez & Briand 2002	<div><p>Victorgorgia josephinae Lόpez-González &amp; Briand, 2002</p><p>(Figs. 98–99)</p><p>Ƒictorgorgia josephinae Lόpez-González &amp; Briand, 2002: 97 –105, Figs. 1–6.</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: MNHN OCT.2008 -0004, Josephine Bank, SW of Portugal, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-14.017&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=37.8" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -14.017/lat 37.8)">Victor</a> cruise, PL 28/ 0 5, 37.8°N, 14.017°W, depth 1500 m, 14th August 1998.</p><p>Description: The holotype is in good condition and the characteristics of the colony, calyces, polyps and sclerites are as described by Lόpez-González &amp; Briand. The sclerites from the tentacle rachis are almost exclusively josephinae clubs (Fig. 98 A). They are arranged with the clubbed tip distad and projecting out from the tentacle, as pictured in Fig. 2 D–F of Lόpez-González &amp; Briand’s description. The pinnules are crowded with longitudinally positioned, straight, narrow, sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles and clubs along with smaller josephinae clubs that are less-developed than those in the tentacle rachis (Fig. 98 B). According to Lόpez-González &amp; Briand, the sclerites from the tentacles range from 0.19–0.48 mm long which generally concurs with measurements taken here (0.16–0.43 mm long). The authors did not distinguish between sclerites from the tentacle rachis and those from the pinnules.</p><p>All other sclerites in the holotype are well-represented in the figures of Lόpez-González &amp; Briand’s description excepting those from the calyx. The latter do not significantly differ from those found in the points and collaret and in the cortex (Lόpez-González &amp; Briand (2002) Figs. 6 A; 5B respectively), consisting of straight, tuberculate sticks and spindles without clavate or modified tips (Fig. 99). The size range is 0.35–0.57 mm long.</p><p>Remarks: The description and figures in the original form a functional portrayal of Victorgorgia josephinae and do not need significant revision. However, a more extensive figure of pinnule and tentacle sclerites from the holotype is necessary to assist in the delineation of V. josephinae from the newly added species.</p><p>The so called “hockey-stick” sclerites in the tentacles (Fig. 6 B of Lόpez-González &amp; Briand and Fig. 98 A here) are common in the genus and an important part of the delimiting features of this species. However, these sclerites do not match those pictured as “hockeystick spindles” in Bayer et al. (1983) so herein they have been named josephinae clubs.</p><p>Other species in this genus are distinguished from V. josephinae mainly by sclerite differences. The three species transferred to Victorgorgia have only fragmented holotypes, thus a direct comparison of colony form is not possible. V. alba n. comb. (= A. nuttingi) and V. macrocalyx n. comb. have squat rods on the tentacle rachis and very few josephinae clubs, while V. argentea n. comb. has large, straight, dense clubs in the top of the points and along the tentacle rachis. Of the other species added to the genus herein, V. eminens n. sp. is magenta to deep purple (while V. josephinae is cream with purple polyps) and has simple, tuberculate sticks and spindles on the tentacle rachis mixed with only a few josephinae clubs, and V. nyahae n. sp. has highly modified, robust and thorny josephinae clubs and spiky thorn clubs in the pinnules, tentacle rachis and in the calyx.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EC0FF32FF4BE7D9794FDF4F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EC0FF31FF4BE50F7818DDB4.text	039B87ED3EC0FF31FF4BE50F7818DDB4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia Lopez-Gonzalez & Briand 2002	<div><p>Victorgorgia Lόpez-González and Briand, 2002</p><p>Ƒictorgorgia Lόpez-González &amp; Briand, 2002: 98.</p><p>Diagnosis: Arborescent monomorphic scleraxonians with sparse, irregular branching, generally in one plane; anastomoses absent or rare; medulla extensively penetrated by large, well-defined coelenteric canals and separated from a thin cortex by a boundary space formed by anastomosing boundary canals; calyces distributed all over most of the colonies, crowded at the branch tip; pinnule and tentacle sclerites include josephinae clubs and tuberculate sticks and spindles; sclerites from points, calyx, cortex and medulla are mainly tuberculate sticks and spindles; pharynx lacks sclerites.</p><p>Type species: Victorgorgia josephinae Lόpez-González &amp; Briand, 2002 by monotypy.</p><p>Remarks: Herein three nominal species of Anthothela ( A. argentea Studer, 1894, A. macrocalyx (Nutting, 1911) and Clematissa alba Nutting, 1908 (= A. nuttingi Bayer, 1956)) are transferred and two new species are added to the genus Victorgorgia . An amended diagnosis of the genus was necessary to accommodate the additional species. Additional illustrations of the type species V. josephinae were also necessary to assist in the delimitation of these species. A form of sclerite common in the genus, ‘ josephinae clubs’, is defined in the ‘Terminology and taxonomic characters’ section on page 10. The three species where live colour has been noted ( V. josephinae, V. eminens n. sp. and V. nyahae n. sp.) were all found to have parts of the colony coloured shades of purple.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EC0FF31FF4BE50F7818DDB4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EC2FF3EFF4BE2FD78A1DB7F.text	039B87ED3EC2FF3EFF4BE2FD78A1DB7F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia alba (Nutting 1908) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Victorgorgia alba (Nutting, 1908) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 100–109)</p><p>Clematissa alba Nutting, 1908: 582, Pl. XLIV Fig. 4, XLVIII Fig. 4. Muriceides alba (Nutting, 1908): Kükenthal 1924: 166.</p><p>Anthothela nuttingi nom. nov.: Bayer, 1956: 86, Figs. 9 a–e.</p><p>NOT Anthothela alba ( Rhizoxenia alba Grieg, 1887 = Clavularia alba): Molander 1929: 18 Material examined. Holotype: USNM 25378, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-161.87&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.08" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -161.87/lat 23.08)">Nihoa Island</a>, Hawaii, RV ‘ Albatross’, stn. 4157, 23.08°N, 161.87°W, depth 1394–1829 m, 6th August 1902 (“off Bird Island ” in original description).</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: In the original description the whole colony is described as “incomplete, about 22 mm high, consisting of a sinuous stem giving off two large unequal branches about 50 mm apart” (Nutting 1908). The height of the colony at 22 mm would be very small and appears to be an error on Nutting’s part as the branches are then mentioned as 50 mm apart. The holotype is now two fragments, both of which are straight to slightly curved branches; one fragment has a single bifurcation (Fig. 100 A), the other is a small piece of branch with a terminal polyp bunch (Fig. 100 B). In Bayer’s redescription the colony is described as “ramose; branches stout, clavate” (Bayer 1956a). Bayer gives the diameter of the main stem width as 6.5 mm while the branches taper from 3.5 mm in diameter proximally to 2.5 mm distally at their narrowest point below polyp clusters at the branch tip. Both authors describe the calyces as occurring on all sides of the branches (according to Nutting in an “irregular spiral”) and forming crowded clusters at the branch tip. Average space between calyces is not mentioned by either author, but they appear reasonably crowded right along the branch and occurring on all sides (Fig. 100 A). For the purposes of this redescription, only a tiny piece of a branch with two damaged calyces and two detached polyp heads of the holotype were available for examination (Fig. 100 C).</p><p>Colour: Nutting mentions the “axis, cortex and calyces are all creamy white in color (in alcohol)” but he does not mention the live colour. Bayer mentions the colour as “ivory white throughout”.