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NUMBER 557 83
Elsewhere: Philippines, Banda Sea, Hawaiian Islands; 236-
470 m.
Balanophyllia gigas Moseley, 1881
PLATE 35./-/
Balanophyllia gigas Moseley, 1881:193.—Van der Horst, 1922:58-59, pi. 8:
fig. 22.—Eguchi, 1934:368; 1965:292, 2 figs.; 1968:C51-52, pi. C21: figs.
1, 2; pi. C31: figs. 5,6.—Yabe and Eguchi, 1942b:l 13,139-140.—Utinomi,
1965:256.—Eguchi and Miyawaki, 1975:59.
?Balanophyllia ponderosa.—Yabe and Eguchi, 1942b:140, pi. 12: fig.
9.—Eguchi, 1965:293,2 figs.
DESCRIPTION.—The following description is based primarily
on the specimen from Alb-5070, which is quite similar to the
holotype. Corallum ceratoid: 29.1 x 23.6 mm in calicular
diameter and 76 mm in height, with a slender but sturdy pedicel
10.0 mm in diameter (PD:GCD = 0.34). Holotype 28.9 x 20.0
mm in calicular diameter and 58.8 mm in height, with a pedicel
diameter of 10.5 mm (PD:GCD = 0.36). Corallum irregularly
bent, not regularly curved. Costae slightly convex and 0.6-0.7
mm wide, separated by thin, porous intercostal striae and
covered with fine granules and slightly larger, coarse spines,
altogether producing a rough texture. Synapticulotheca porous
and white, the edge zone extending only 7-16 mm below
calicular edge, below which the corallum is epithecate,
discolored, and covered with encrusting organisms.
Septa hexamerally arranged in 5 cycles, the last cycle not
complete, both the holotype and Albatross specimen having
only 88 septa. S1-2 equal in size, up to 4 mm exsert, and have
straight, smooth inner edges that attain the columella. S3 half as
exsert and about three-quarters width of an S1-2 and also have
straight, smooth inner edges. S4_5 arranged in a Pourtales Plan.
In quarter-systems lacking S5, the S4 is independent, extending
to the columella. If, however, the S4 is flanked by a pair of S5,
the S4 is short, a pair of S5 fusing before it, this combined S5
extending to the columella. Whereas inner edges of S^ are
entire (smooth) and their faces are solid, inner edges of the S4_5
are corsely dentate and the septa porous. Fossa of moderate
depth, containing a discrete, slender, elongate, columella,
composed of many slender elements loosely fused together.
DISCUSSION.—Several authors, including Moseley (1881),
have attributed the authorship of B. gigas to Brueggemann
based on an apparently unpublished manuscript in which he
described and named this species. However, the authorship
must be attributed to Moseley (1881) who first published the
name and commented on the species, if only as a brief
comparison to another species.
Balanophyllia gigas can be distinguished from other
congeners by its large size and the coarse dentition and porosity
of its higher cycle septa.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: Alb-5070, 1,
USNM 92882; TM (KT7818, OT8-1), I, USNM 92883; TM
(KT8412, 14), 1, ORI. Previous Records: Holotype of B.
gigas, BM.
TYPES.—The holotype (Plate 35*) of B. gigas is deposited at
the BM (1876.10.11.23). Type Locality: "Japan," depth
unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.—Japan: From Boso Honto, Honshu (including
Sagami Bay) to southwestern Kyushu, including Shikoku;
115-245 m. Elsewhere: Kei Islands, Banda Sea; 90 m.
Balanophyllia ponderosa Van der Horst, 1926
PLATE 36a,b
Balanophyllia ponderosa Van der Horst, 1926:49-50, pi. 3: figs. 6, 7.—Not
Yabe and Eguchi, 1942b: 140, pi. 12: fig. 9 [= IB. gigas].—Not Eguchi,
1965:293. 2 figs.; 1968:C54 [in part: pi. C17: figs. 6-11, 13, 14).—
?Kikuchi. 1968:9, pi. 5: fig. 1 la,b.—?Eguchi and Miyawaki. 1975:54, pi. 6:
fig. 3.—Cairns and Keller, 1993:274.
DISCUSSION.—No additional specimens of B. ponderosa are
reported herein and the Japanese specimens reported by Yabe
and Eguchi (1942b) and Eguchi (1968) are unavailable for
study, but the holotype of B. ponderosa was examined and
compared to the published illustrations of specimens from
Japan. The specimens figured by Eguchi (1968, pi. C17: figs.
6-11, 13, 14) appear to be conspecific; however, the specimen
illustrated in pi. C12, figs. 15-17 appears to be B. cornu, and
the specimen illustrated by Yabe and Eguchi (1942b, pi. 12: fig.
9) appears to be B. gigas.
The holotype of B. ponderosa is 23.7 x 17.5 mm in calicular
diameter and 30.0 mm in height, with a thick pedicel measuring
14.2 x 13.4 mm in diameter (PD:GCD = 0.60). A thick,
horizontally striate epitheca covers lower half of corallum, the
upper synapticulotheca consisting of finely granular, convex
costae 0.4-0.6 mm wide separated by very narrow striae. Septa
hexamerally arranged in 5 cycles, only 1 pair of S5 lacking, for
a total of 94 septa. S,_2 equal in size and have straight, vertical,
entire inner edges. S3 about half width of an S^ and have
similar inner edges, all 24 S1-3 reaching the columella. S4 are
the smallest septa. Each pair of S5 fuses before an S4 and
extends to the columella, where it fuses to the inner edges of
adjacent S3. Inner edges of S4_5 finely dentate. All septa
nonexsert. Fossa deep, containing a large, elliptical columella
10.0 x 3.8 mm in size that is virtually flat on top. The columella
consists of numerous small, flattened elements weakly swirled
in a clockwise direction and tightly fused to one another.
Balanophyllia ponderosa is distinguished from other Japanese
congeners by its relatively thick pedicel and its large, low,
spongy columella.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: None. Previous
Records: Holotype of B. ponderosa, BM; 1 specimen off
South Africa (Caims and Keller, 1993).
TYPES.—The holotype (Plate 36a,b) and two paratypes of B.
ponderosa are deposited at the BM, the holotype cataloged as
1939.7.20.62. Type Locality: Off Nilandu, Maldive Islands;
depth unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.—Japan: Sagami Bay, Honshu; 14-16 m
(Eguchi, 1968). Elsewhere: Southwest Indian Ocean; Maldive
Islands; 51-59 m.