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NUMBER 557 87
forms of B. fistula reported by Yabe and Eguchi (1942b) and
one of the two forms of D. fistula reported by Eguchi (1968).
See the previous discussion of E. gaditana for comparisons to
that species.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: Alb-4903, 2,
USNM 92895; AIb-4936, 2, USNM 92896; TM (KT9202,
YS1), 1, ORI; Okinose, Sagami Bay, 110 m, Mortensen's 1914
Pacific Expedition, 7 coralla, ZMC, 1, USNM 92897; Soyo
Maru-2\2, 3, TIUS 58974. Reference Material: Syntypes of
B. fistula, ZMA(Coel 564).
TYPES.—The original description of the new subgenus and
species Alcockia wellsi is quite confusing and rather brief, but
qualifies as a legitimate description under Article 13C of the
ICZN. It can be deduced that A. wellsi was reported by Eguchi
(1968) from 13 Soyo Maru stations, all of these specimens
herein considered to be syntypes. Two of these specimens were
previously illustrated by Yabe and Eguchi (1942b, pi. 12: figs.
15, 16), but because I consider one of these specimens (Soyo
Maru-231, pi. 12, fig. 15) to be E. gaditana, I suggest that the
other figured specimen from Soyo Maru-2\0 (pi. 12: fig. 16a,b,
TIUS 58969) be considered as the lectotype. Type Locality:
Soyo Maru-210: SS^X nS^S'E (off Kii Peninsula,
Honshu), 165 m.
DISTRIBUTION.—Sagami Bay and Kii Peninsula, Honshu;
south of Fukue Jima; Osumi Strait, Kyushu; Tokara Retto,
northern Ryukyu Islands; 110-196 m.
Rhizopsammia Verrill, 1870a
DIAGNOSIS.—Like Balanophyllia, but forming reptoid colonies
by extratentacular stoloniferous budding. Pourtales Plan
present. Pali absent; columella rudimentary.
TYPE SPECIES.—Rhizopsammia pulchra Verrill, 1870a, by
monotypy.
DISCUSSION.—Rhizopsammia represents the first level of
polyp organization among the Recent colonial dendrophylliids
having a Pourtales Plan, i.e., that of stoloniferous budding,
being just a short step from a solitary Balanophyllia. The next
higher level of organization is characterized by Cladopsammia
in which phaceloid colonies originate from a common basal
coenosteum.
Rhizopsammia minuta mutsuensis Yabe and Eguchi, 1932
PLATE AQf.g
Rhizopsammia minuta var. mutsuensis Yabe and Eguchi. 1932f:208-209, pi. 9:
figs. 1-3.—Abe, 1939:175-187.—Fadlallah, 1983a: 133.
Rhizopsammia minuta mutsuensis.—Eguchi, 1934:368; 1965:293, 2 figs.;
1968:C72, pi. C4: fig. 4 [color]; pi. C14: figs. 1-3.—Yabe and Eguchi,
1942b: 143.—Suzuki, 1969:17-24. figs. 6-9.—Yajima. 1986:37-40.—
Song, 1991:138-139, pi. 1: fig. 15; pi. 3: figs. 3, 6.
DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPIC COLONY.—Corallum consists
of approximately 46 interconnected encrusting corallites
covering an area of about 5 cm 2 . Corallites bud extratentacularly
from reptoid stolons, the stolons maintaining their
connection throughout colony development. Corallites elliptical
(GCD:LCD about 1.1), up to 5.8 mm in GCD, and 4 mm in
height. All coraliites epithecate, the synapticulotheca visible
only at calicular edge. Corallum white; coenosarc yelloworange
(Song, 1991).
Septa hexamerally arranged in 4 cycles in a Pourtales Plan.
Only the largest corallites (>5.5 mm GCD) have the full 48
septa; most corallites lack several pairs of S4. S1 only
independent septa, and have straight, smooth inner edges that
attain the columella. S2 also have smooth inner edges, but do
not quite attain the columella. S3 smallest septa and have finely
dentate inner edges extending only about half distance to
columella. Inner edges of S4 coarsely dentate, each pair of S4
fused before the inner edge of its common S3 and continues
toward columella where it is loosly fused to an S2 near
columella. Fossa of moderate depth, containing a small
elliptical papillose to porous columella.
DISCUSSION.—Rhizopsammia minuta mutsuensis is stated to
differ from the nominate subspecies, R. minuta minuta van der
Horst, 1922, by having taller corallites, a deeper fossa, and
costate stolons. The nominate subspecies was described from
the Lesser Sunda Islands, Banda Sea. A third subspecies, R.
minuta bikiniensis Wells, 1954, described from the Marshall
Islands, differs in having smaller corallites and consequently
fewer septa. Eleven other species are attributed to this genus
(Cairns and Keller, 1993).
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Records: None. Previous
Records: Holotype of R. minuta mutsuensis, TIUS. Reference
Specimens: Holotype of/?, minuta bikiniensis, USNM 45106.
TYPES.—The holotype colony of R. minuta mutsuensis,
which was designated in a plate caption, is deposited at the
TIUS (41391). Four more paratype colonies exist. Type
Locality: Moura-shima (40°55.5'N), near Asamushi, Mutsu
Bay, Honshu, Japan, 1 -2 m.
DISTRIBUTION.—Endemic to the cold temperate northwest
Pacific: Sea of Japan coast of Honshu from Wakasa Bay to
Mutsu Bay; Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido; Sagami and Suruga Bays,
Honshu; Yellow Sea off South Korea; Sea of Japan coast of
South Korea; Ullung Do, Sea of Japan; 0-2 m.
Cladopsammia Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897
DIAGNOSIS.—Small phaceloid colonies formed by extratentacular
budding from a common basal coenosteum and from
edge zone of larger corallites. Pourtales Plan well developed.
Pali absent; columella spongy.
TYPE SPECIES.—Cladopsammia rolandi Lacaze-Duthiers,
1897, by monotypy.
DISCUSSION.—If Dendrophyllia applies to those species
with axial, sympodial, or bushy growth forms originating from
a single pedicel, then Cladopsammia may be reserved for those
species having a phaceloid growth form characterized by
numerous corallites budding from a common basal coenosteum.
The next lower level of corallite integration is that of
stoloniferous, reptoid budding, designated as the genus
Rhizopsammia: the next higher level of integration is the
branching mode, i.e., Dendrophyllia. Four species are recognized
in Cladopsammia: C. rolandi Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897; C.