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Most of the polyps are partly retracted such that the base of the polyp head sits on the lip of the calyx (Fig. 100 A, B). No polyps appear to be fully retracted within the calyces and neither Nutting nor Bayer mentions such an occurrence. Nutting lists the calyx as 5.5 mm high “to the top of the operculum” and 3 mm in width at the lip of the calyx, and Bayer describes the calyces as “cylindrical and ungrooved” with no measurements. However, some calyces appear to have faint longitudinal furrows (Fig. 100 B). At their widest point the two polyp heads available are 3.2–3.4 mm wide and 2–2.5 mm high from the top of the calyx to the top of the polyp head. The remnant of a calyx available for this study occurs at right angles to the branch, has only a single layer of sclerites arranged in a faintly en chevron arrangement and is quite delicate (Fig. 100 D). In the two polyp heads available for examination and in the colony figures, the tentacles fold tightly over the polyp mouth giving the polyps a mostly flat summit with eight mounds. There are 7–9 short pinnules in a single row along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The branch consists of a centrally positioned medulla, made up of tightly packed, longitudinally arranged sclerites surrounded by a cortex, also made up of a layer of packed sclerites. The cortex and medulla are clearly delineated by many, longitudinal canals forming a ring of boundary canals in cross-section (Fig. 101 A). These canals join and anastomose together to form a boundary space which allows the cortex to easily be separated from the medulla. Additionally, there are 4–5 large and conspicuous canals running through the centre of the medulla. These range from 0.25–0.5 mm in diameter, some are circular and some are oval. Bayer states the “solenia”, which perforate the medulla near the base, “diminish and seem to disappear entirely toward the branch tips”. No further attempt to investigate the canal arrangement was possible due to the shortage of available material.</p><p>Sclerites: The polyp head is covered in a thick layer of sclerites, arranged as a collaret and points (Fig. 101 B). The collaret consists of approximately 8–10 transverse rows of curved to straight sticks and spindles with simple, relatively sparse tubercles (Fig. 102 a). Similar sclerites are arranged en chevron above the collaret, eventually becoming longitudinal at the top of the points—lengths usually range from 0.45–0.8 mm. Mixed in with these at the peak of the points are long clubs with extended tips (Fig. 102 b) and large, bulky clubs with reasonably crowded small warts and tubercles (Fig. 103). These are easily visible on the polyp head and make the eight points quite large and impressive (Fig. 101 B). The clubbed sclerites are a comparable length to the simpler sclerites in the points, usually 0.45–0.95 mm, but sclerites up to 1 mm were noted.</p><p>Sclerites are arranged longitudinally in a thick layer on the tentacle rachis and decrease in size towards the tip of the tentacle (Fig. 104 A, B). There are thick rods with blunt ends and crowded tubercles, as well as a few rare spindles with very few tubercles and smaller clubs with tubercles clumped at one end (Fig. 105). The thick rods are of a relatively consistent length (0.22–0.44mm) and appear to be more common at the proximal end of the tentacles and in the top layer of the sclerites (Fig. 104 B). The clubs are approximately 0.20–0.36 mm long and are more crowded in the tip and sides of the tentacles with the clubbed end arranged towards the tip of the tentacle; the mostly smooth spindles are 0.28–0.37 mm long.</p><p>Small rodlets are crowded longitudinally in the pinnules (Figs. 104 B; 106). Ranging from 0.09–0.26 mm long, they are lightly tuberculate, often slightly flattened, and sometimes have slightly clubbed tips with thin handles. The latter resemble josephinae clubs that are common in other species of Victorgorgia but are only poorly developed in this species (Fig. 106 a).</p><p>No sclerites were detected in the pharynx.</p><p>In the calyx, sclerites are straight or very slightly curved, slender sticks and spindles with only a minor covering of simple tubercles (Fig. 107). Sclerite length grades from approximately 0.32 to 0.70 mm with no noticeable size grouping on the calyx. There are also a few small, mostly smooth spindles which have a few tubercles and small thorns situated approximately mid-way on the sclerites (Fig. 107 a). These are shorter than the other calyx sclerites at 0.15–0.24 mm long.</p><p>Similarly, the cortex has straight, slender sticks and spindles, although these sclerites have a more substantial covering of tubercles than those from the calyx and are, in general, larger (0.37–0.82 mm) and thicker (Fig. 108). There are also mostly smooth spindles like those in the calyx although these are larger, ranging in length from 0.23–0.33 mm (Fig. 108 a).</p><p>The medulla is formed of tightly packed, longitudinally and obliquely placed sclerites that are most commonly long, straight or slightly bent sticks and spindles. The longest of these are up to 1.25 mm, but most are within 0.47– 0.98 mm (Fig. 109). Some of the sclerites are mostly smooth but with a few simple conical tubercles, and there are also spindles with more crowded warts. There is evidence of some fused and branched sclerites.</p><p>Sclerites are all transparent under transmitted light excepting the bulky sclerites in the tentacles and points, which have brown tinges.</p><p>Distribution: Hawaiian seamounts.</p><p>Depth: 1394–1829 metres.</p><p>Remarks: When Bayer (1956a) reassigned the species Clematissa alba Nutting, 1908 to Anthothela he gave it the name Anthothela nuttingi because Molander’s claim that Clavularia alba (= Rhizoxenia alba Grieg, 1887) belonged in Anthothela (with the resulting new combination A. alba (Grieg, 1887)) took precedence. It is now clear however, that Clavularia alba (Grieg, 1887) does not belong in Anthothela (see below), and had Bayer known that he could have formed the binomial Anthothela alba (Nutting, 1908) which would have been considered valid at the time. As has been demonstrated above, Nutting’s species does not belong in Anthothela and so Bayer’s reassignment of the species to that genus is no longer valid. Clematissa alba is here transferred to Victorgorgia, thus becoming V. alba (Nutting, 1908), and Anthothela nuttingi therefore becomes a synonym.</p><p>The holotype of Rhizoxenia alba Grieg, 1887 was examined for this study, and although no polyps remain the colony was obviously stoloniferous only, with surface sclerites quite uncharacteristic of Anthothela . Thus it is impossible to be definitive on where C. alba belongs but it appears to not be a species of Anthothela .</p><p>Unfortunately, only a tiny fragment of the holotype of V. alba n. comb. was available for examination; nevertheless, when combined with Nutting and Bayer’s descriptions it can confidently be asserted that this species does not belong in Anthothela . The presence of large canals in the medulla and the absence of sclerites in the pharynx combine to exclude this specimen from the revised definition of Anthothela . These characteristics instead support the re-assignment to Victorgorgia, as do general polyp and sclerite form. However, similar to V. macrocalyx n. comb., there are very few josephinae clubs in the tentacles, which are common in other species of Victorgorgia . This may be due to limited material or it may truly reflect that the clubs are absent and this specimen does not belong in Victorgorgia . Alternatively, it may be that the presence/ absence or abundance of the clubs is simply an interspecific variation within Victorgorgia . Specimens collected from similar locations to that of the holotype would assist in defining this quandary.</p><p>There are specimens determined as Anthothela nuttingi that have been collected around the Hawaiian Islands (S. France and A. Baco pers.com.), and some of these specimens have DNA sequences currently available on GenBank. A fragment of one such specimen (USNM 94435) was examined and found not to correspond morphologically with the holotype of V. alba n. comb. . Additionally, the molecular data groups USNM 94435 with V. eminens n. sp. from the Tasmanian seamounts. Thus it is extremely likely there is more than one species of Victorgorgia on the Hawaiian seamounts and all samples previously determined as A. nuttingi require revision.</p><p>Based on what was available of the holotype, the key differences of V. alba n. comb. from other known Victorgorgia species are the presence of bulky, closely warted sclerites in the points plus thick rods on the tentacle rachis and no or very few josephinae clubs. The most comparable species is V. macrocalyx n. comb., which, unfortunately, was also restricted in material available for examination. Both species have thick rods on the tentacle rachis, bulky clubs in the points and few josephinae clubs. The differences between them include the presence of extended clubs in the points of V. alba n. comb. (Fig. 102), the tentacle rachis sclerites ( V. alba n. comb. has small clubs and bars with relatively crowded, rounded tubercles (Fig. 105) whilst V. macrocalyx n. comb. has small clubs with tall cones (Fig. 121) and squat bars with sparse tubercles (Fig. 122)), and V. alba n. comb. has only slender sticks and spindles in the calyx and cortex (Figs. 107; 108) whilst V. macrocalyx n. comb. has some thicker, tuberculate spindles (Figs. 124; 125). The differences in sclerite form are sufficient to distinguish between these two small specimens here but with such limited material it has been impossible to investigate whether intracolonial variation would account for these differences.