PDF (Hi-Res) - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 557 43
formula: S1_2>S3>S4>S5. Last (fifth) cycle rarely present and
never complete, the largest number of septa reported being 68,
corallites with only 48 septa being most common. S^_2 only
slightly exsert, their inner edges attaining the columella, their
upper edges bearing 5-7 coarse teeth. S3 shortest septa, bearing
3 or 4 small, blunt teeth. Each S3 flanked by a pair of long S4,
each bearing 7 or 8 blunt teeth and meeting in a V-shaped
junction near inner edge of common S3 and continuing to
columella to meet the inner edge of the S2. Fossa of variable
depth, but usually quite shallow. Columella papillose, consisting
of papillae indistinguishable from teeth on inner edges of
S.,_2, and S4.
DISCUSSION.—Oulangia stokesiana miltoni is distinguished
from the nominate subspecies and two other Recent species (O.
bradleyi Verrill, 1866, and O. cyathiformis Chevalier, 1971) by
having a relatively small corallum with correspondingly fewer
septa: 48-66 instead of 96. Previously known only from off
northeastern Honshu, and South Korea, this subspecies is
herein reported from the Sea of Japan in the Oki Channel, off
southwestern Honshu at 100-135 m, the greatest recorded
depth for this subspecies. Like Letepsammia formosissima,
specimens from the northern range (off Japan) of this
widespread Indo-West Pacific species have a smaller corallum,
and thus has been distinguished as a subspecies.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: TM (KT9015,
CB-6), 3 corallites, USNM 92646. Previous Records: 75
syntypes, TIUS.
TYPES.—Approximately 150 syntypes (Plate 41 a,b) are
deposited at the TIUS (41051). Type Locality: Shiogamamachi
(east of Teizan Canal), Matsushima Bay, near Sendai,
Honshu, depth unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.—Pleistocene of Sagami Bay region. Recent:
Northeastern coast of Honshu from Shiogama to
Sagami Bay; ?Miyake-jima; Oki Channel, off southwestern
Honshu; coast of South Korea from Pusan to Tokchokto,
Yellow Sea; 0-135 m.
DIAGNOSIS.—See Part 1.
Family OCULINIDAE
Madrepora Linnaeus, 1758
Madrepora oculata Linnaeus, 1758
ACCOUNT.—See Part 1.
Cyathelia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849
DIAGNOSIS.—Colonies arborescent, formed by regular,
alternate, extratentacular budding. Coenosteum dense and
faintly costate. Well-developed pali occur before first three
septal cycles; columella papillose.
TYPE SPECIES.—Madrepora axillaris Ellis and Solander,
1786, by monotypy.
Cyathelia axillaris (Ellis and Solander, 1786)
PLATE \%a-c
Madrepora axillaris Ellis and Solander. 1786:153, pi. 13: fig. 5.
Cyathelia axillaris.—Milne Edwards and Haime. 185Ob:72-73.
Cyathohetia axillaris.—Milne Edwards and Haime, 1857:110-111.—Duncan,
1876:438.—Alcock, 1898:28.—Bedot, 1907:145, pi. 15: fig. 103.
Cyathelia cf. axillaris.—Eguchi, 1942:138 (142), pi. 6: figs. 2, 3 [synonymy].
Cyathelia axillaris.—Eguchi, 1968:C28, pi. C20: figs. 5-7; pi. C24: figs. 4. 5
[synonymy].—Kikuchi, 1968:8, pi. 5: fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION.—Coralla sparsely branched, resulting in
small, robust, bushy colonies, the largest known about 7.5 cm
in height, supporting approximately 100 corallites (Eguchi,
1968, pi. C24: fig. 4). Branching is essentially sympodial, but
two buds often originate on opposite sides of a terminal
corallite, the parent corallite ultimately becoming immersed in
thick coenosteum within the branch axil. Corallites circular
when small, often becoming elliptical or even medially
constricted if located at a branch axil. Corallites relatively
large, up to 11 mm in GCD. Branch coenosteum dense,
granular, light brown to tan in color, and usually faintly costate.
Corallites often pigmented a darker shade of brown.
Septa usually hexamerally arranged in 4 cycles; however,
small corallites (i.e., 10 mm GCD) sometimes have an extra (13th) half-system for
a total of 52 septa. Septal formula: S1_2>S3>S4. Su2 up to 1.5
mm exsert, quite thick, and have straight inner edges reaching
about one-fourth distance into fossa. S3 equally exsert but only
about two-thirds as wide as S:_2- S4 less exsert and about 80%
width of the S3. Twelve thick pali, each about 1.5 mm wide,
form a palar crown encircling columella. Another crown of 12
P3, each palus of equal width but slightly thicker than P1-2,
occurs slightly recessed from the columella and slightly higher
in fossa. Pali and septal faces highly granular. Columella
papillose.
DISCUSSION.—Cyathelia is a montypic genus distinguished
from other oculinid genera by having two crowns of pali before
its first three septal cycles. It has a distinctive colony shape,
easily recognized by its sparse branching and large corallites in
relation to its branch diameter.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: Alb-4944, 1 colony,
USNM 92660; TM (KT9015, CB2-2), 1 colony, ORI; TM
(KT9015, CB1-2), 2 colonies, USNM 92661; TM (KT9202,
YS1), 1, USNM 92662; TM (KT9202, YT2), 1, USNM 92663;
off Yenoshima, Honshu, 4 colonies, USNM 92664; Monoiso,
Misaki, Sagami Bay, 1 colony, USNM 92665; Ashima, Sagami
Bay, 1 colony, USNM 92666. Previous Records:
Challenger-\96, 1 colony, BM 1880.11.25.88 (reported by
Moseley, 1881).
TYPES.— The types of M. axillaris have not been traced,
although Ellis and Solander's (1786) original illustration of the
species is diagnostic for this distinctive species. Type Locality:
Eastern Indian Ocean, depth unknown.