Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) - Western ...

370
97802; stn 02/82/13A, 1 irregular fragment, WAM
478-96.
Umataka Maru: stn 6291, 2 irregular fragments,
WAM428-96.
Lady: stn RW96-17, 1, N1M C8071.
Remarks
This species is also known to occur in two
growth forms: relatively large (GCD over 2 cm),
complete coralla, and as irregularly-shaped (often
semi-circular) regenerative fragments less than 1
cm in GCD (Cairns 1994). Three of the lots
reported are irregular fragments, one of the other
two (i.e., Soela 1/79/18) being one of the largest
known specimens, having a GCD of 25.1 mm.
Distribution
Western Australia: continental shelf of
northwestern coast from Cartier Island to west of
Glomar Shoal; 101-300 m. Elsewhere: Indo-West
Pacific (southwestern Indian Ocean to Japan,
including Great Australian Bight (western South
Australia»; 69-823 m (Cairns and Zibrowius 1997).
Fungiacyathus (F.) multicarinatus sp. novo
Figure 1 a-e
Records
Soela: stn 01/84/54, holotype, WAM 547-84.
Description
Corallum circular, but eccentric, caused by
regeneration from a parent fragment that composes
about one-third of corallum; GCD = 25.9 mm. Base
undulating, also due to regeneration. Costae finely
dentate, low ridges. Septa hexamerally arranged in
five cycles; all septa planar, with straight upper
edges. SI bear 30-34 trabecular carinae on each
face,' sometimes aligned on either side of a septum,
but usually not. Septal carinae quite tall, up to 0.4
mm, filling most of interseptal regions and
obscuring view of corallum base and synapticulae.
Innermost trabecular carinae produced into
spatulate spines that arch toward and slightly over
the columella. Middle and outer trabecular carinae
grouped into upward projecting spines of 2 or 4
trabeculae apiece. S2 similar to SI but slightly
smaller. S3 similar to S2 but slightly less tall and
composed of only 24-26 trabecular per septal face.
Inner edges of SI-3 extend to columella. 54 bear
only 16-18 trabecular carinae per face, fusing to
their adjacent S3 about two-thirds distance to
columella. S5 rudimentary, composed of only 5-7
trabecular carinae per septal face, merging with
their common 54 about half distance to columella.
No septal canopies; no pali or paliform lobes.
Synapticulae small and poorly developed.
Columella papillose.
S.D. Cairns
Remarks
This subgenus consists of five Recent species: F.
pusillus (Pourtales, 1868); F. fragilis Sars, 1872; F.
stephanus (Alcock, 1893); F. paliferus (Alcock,
1902a); and F. sp. A sensu Cairns, 1994. F.
multicarinatus differs from these species in having
more numerous and much taller trabecular carinae,
and poorly developed synapticulae. Although
represented by only one specimen, it would appear
to be a species that reproduces by asexual
fragmentation, a mode consistent with its poorly
developed synapticulae.
Distribution
Western Australia: continental slope off Dampier
Land; 348-350 m.
Etymology
The species name multicarinatus (Latin multus,
many + carinatus, keeled, carinate) alludes to the
numerous trabecular carinae on the face of each
septum, more than in any other species in the
genus.
Subgenus Bathyactis Moseley, 1881
Fungiacyathus (B.) variegatus Cairns, 1989
Fungiacyathus (B.) variegatus Cairns, 1989: 11-12, pI.
5, figs. a-h; 1994: 38-39, pI. 15, figs. a-b.­
Cairns and Zibrowius, 1997: 71-72.
New Records
Soela: stn 01/84/65, 2, WAM 1020-85.
Umataka Maru: stn 6921, 1, WAM 148-84.
Distribution
Western Australia: continental slope of
northwestern coast south. of Scott Reef and south
of Rowley Shoals; 300-302 m. Elsewhere: western
Pacific from Ryukyu Islands through Indonesia;
84-715 m (Zibrowius and Cairns, 1997).
Fungiacyathus (B.) granulosus Cairns, 1989
Fungiacyathus (B.) granulosus Cairns, 1989: 11, pI. 4,
figs. d-i; 1994: 39, pI. 15, figs. d-e.-Cairns and
Zibrowius 1997: 71.
New Records
Soela: stn 01/84/65, 8: 5 (WAM 768-84), 3
(USNM 97803); stn 01/84/66, 3, WAM 741-84; stn
01/84/67,5, WAM 429-96; stn 01/84/77, 1, WAM
526-84; stn 01/84/122,1, WAM 794-84.
Courageous: stn 002, 2, WAM 452-96; stn 004, 1,
USNM 97804.
Distribution
Western Australia: continental slope of