</p><p>For the other species of Victorgorgia; V. josephinae and V. argentea n. comb. can be separated from V. alba n. comb. by their abundance of josephinae clubs and the lack of thick rods in the tentacles, V. eminens n. sp. by the absence of large, bulky sclerites in the points and V. nyahae n. sp. by the presence of sharply pointed thorn clubs.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EC2FF3EFF4BE2FD78A1DB7F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3ECFFF2AFF4BE18A7E65DD8F.text	039B87ED3ECFFF2AFF4BE18A7E65DD8F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia argentea (Studer 1894) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Victorgorgia argentea (Studer, 1894) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 110–119)</p><p>Anthothela argentea Studer, 1894: 60 .</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: MCZ 4219, off the west coast of Mexico, U.S. Fish Commission Steamer ‘ Albatross’, stn. 3430, 23.267°N, 107.517°W, depth 1559 m, 19th April 1891.</p><p>Other material: MCZ 51046, Off Oahu, 20km W of Makaha, Hawaii, T.A. Clarke collection, depth 1200 m, 5th Sept 1977.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The colony was originally described by Studer (1894) as having a “forme arborescente, les branches naissent d’un tronc principal sous des angles presque droits”, translated as having the form of a tree, with branches arising from one main trunk at almost right angles. However, the dried holotype is now in 8 recognisable pieces (Fig. 110 A) and numerous small fragments. Two of the largest pieces are straight portions of branch with polyps scattered along their length. One of these is 66 mm long with a diameter of 3.4 mm at the widest point where it is slightly flattened (Fig. 110 B). For most of the length, the branch is basically circular in cross section (approximately 2.6 mm diameter) although polyp bunches tend to cause some distortion. There is no evidence of side branches. The second fragment of branch is 62.7 mm long with a diameter of 4.2 mm at the widest point and 3.1 mm at the narrowest. There is evidence that there were two side branches on this piece, both of which have broken off at their base. Both ends of these two fragments are broken and they cannot conclusively be placed to form a larger branch. There is no evidence of anastomoses. Most of the other fragments of the holotype are terminal bunches of crowded polyps. The colony fragments and the many attached polyps are in reasonable condition although extremely brittle. There are also a number of loose polyps. A small piece of the holotype was re-hydrated for this project.</p><p>Calyces with exsert polyps are tightly crowded in bunches at the branch tip (Fig. 110 C) as well as being distributed irregularly along and all the way around, and generally at right angles to the branches. The largest distance between calyces is approximately 7 mm but more commonly they are closer together, in some sections touching. Occasionally, there are isolated calyces with polyps.</p><p>Colour: In the original description, Studer noted the colour of the colony to be white in alcohol, as it is now for the dried fragments. There is no record of the live colour of the colony, however Studer indicated that the large sclerites on the tentacle rachis were glassy and silvery in colour against the background brown hue of the tentacles and the re-hydrated fragment fits this description. Some of the sclerites are brown and fibrous when magnified under transmitted light, which combined with the silvery appearance, indicated the original preservation was in an acidic media, probably formalin.</p><p>Polyps and calyces: Calyces are flat-topped, conical-shaped and range in height from 1.5–2.4 mm. The polyps are relatively large, extending up to 2.5 mm from the calyx with a head diameter of between 2.2–3.4 mm (Fig. 111 A). Sclerites on the calyx are arranged en chevron at the base becoming longitudinal towards the lip. Most of the polyps are exsert, although often contorted or bent, likely attributable to jar storage. No polyps are fully retracted into the calyces, although some are retracted to such an extent that the polyp head sits on the top lip of the calyx and the polyp neck is hidden. The tentacles in some polyps are extended but bunched (Fig. 111 B) while others have the tentacles folded over the mouth such that the top of the polyps is an eight–lobed mound (Fig. 111 C). There are approximately 8–10 pinnules arranged in a single row along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The fragile, brittle nature of the dry holotype prohibited the dissection of the branches to fully investigate the arrangement of the internal coelenteric canals. However, the broken ends of the colony pieces allow confirmation of the presence of a central medulla, consisting of tightly packed, mainly longitudinally arranged sclerites, surrounded by a narrow cortex, similarly consisting of crowded sclerites (Fig. 111 D, E). A boundary space appears to separate the thin, loosely attached cortex from the medulla although the fragile nature of the dried and rehydrated fragments makes this difficult to confirm. The medulla has two or three large and obvious canals (0.3–0.5 mm diameter) positioned approximately in the centre (Fig. 111 D, E). These significant canals are obvious at the proximal end of the colony fragments as well as just below the polyp bunches on the ends of the branches, suggesting they extend throughout the colony.</p><p>Sclerites: The polyp heads are well protected by being covered in crowded sclerites which are predominately long, warty sticks and spindles arranged as points and a bulky collaret. In the points, the sclerites are arranged en chevron, bunched so they are layered over each other (Figs. 110 C; 111A). They are mostly straight or slightly curved, narrow, sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles, between 0.46–0.81 mm long (Fig. 112 A); tubercles are predominantly simple, blunt-topped or rounded cones. Among these are large, opaque, thick, prickly, club-shaped sclerites, approximately 0.45–0.77 mm long (Fig. 113). These occur more commonly in the distal part of the points and some of them continue longitudinally for a short distance along the tentacle rachis with the thickened blunt ends arranged distad (Figs. 111 A–C; 112B). They are usually straight although some bent spindles also occur (Fig. 113 a).</p><p>The collaret is composed of long curved spindles, arranged transversely in crowded bunches of between 10–20 on the widest part of the polyp head (Fig. 111 A), that have a comparable length to the more slender sclerites from the points. Below the collaret on the polyp neck are similar narrow, tuberculate spindles arranged mostly obliquely but more sparsely than in the collaret.</p><p>The tentacles fold over the mouth and have short, straight, thorny clubs and josephinae clubs crowded longitudinally along their aboral side (Figs. 111 B, C; 114). These grade in length from approximately 0.2–0.5 mm, with the length decreasing towards the tentacle tip, and with the clubbed ends positioned distad. Somewhat crowded, short spines cover the clubbed sclerite tip and some of the bent tips project up from the tentacle rachis giving it a rough surface.</p><p>Similarly, the pinnules have longitudinally arranged josephinae clubs, and the clubbed ends are directed towards the tip of the pinnules (Fig. 112 B). They are usually 0.25–0.35 mm long in the pinnules and possibly smaller than this in the rachis, although delineating in size between them is largely arbitrary (Fig. 115). Short and sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles and flattened rods (0.11–0.24 mm long) are also crowded longitudinally in the pinnules.</p><p>No sclerites were found in the pharynx.</p><p>In the calyx, sclerites are in a single, almost translucent layer, and arranged transversely at the base, becoming en chevron distally such that there can be indistinct peaks of sclerites on the lip of the calyx (Fig. 111 A). The sclerites are long, mostly straight, sparsely tuberculate sticks and spindles, and are usually between 0.42–0.82 mm long (Fig. 116), although there are some shorter smoother spindles (0.27–0.37 mm).</p><p>In the cortex, sclerites tend to be arranged longitudinally along the branch, although this arrangement is often interrupted or distorted by the calyces. They are quite crowded and form an opaque layer. Cortex sclerites are similar to the sclerites from the calyces—straight and curved sticks and spindles with simple tubercles, mixed with occasional small, smooth spindles (Fig. 117). They can be between 0.28–0.94 mm long but most are 0.43–0.86 mm.