Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846

Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846 View in CoL

(Pl. 1D–F; Fig. 2K, L)

Material examined. Stn. 1, 18.ii.2012, 20 m, M220: two sterile colonies, 10.5×9.0 cm and 4.5× 2.5 cm, respectively, on limestone (MHNG-INVE-82875); 26.ii.2012, 20 m, M272: fertile colony (immature gonophores, sex could not be ascertained), basal part missing, 8.0×7.0 cm (MHNG-INVE-82876).

FIGURE 2. A: Bimeria vestita Wright, 1859 ―portion of erect stem with hydranth. B, C: Garveia franciscana (Torrey, 1902) ―portion of colony with hydranths and gonophores (B); cnidome (C). D–F: Parawrightia robusta Warren, 1907 ―hydranth atop its pedicel (D); gonophore in lateral view (E1) and cross section (E2). G, H: Hydractinia sp.―gastro- (G1) and gonozooid with gonophore seen frontally (G2); tentaculo- and gonozooid with gonophore seen laterally (G3); cnidome (H). I: Corydendrium parasiticum (Linnaeus, 1767) ―hydranth and female gonads. J: Turritopsis nutricula McCrady, 1857 ―hydranth and gonophores. K, L: Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846 ―fragment of a branchlet showing hydranths and gonophores (K); cnidome (L). M: Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986 ―cnidome. N–Q: Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990 ―newly liberated medusa seen apically (N), in lateral ( O) and subumbrellar (P) views; cnidome (Q) of medusa (upper row) and polyp (lower row). R: Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990 ―cnidome. Scale bars: 10 µm (C, F, H, L, M, Q, R), 300 µm (E, N–P), 500 µm (A, B, D, G, J, K), 1 mm (I).

PLATE 1. A–B: Parawrightia robusta Warren, 1907 ―hydranth, note the amphicoronate tentacles (A); male gonophore (B). C: Hydractinia sp.―gastro- and gonozooid. D–F: Solanderia gracilis Duchassaing & Michelin, 1846 ―detail of colony (D); hydranth (E); gonophores (F). G–I: Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986 ―portion of colony on red sponge (G); hydranth with gonophore (H); trifid aboral tentacle (I). J, K: Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990 ―detail of hydranth showing the medusa buds (J); newly liberated medusa (K). L– O: Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990 ―three polyps (L); detail of hydranth showing blastostyles with gonophores and loose distal clusters of cnidophores (M); eumedusoid gonophores at various stages of development (N); larvae brooded within the female gonophore ( O). Photo courtesy: Romain Ferry (A–F, H, J, K, M, N) and Alain Goyeau (G, L).

Remarks. For a thorough redescription of this species, see Vervoort (1962). Its ecology was studied by Larson (1987). The cnidome (unreported so far) is composed of two size classes of stenoteles, with small ( ca. 8.5×6.1 µm) and large ( ca. 16.0×12.8 µm) capsules, respectively.

Geographical distribution. From North Carolina to Brazil ( Larson 1987). The Caribbean records are summarized by Calder & Kirkendale (2005).