</p><p>The medulla is formed of tightly packed, longitudinally and obliquely placed sclerites that are most commonly long, straight or slightly bent sticks and spindles (Fig. 118). Amongst these are some sclerites with sparse tubercles, some with crowded, complex warts and thorns, and a few that are forked and branched, however no fused medulla sclerites were observed. The majority of the sclerites are between 0.47–0.98 mm but they can reach up to 1.25 mm.</p><p>Most sclerites are translucent under transmitted light except the thick clubs from the points and tentacles which are brown.</p><p>Variability: The only other specimen examined, MCZ 51046, has sclerites which are mostly similar to the holotype, but the colony form and the calyx distribution represent slight differences. The colony is in two pieces, each piece with a single bifurcation (Fig. 119 A). The largest consists of a branch portion, approximately 10 mm long, which then forks into two other branches, 21 mm and 35 mm long and 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter. The branches are slightly flattened in the plane of the colony and are oval in cross-section. Calyces are evenly and relatively sparsely distributed on both colony fragments, although they tend to form small clumps (maximum of 4 calyces) at the branch tip (Fig. 119 B). The calyces mostly emerge only on the narrow, lateral edges of the branches. When compared with the portions of the holotype of V. argentea n. comb., in MCZ 51046 the calyces are further apart, with much less clumping (the holotype has multiple crowded clumps of calyces) and the colony is finer. However, without knowing exactly how the complete holotype parent colony was constructed it is impossible to know the significance of these differences. The calyces have a single layer of sclerites arranged in indistinct chevrons, and the polyps have large clubbed sclerites arranged in the distal part of the points and on the tentacle rachis as in the holotype (Fig. 119 C, D). In addition, all other sclerites conform in general to those of the holotype, including the style of the josephinae clubs from the tentacles and pinnules (Fig. 119 E).</p><p>Distribution: The eastern Pacific Ocean (off the coast of Mexico) and the Hawaiian seamounts.</p><p>Depth: 1200–1559 metres.</p><p>Remarks: Despite the colony form and branching arrangement traditionally being of considerable taxonomic importance, Studer did not provide the colony size or an illustration, and the colony form cannot be reliably reconstructed from the pieces of the holotype. Nevertheless, Studer’s description of an “arborescente” branching arrangement with a main trunk supporting side branches is sufficiently different from the characteristic tangled colony form of Anthothela, with no main trunk and with common anastomoses, to be considered significant. Other features such as josephinae sclerites in the tentacles, obvious coelenteric canals in the medulla and the lack of sclerites in the pharynx mean this species cannot remain in Anthothela but does fit the diagnosis of Victorgorgia .</p><p>V. argentea n. comb. mostly resembles V. alba n. comb. (= A. nuttingi) and V. macrocalyx n. comb., which also have large, warty clubs in the points. The most consistent difference is the sclerites from the tentacles—both those species have thick, warty rods as the main tentacle rachis sclerite and have poorly developed (or even lack) josephinae clubs, while V. argentea n. comb. has many josephinae clubs and lacks the warty rods.</p><p>The presence of large, opaque clubs in the distal part of the points and aboral side of the tentacles distinguishes this species from V. josephinae, V. nyahae n. sp. and V. eminens n. sp. Additionally, V. nyahae n. sp. has sharply pointed thorn clubs along the tentacle rachis and in the points.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3ECFFF2AFF4BE18A7E65DD8F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EDBFF13FF4BE7DF7C1BDF57.text	039B87ED3EDBFF13FF4BE7DF7C1BDF57.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia macrocalyx (Nutting 1911) Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Victorgorgia macrocalyx (Nutting, 1911) new combination</p><p>(Figs. 120–126)</p><p>Suberia macrocalyx Nutting, 1911: 15, Pl. III Fig. 3, 3 a, Pl. XI Fig. 5 a–c.</p><p>Semperina macrocalyx (Nutting, 1911): Kükenthal 1916: 174; 1919: 51, 57; 1924: 22; Thomson &amp; Dean 1931: 192, Pl. XIV Fig. 3, Pl. XXIV Fig. 6; Stiasny 1937: 35, 119, Pl. IV Fig. 34, Textfigure J.</p><p>Anthothela macrocalyx (Nutting, 1911): Verseveldt 1942: 170, Fig. 5.</p><p>Iciligorgia macrocalyx (Nutting, 1911): van Ofwegen et al. 2000–2007 http://www.marinespecies.org/ aphia.php?p=taxdetails&amp;id= 290176 accessed May 2017.</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: ZMA COEL 3280, near <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=125.158&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=1.975" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 125.158/lat 1.975)">Manado</a>, Celebes, Indonesia, Siboga Expedition, stn. 122, 1.975°N, 125.158°E, depth 1264– 1165 m, 17th July 1899.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: In his description, Nutting describes the holotype as an incomplete specimen consisting of an “erect stem with short scattered branches” that is 135 mm in length (Nutting 1911) (reproduced here Fig. 120 A). Two fragments of the holotype were examined for this study, one of which can be confidently located on the figure of the holotype by its substantial bifurcation (Fig. 120 C). It can therefore be deduced that the exposed medulla is part of a substantial branch. The other fragment is a piece of branch or stem which cannot be reliably positioned on the figure of the holotype (Fig. 120 B). Unfortunately, these two fragments are in a very poor condition with a single remaining partially attached polyp between them plus two detached polyp heads. Nevertheless, by combining an examination of these fragments with Nutting’s original description and the subsequent descriptions and figures of the holotype by Stiasny (1937) and Verseveldt (1942) it is possible to provide a reasonably complete re-description.</p><p>The original colony clearly had at least one main branch with a few short side branches, although they appear to be broken in places and the holdfast is missing (Fig. 120 A). Nutting states that the main “stem” diameter is 3 mm and this is confirmed here. It appears from Nutting’s figure that there are some anastomoses present in the colony, with possibly two loops identifiable. However, considering Nutting and Stiasny do not mention any anastomoses, and Verseveldt specifically says “there are no anastomoses” the colony loops are considered an artefact of the figure. According to Nutting there were six branches emanating from all sides of the main branch and the calyces were present on all available parts of the colony. Nutting states that “the calyces are irregularly distributed on three sides of the proximal parts of the stem and branches and on all sides of the distal parts of the colony”. However, Stiasny and Verseveldt both refute this, finding calyces and polyps on all sides throughout the colony. The fragments examined here have remnants of calyces spread evenly along and on all sides of the branches with up to 5 mm between them, although they are often closer than that (Fig. 120 B, C).</p><p>In its original condition, the holotype had intact branch tips where, according to Nutting, the calyces “form definite clumps or clusters with the individual calyces averaging about 1.5 mm apart”. There is a small clump present on one of the fragments examined here, with two or three calyces crowded together (Fig. 120 C).</p><p>Colour: Nutting mentions the colour as “very light yellowish brown”. The holotype fragments are now cream in alcohol.</p><p>Calyces and polyps: There are many calyces remaining on the holotype fragments but they are fragile and easily damaged with many of them already heavily impacted. Those in better condition are conical to cylindrical, usually 1–2 mm high and 1.5–2 mm wide, with a thin layer of sclerites arranged longitudinally to obliquely on their side walls (Fig. 120 D). There is some tendency towards an en chevron arrangement of the calyx sclerites and Nutting states this is more pronounced around the calyx lip where the sclerites form “eight angular points around the margin”. Some hint of an en chevron arrangement was also visible in the sclerites at the base of the calyx figured here (Fig. 120 D).</p><p>The single remaining polyp on the fragments is partially retracted such that the head rests on the calyx lip (Fig. 120 E). It projects approximately 1.2 mm above the calyx and is 1.8 mm wide. Nutting states that most of the polyps are partly retracted like this and specifically that the “polyps are retractile”. The polyp head is covered in sclerites arranged in a collaret and points and has sclerites which are particularly large and dense arranged along the tentacle rachis (Fig. 120 E).</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The medulla is made up of tightly packed, longitudinally arranged sclerites and is surrounded by an easily detached cortex approximately 0.2 mm thick (Fig. 121 A). The medulla and cortex are separated by parallel, longitudinal canals which join and anastomose so as to form a boundary space with attachments between the cortex and medulla only occurring occasionally. In Verseveldt’s paper (1942) he described the boundary canals in cross-section as “usually much flattened, on the cortex-side they are flat, on the medullaside they are rounder. Their height in a radial direction amounts to 0.05–0.11 mm, sometimes to 0.16 mm; the breadth is 0.18–0.20 mm ”.</p><p>Additionally, there is a cluster of 3 large, conspicuous coelenteric canals penetrating the centre of the medulla in the two fragments examined, with 2 or 3 other smaller and less distinct canals on the edge of the centre cluster (Fig. 121 A). The larger canals range from 0.2–0.4 mm in diameter and do not appear to significantly differ in diameter throughout the two fragments examined.</p><p>For those polyps positioned along the branches, the polyp cavities terminate abruptly at the medulla with an almost flat base visible at the base of the empty calyces. Due to the scarcity of remaining material, the arrangement of the canals at the tip of the branches was not investigated. Verseveldt bemoaned his inability to thoroughly investigate the canal system of the holotype, particularly that near the terminal polyps, and finishes with “In my opinion it will depend on the behaviour of the medullary canals with regard to the terminal zooids, whether for macrocalyx quite a new genus must be assumed.”</p><p>Sclerites: Unfortunately the remaining polyp does not provide a good example of the arrangement of the sclerites on the polyp head with many sclerites dislodged and damaged. However, both Thomson &amp; Dean (1931) and Verseveldt (1942) describe a ring of approximately 6–10 sclerites arranged transversely forming a collaret and similar sclerites arranged en chevron to longitudinally forming eight distinct points. These sclerites are mostly simple sticks and spindles with a relatively sparse covering of tubercles, and range from 0.2–0.62 mm long (Fig. 121 B). Mixed with these in the distal region of the points (and crossing over into the tentacle rachis) are large, clubbed, warty sclerites (Fig. 121 C) arranged with their blunt clubbed ends towards the top of the points. Verseveldt specifically mentions that some sclerites from the points are “strong and club-shaped. I have not succeeded in finding the curious, thick and club-shaped spicules drawn by Thomson &amp; Dean (1931, pl. XXIV fig. 6) and by Stiasny (1937, Text fig. Ja, b) anywhere either in cortex or medulla, they only occur in the anthocodiae.” These club-shaped sclerites have sparse, distinctly projecting, tall, conical tubercles. Very few of these clubbed sclerites were sampled here but those examined were approximately 0.35–0.65 mm long. Verseveldt stated that “most of them are 0.50–0.65 mm long, but shorter ones also occur (0.30 mm); the club-shaped end is 0.085–0.120 mm thick, without processes.”</p><p>Sclerites on the tentacle rachis are arranged longitudinally and are mostly short, fat rods with few, low tubercles (Fig. 122 A, B). The larger, bulkier rods are white and opaque, and clearly visible on the tentacle rachis. Some of the rods are slightly clubbed with a clump of tubercles at one end of the sclerites, and they basically lie longitudinally with the tuberculate head placed towards the end of the tentacles. Sclerite length grades continuously from 0.17–0.40 mm with most of the bulky rods between 0.23–0.40 mm. The shorter sclerites are usually placed closer to the tip of the tentacles (Fig. 123 A).</p><p>Many short, simple sticks and spindles and flat rods are crowded in the pinnules, all arranged longitudinally, and ranging from 0.04–0.23 mm long (Fig. 123 A, B). There are only very sparse tubercles on these sclerites with a tendency for some of the sclerites to have very slightly clubbed or expanded tips, with the tips arranged distally in the pinnules. There were no true josephinae clubs detected in the small sample available for examination. It may be that they are rare and were not sampled or it may be there are no josephinae clubs in the tentacles of this species.</p><p>No sclerites were detected in the pharynx.</p><p>The calyx has only a single layer of sclerites arranged in indistinct en chevron arrangements up the wall. These sclerites are all straight sticks and spindles, some slightly thicker, with simple tubercles and short spines arranged haphazardly on the sclerites with no tendency for distinct asymmetry or clumping (Fig. 124). Length varies from 0.35–0.67 mm. Sclerites from the cortex are very similar (Fig. 125 A). They are arranged longitudinally along the branch in a thin layer and are usually 0.35–0.67 mm long although some smaller sclerites are present. There are faint longitudinal corrugations in the cortex, presumably mapping the boundary canals below (Fig. 125 B).</p><p>When magnified in transmitted light, most of the sclerites from the medulla are brown with a fibrous appearance. Similar to the calyx and surface, they are mostly straight sticks and spindles but many of them are smoother with very few tubercles (Fig. 126). There are also some with numerous tubercles (Fig. 126 a) but these are not as common, and there are some fused and branched sclerites as well. Length ranges from 0.27–0.90 mm, although, as is often the case with medulla sclerites, the longer sclerites may be underrepresented due to breakage.</p><p>Sclerites are all transparent under transmitted light except the bulky sclerites in the tentacles and points and most medulla sclerites, which tend to be brown.</p><p>Distribution: Indonesian archipelago</p><p>Depth: 1264–1165 metres.</p><p>Remarks: The state of the holotype is such that any decisions on the status of this species must be made with some caution. It is clear this species should not stay in the genus Anthothela due to the colony growth form, presence of large coelenteric canals in the medulla and the lack of sclerites in the pharynx. All of these characteristics plus the general form and arrangement of the sclerites indicate a placement in Victorgorgia . The main caveat however, is the apparent absence of josephinae clubs in the tentacles. These particular sclerites are common in other Victorgorgia species so the lack of them in V. macrocalyx n. comb. introduces a level of uncertainty to the reassignment. Given the limited material available for examination it is possible that the josephinae clubs are present but in small numbers and were simply missed during this necessarily limited analysis. The species is placed in Victorgorgia until new material can be examined.</p><p>This specimen is from deep waters off the coast of Indonesia. There has been very little sampling of this habitat and very little chance to collect more of this species. Additionally, the degree of connectivity of this area with other deep-sea areas is largely unknown thus the likelihood of recording this species in other places is, at this stage, unpredictable.</p><p>The presence of bulky, short rods on the tentacle rachis of V. macrocalyx n. comb. is the main feature distinguishing this species from most of the others in Victorgorgia . The most similar species is V. alba n. comb. which has few josephinae clubs, similar thick rods on the tentacles and bulky clubs in the points. The differences between the two species are specified in the Remarks section in the description of V. alba n. comb. (page 140)</p><p>V. josephinae and V. argentea n. comb. have many josephinae clubs in the tentacles, V. eminens n. sp. lacks any large, bulky sclerites in the points or the tentacles and V. nyahae n. sp. has sharply tipped thorn clubs in the points and tentacles.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EDBFF13FF4BE7DF7C1BDF57	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EE2FF01FF4BE5EC79E1DCC2.text	039B87ED3EE2FF01FF4BE5EC79E1DCC2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia eminens Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Victorgorgia eminens sp. nov. Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/AF53AFBE-9F5A-4281-AC14-3473 A66814 FB (Figs. 127–138)</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.121&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.245" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.121/lat -44.245)">Material</a> examined. Holotype: TMAG K4266, Z27 Seamount, Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-385-005, sample 010b, 44.245°S, 147.121°E, depth 1060 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 21st December 2008.</p><p>Paratypes: TMAG K4267, Z27 <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.121&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.245" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.121/lat -44.245)">Seamount</a>, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-385-005, sample 010a, 44.245°S, 147.121°E, depth 1060 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 21st December 2008 ; TMAG K4268, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.115&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.254" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.115/lat -44.254)">Mongrel Seamount</a>, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-386-006, sample 0 0 1, 44.254°S, 147.115°E, depth 982 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 23rd December 2008 ; TMAG K4269, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.114&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.255" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.114/lat -44.255)">Mongrel Seamount</a>, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-386-011, sample 0 21, 44.255°S, 147.114°E, depth 899 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 23rd December 2008 ; TMAG K4270, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.114&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.254" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.114/lat -44.254)">Mongrel Seamount</a>, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, stn. J2-386-007, sample 0 0 3, 44.254°S, 147.114°E, depth 958 m, ROV Jason deployed from the U.S. RV Thomas T. Thompson, team led by Dr Jess Adkins &amp; Dr Ron Thresher, 23rd December 2008 ; TMAG K4115, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.178&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.398" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.178/lat -44.398)">Hill</a> V <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.178&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.398" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.178/lat -44.398)">Seamount</a>, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 69,(SS199701/69), 44.397– 44.398°S, 147.147– 147.178°E, depth 1262–1854 m, 31st January 1997 ; NTM CO13052 (ex TMAG K1360), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=147.363&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-44.242" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 147.363/lat -44.242)">Hill</a> J1 Seamount, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 36, (SS199701/36), 44.267– 44.242°S, 147.332– 147.363°E, depth 1518.4 m, 27th January 1997 ; TMAG K4271, E.N.E. of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=148.743&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-41.573" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 148.743/lat -41.573)">St. Patricks Head</a>, eastern Tasmania, Australia, CSIRO RV Soela, stn. 16, (SO198705/16), 41.573 S, 148.743 E, depth 1090–1150 m, 9th May 1987 .</p><p>Other material: NTM CO13050 (ex TMAG K1362), Dory Hill Seamount, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 47, (SS199701/47), 44.322– 44.34°S, 147.115 –147.072°E, depth 1280–1400 m, 29th January 1997.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is a large colony, about 230 mm high and 215 mm across, broken into two pieces, with an intact holdfast still attached to coral rubble (Fig. 127 A, B). The irregular, relatively sparse branching is principally in one plane. Basally, there is a main stem, with an approximate diameter of 8.6 mm, from which narrower branches emanate with a few instances of anastomoses with the holdfast. Higher in the colony, the stem becomes narrower with the diameter decreasing to 5.4 mm and side branch diameters between 3.4–5.3 mm in polyp-free areas. The branches are mostly circular in cross-section although tend to flatten at bifurcation points. Side branches occasionally branch again but are not crowded, with branches usually at least 15 mm apart. Anastomoses do not occur distally. The colony is in good condition although the tissues of the colony show evidence of dehydration from being frozen before being transferred to 70% alcohol.</p><p>Calyces are placed irregularly around the branches, generally at right angles, often bunched at points along the side branches and bunched tightly together on branch tips such that they form clavate clumps (Fig. 127 C, D). Frequently, there are parts of the branches without calyces, up to 45 mm long on the stem and 23 mm on the side branches. Occasionally there are isolated calyces, however more commonly they are crowded together in bunches with no or little space between them.</p><p>Colour: In the in situ photographs by the ROV Jason, the colony is deep purple, however the freshly collected specimen, when photographed before preservation, was closer to magenta (Fig. 127 B). The colony is now beige in alcohol.</p><p>Polyps and Calyces: The calyces are distinct, compact and firm when the polyps are retracted. Many polyps are partially retracted such that the base of the polyp head sits on the lip of the calyx and other polyps are fully retracted within the calyces which form 2–3.5 mm high, conical mounds with a small, round aperture (Fig. 127 D, E). The polyps and colony surface are covered with a thick, smooth integument which was partially removed to increase clarity in photographs (Fig. 127 Da, b). Fully exsert polyps are rare but can be up to 3.5 mm tall, measured from the lip of the calyx, although they more commonly extend only 2.5 mm. Usually the tentacles are folded over the mouth to form an eight-lobed, rounded polyp head which at the widest point is approximately 3.2–4.2 mm across; some juvenile polyps have a head diameter of approximately 2 mm. There is a single row of 8–10 pinnules along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The branches of the colony consist of an essentially cylindrical medulla of tightly packed longitudinally arranged sclerites, surrounded by a thin cortex. Multiple adjoining longitudinal canals, which frequently anastomose to form a boundary space, separate the medulla from the cortex (Fig. 127 F). The few points of attachment between the cortex and medulla make it easy to dislodge the cortex. Two or three large coelenteric canals (0.7–0.9 mm diameter in the stem, 0.3–0.4 mm diameter in the peripheral branches) penetrate the medulla longitudinally and appear to extend throughout the colony (Fig. 128 A). Additional, smaller, indistinct canals occur adjacent to the larger canals.</p><p>The gastric cavities of the polyps on the branches terminate at the medulla and are connected by solenia extending through the cortex and into the boundary space. The body cavities of the polyps at branch tip extend some way down the branch and appear to coalesce with the central medulla canals.</p><p>Sclerites: Arrangements of the sclerites are largely obscured by the thick integument covering the colony. For examination this was removed by a short immersion in bleach and then washing in 70% ethanol. The polyp heads are covered in tightly packed tuberculate sclerites, arranged to form a collaret and points (Fig. 128 B). Transverse bunches of about 10 sclerites form the collaret at the base of the polyp head. These then grade en chevron up into the points, which continue longitudinally along the aboral side of the tentacles. The points and collaret sclerites are generally straight or curved, narrow sticks and spindles from 0.46–0.72 mm long which are sparsely covered in conical, flat-topped tubercles (Fig. 128 C). Amongst these occur smaller (0.11–0.29 mm), mostly smooth spindles with lateral, conical thorns (Fig. 128 Ca). Below the polyp head similar long, straight or slightly curved tuberculate sticks and spindles are arranged obliquely and sparsely on the polyp neck. On retraction of the polyp, these sclerites become more transverse and crowded and grade into the collaret. Most polyps on the holotype are wholly or partially retracted so the polyp neck is rarely visible.</p><p>On the aboral side of the tentacles, sclerites are commonly josephinae clubs with simple tubercles, more crowded on and near the clubbed end and absent or few on the handle of the club (Fig. 129 A). These crowded sclerites are 0.18–0.30mm long, decreasing in length distad, orientated with the clubbed end arranged towards the tentacle tip and bent upwards, making the aboral surface of tentacles prickly (Fig. 129 B). Densely arranged along the sides of the tentacle and projecting longitudinally into the pinnules are straight clubs or josephinae clubs, 0.2– 0.37mm long, with particularly narrow, mostly smooth handles (Fig. 130). Also crowded longitudinally in the pinnules are shorter, lightly tuberculate sticks and spindles and flat rods, 0.01–0.29mm long (Fig. 130), some with slightly clubbed tips.</p><p>No sclerites were found in the pharynx.</p><p>In the calyx, sclerites are arranged obliquely to longitudinally but grade to transverse at the base. They do not appear to form chevrons or peaks as the sclerites are arranged haphazardly (Fig. 131 A). They are mostly straight tuberculate sticks and spindles (Fig. 131 B), usually between 0.3–0.53mm long, with sparse, conical tubercles. Shorter, almost smooth, narrow spindles also commonly occur and range from 0.22–0.35mm long (Fig. 131 Ba). Very rarely, sparsely tuberculated crosses occur (Fig. 131 Bb).</p><p>The thin cortex commonly has straight tuberculate sticks and spindles (0.35–0.50 mm long) (Fig. 132), arranged longitudinally and obliquely on the stem and branches along with much more complex warty forms (Fig. 132 a) that occur patchily. In one particular sample the warty forms were more common than the tuberculate sticks and spindles but in other samples they were completely absent or rare. Most of them are between 0.14–0.35 mm long but some are up to 0.46 mm; they also tend to be wider than the smoother sticks and spindles. Occasionally, shorter, mostly smooth, narrow spindles similar to those from the calyx occur and, rarely, fused, cross or branched sclerites are present.</p><p>Tightly packed sclerites, mostly arranged longitudinally or obliquely, make up the medulla. These are mostly tuberculate or warty sticks and spindles, occasionally warty, along with some almost smooth, narrow forms (Fig. 133). Fused sclerites are occasionally present. Sizes range from 0.45–0.90 mm long.</p><p>Sclerites are uniformly transparent and colourless under transmitted light.</p><p>Variation: TMAG K4267 has a similar in situ colour to the holotype (Fig. 134 A) and is from a site very close to that from which the holotype was collected, however there are a few differences in colony form and sclerite ornamentation. A number of anastomoses evident amongst the colony branches and a small membranous holdfast encrusting coral rubble with at least two attachment points for the colony mean the colony form is more contorted than the holotype (Fig. 134 B). Sclerites from the tentacles are more complex than those from the holotype, particularly the handles of the clubs (Fig. 134 C), and the point sclerites are also more tuberculate. The specimen also has some calyx sclerites which are broader than those from the holotype, and tend to have a much more extensive cover of tubercles and sometimes complex warts (Fig. 134 D). No substantially warty sclerites were observed from the cortex. Other specimens examined also have calyx sclerites with slightly more complex warts and tubercles but these sclerites have patchy distributions and are not always present.</p><p>Another colony collected from a different seamount but still within the same area (TMAG K4268), was deep purple in one in situ photograph but magenta under closer lighting, like the holotype (Fig. 135 A, B). This colony has a branching pattern similar to the holotype, although not quite in one plane, with calyces clumped at branch tips and occasionally clumped along branches. However, in contrast to the holotype, calyces are also spread evenly and almost biserially, like V. josephinae, along the branches. Additionally, most polyps are fully exsert with almost none fully retracted, giving the preserved colony a slightly different appearance to that of the holotype.</p><p>Most of the other paratypes also have more exsert than retracted polyps giving the colonies a more untidy appearance than that of the holotype with its tightly retracted polyps. For example, TMAG K4271 is a large sample of many branched fragments (Fig. 135 C). The colony branches are narrower and floppier than the holotype with some long branches having few or no secondary branching. Calyces are spread widely along branches and very clearly grouped at branch tips such that the branches curl over from the weight of the bunched polyps. Most polyps are exsert and bent over (Fig. 135 D). A longitudinal cross-section of a terminal polyp bunch shows the polyp body cavities extending as canals down into the branch where they merge into the large coelenteric canals in the medulla (Fig. 135 E).</p><p>Another specimen, NTM CO13050, is only tentatively included in this species due to differences in the ornamentation and shape of the sclerites. The colony is a similar colour to the holotype (Fig. 136 A) but the polyps are larger and the calyces much more delicate than those of the holotype (Fig. 136 B, C). The sclerites in the tentacles have a similar arrangement to the holotype—josephinae clubs in the sides of the tentacles and longitudinally in the pinnules and clubs arranged along the tentacle rachis (Figs. 136 D; 137A), however, they lack the curved tip present in those of the holotype. The smaller tentacle rachis sclerites in particular tend to be straight, tuberculate rods, not true josephinae clubs (Fig. 137 Ba) while the larger sclerites are clubs that are more tuberculate than those in the holotype (Fig. 137 Bb). Additionally, in general, all sclerites are more tuberculate than the holotype, including those from the pinnules, calyx and cortex (Fig. 138 A–C).</p><p>Distribution: Southern seamounts and east coast of Tasmania, Australia</p><p>Depth: 899–1854 metres.</p><p>Remarks: V. josephinae has similar sclerite shapes and arrangements to V. eminens n. sp., however the most noticeable difference is the large josephinae clubs in the tentacles of V. josephinae in contrast to V. eminens n. sp., which has poorly developed josephinae clubs sometimes with slightly bent tips in the tentacles. Additionally, in V. josephinae the polyps tend to be arranged bi-serially while in this species there is a much greater tendency for the polyps to clump or bunch along and at the tip of the branches with notable regions of branches polyp-free.</p><p>Colour differences of the live colonies are striking—the colour of V. josephinae is recorded as “the coenenchyme ... was yellowish, while the anthocodiae were violet to deep purple” (López-González &amp; Briand 2002) in contrast to V. eminens n. sp. which is uniformly magenta to deep purple. However, colour is not always a reliable species characteristic and is not helpful for determination after preservation. Geographic distance between the two specimens is similarly noteworthy, as V. josephinae was collected off the coast of Portugal and V. eminens n. sp. off the coast of southern Australia.</p><p>The presence of large, dense, straight club sclerites in the points and aboral side of the tentacles of V. argentea n. comb. distinguishes it from V. eminens n. sp, while V. alba n. comb. and V. macrocalyx n. comb. both have bulky rods in the tentacle rachis with very few josephinae clubs, and V. nyahae n. sp. has many sharply pointed thorn clubs along the tentacle rachis, in the points, and in the calyx.</p><p>Etymology: The epithet is the participle of the Latin emino, eminent or prominent, in recognition of the fact that the large, purple specimens are very obvious and distinct in photographs and video footage.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EE2FF01FF4BE5EC79E1DCC2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
039B87ED3EF0FF0AFF4BE7187F0DDFA2.text	039B87ED3EF0FF0AFF4BE7187F0DDFA2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Victorgorgia nyahae Moore & Alderslade & Miller 2017	<div><p>Victorgorgia nyahae sp. nov. Moore, Alderslade &amp; Miller</p><p>http://zoobank.org/401F301E-C5CD-43D0-83F4-F663CB47ECD2 (Figs. 139–146)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype: TMAG K3988, Cascade Seamount, Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 75, sample 32, (SS 200702 /075-032) 43.92– 43.934°S, 150.463 –150.479°E, depth 590–660 m, 10th April 2007.</p><p><a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=150.46&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-43.915" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 150.46/lat -43.915)">Other</a> material: TMAG K3989, Cascade Seamount, Huon CMR, SW Tasman Sea, Australia, CSIRO RV Southern Surveyor, stn. 77, sample 0 0 3, (SS 200702 /077-003), 43.915°S, 150.46°E, depth 590–660 m, 10th April 2007.</p><p>Description:</p><p>Colony form: The holotype is a complete colony, now broken into three fragments (Fig. 139 A). When whole, the colony had three main branches emanating from a small holdfast, encrusting a piece of coral rubble. The largest of these branches is approximately 29 mm in length with a diameter ranging between 1.8–2.9 mm, and has a small group of polyps branching off close to the base. The other colony fragments are approximately 25–29 mm long with slightly narrower diameters (1.8–2.1 mm) and no secondary branching. The branches are occasionally bent and twisted, and often not circular in cross-section being more likely to be irregularly narrowed and distorted. No anastomoses are present. The colony holdfast is an encrusting membrane with a few scattered polyps. The colony is in good condition—preservation was directly into 70% alcohol.</p><p>Calyces and polyps are distributed along and all around the branches. They are particularly crowded towards the branch tip and so form terminal polyp bunches (Fig. 139 B, C). All calyces and polyps project substantially from the colony, mostly at right angles to the branches, with large, prominent calyces and rounded polyp heads. There is little space between calyces and only a few are isolated.</p><p>Colour: The photograph taken soon after collection shows the polyps and the distal half of the calyces are lilac, the retracted tentacles are purple and the rest of the colony is light cream. The colony is now light beige in alcohol.</p><p>Calyces and polyps: The straight-sided calyces are large relative to the branch diameter, and range from 2.4– 3.9 mm tall and 1.4–2.6 mm wide. There are no polyps with the head fully retracted into the calyx although some are slightly retracted such that the polyp head is sitting on the lip of the calyx. Occasionally a partially retracted polyp head causes the calyx lip to flare out while the polyp head flattens (Fig. 139 Ca) making the whole polyp and calyx quite short and squat, however the majority of the polyps are exsert. Exsert polyps extended between 2–2.8 mm above the lip of the calyx, and the polyp heads have diameters of approximately 2–2.75 mm (Fig. 139 D). Both polyps and calyces are covered in a dense layer of crowded sclerites. Most polyps have the tentacles tightly folded over the polyp mouth so the polyp heads are rounded mounds with eight segments (Fig. 140 A). There are approximately 8–10 pinnules arranged in a single row along each side of the tentacles.</p><p>Medulla and Cortex: The branches of the scleraxonian colony are composed of a central medulla, made up of tightly packed longitudinal sclerites, surrounded by a thin cortex. The cortex and medulla are separated by a crowded series of longitudinal canals which anastomose to form an encircling boundary space allowing the cortex to be easily separated from the medulla. At the breakage point of the largest piece of colony, it can be seen that the medulla is extensively penetrated by longitudinal canals (Fig. 140 B, C). Many are large and encircled by a thin transparent layer of mesogloea, as mentioned by López-González and Briand, 2002 for V. josephinae . However, not all the canals have this layer and many are small and indistinct. For polyps which are arranged along and perpendicular to the branches, gastric cavities terminate at the medulla. For polyps which form the polyp clumps at the branch tip, their body cavity can extend internally down the branch for a short distance, eventually merging into the coelenteric canals in the central medulla.</p><p>Sclerites: The polyps and calyces are strongly protected with a dense covering of sclerites, predominately tuberculate sticks and spindles. On the polyp head, sclerites are arranged as a collaret and eight spiky points, with the sclerites bunched and crowded (Figs. 139 D; 140A). Around the head, approximately 10–15 transverse rows of sclerites form the collaret. Sclerites then angle en chevron up into the points, and eventually are longitudinally arranged at the tip of the points where the tentacle rachis begins. The collaret and point sclerites are mostly composed of tuberculate or warty sticks and spindles that are slightly curved or straight (Fig. 141). The points also have protruding, often large, warty spindles and clubs which are arranged with their modified spear-tip sticking out from the polyp head at the top of the points (Figs. 140 A; 141a). These sclerites give the polyp head a distinctive spiky appearance. Simple sclerites from the points and collaret range from 0.32–0.65 mm long while the more complex sclerites usually range from 0.5–0.7 mm long with occasional longer sclerites up to 0.91 mm. The sclerites from the polyp neck are simple tuberculate sticks and spindles, arranged obliquely, becoming transverse in the slightly contracted polyps.</p><p>Sclerites continue longitudinally along the aboral side of the tentacles from the points (Fig. 142 A). These sclerites are sharply pointed thorn clubs with a tuberculate handle and a bent, spiny or thorny tip (Fig. 142 B). The thorny tip of the sclerites is distad in the tentacle and the bent tips project up from the tentacle rachis making it very bristly. The sclerites decrease in size distally along the tentacle rachis, grading from approximately 0.5 to 0.18 mm. Amongst these thorn clubs are josephinae clubs (Fig. 143) with a long, mostly smooth handle and a rounded spiny, bent tip. These tend to occur along the sides of the tentacles and extend into the pinnules while the thorn clubs are mostly restricted to the middle proximal ridge of the rachis (Fig. 142 A).</p><p>Sclerites, 0.1–0.27 mm long, are crowded longitudinally in the pinnules, reaching approximately half way down. They are mostly sparsely tuberculate, flat rods, straight clubs and josephinae clubs with the clubbed tips pointing distad (Fig. 143). Some of the larger sclerites have a reasonably well-developed clubbed tip, blurring the distinction between pinnule and tentacle rachis sclerites. There are also very small, flat rods with jagged edges (Fig. 143 a)—these appear to crowd around the distal end of the tentacle and can appear to be arranged transversely although this may simply be an artefact of contraction of the tentacles (Fig. 142 A).</p><p>Calyces are covered in tightly packed sclerites, almost all sticks and spindles with tubercles varying from simple to complex branched warts (Fig. 144). Sclerites can range from 0.13–0.88 mm long but most are between approximately 0.36–0.78 mm. Bulky spindles with complex warts can have a spiny tip (Fig. 144 a) although these are not as developed as those present in the points and tentacles. Most sclerites are positioned longitudinally on the calyx, and tend to group into columns so the calyx has eight vaguely defined longitudinal ridges ending at the lip as eight indistinct mounds. The warty spindles are all orientated with the thorny tip projecting out from the calyx, sometimes giving the calyx a slightly prickly appearance particularly near the lip.</p><p>No sclerites were found in the pharynx.</p><p>The thin cortex of the colony is composed of a dense layer of longitudinally arranged sticks and spindles from 0.23–0.71 mm long (Fig. 145). Most sclerites have mainly simple tubercles but there are some spindles with a dense covering of complex warts.</p><p>The medulla is composed of tightly packed longitudinal sclerites—mostly tuberculate and warty sticks and spindles (Fig. 146). Occasionally there are large sticks and spindles with only sparse warts, often with branches, forks and fused areas. Bulky spindles with complex warts are also present but only infrequently. Most sclerites are from 0.30–0.76 mm long although longer sclerites up to 1 mm were observed. It was difficult to ensure these long sclerites remained undamaged during sampling so the prevalence of these cannot be estimated. Similar to the calyx and surface, small, mostly smooth spindles, from 0.12–0.22 mm in length, occur amongst the bigger sclerites.</p><p>Sclerites are uniformly transparent under transmitted light.</p><p>Variability: The specimen TMAG K3989 is a small fragment closely resembling the holotype. It is a piece of a narrow branch with polyps which have a similarly prickly appearance, obvious large, straight-sided calyces and polyps which are mostly extended. No polyps are fully retracted. The sclerites are similar to those in the holotype. Unfortunately there is no live photograph of this colony. However, there is a significant genetic difference between the sequences from this specimen when compared with those from the holotype (see discussion below) thus it is not included as a paratype.</p><p>Distribution: Southern Tasmanian seamounts.</p><p>Depth: 590–660 metres.</p><p>Remarks: V. nyahae n. sp. is differentiated from other Victorgorgia species by the presence of sharply pointed thorn clubs and spear-tipped spindles in the tentacles, points and top of the calyx. See molecular section for details of the divergent sequences obtained from the two specimens.</p><p>Etymology: The species is named after the first author’s daughter, Nyah, as a small recompense for a childhood overshadowed by a PhD.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B87ED3EF0FF0AFF4BE7187F0DDFA2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Moore, Kirrily M.;Alderslade, Philip;Miller, Karen J.	Moore, Kirrily M., Alderslade, Philip, Miller, Karen J. (2017): A taxonomic revision of Anthothela (Octocorallia: Scleraxonia: Anthothelidae) and related genera, with the addition of new taxa, using morphological and molecular data. Zootaxa 4304 (1): 1-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4304.1.1
