A new species of Tanacetipathes from Brazil, with a redescription of the type species T. tanacetum (Pourtales) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Antipatharia)

Abstract

The type species of Tanacetipathes Opresko, 2001 is Antipathes tanacetum Pourtalès, 1880. Pourtalès did not designate a holotype for A. tanacetum, nor did he indicate which form he thought was the most “typical” of the species. Because of the similarities of some of the syntypes with other nominal species, it is necessary to select a lectotype from one of the two groups with predominantly uniserial pinnulation. A specimen with short curved primary pinnules was chosen because it has a very distinctive pinnulation pattern that has been previously associated with Tanacetipathes tanacetum. With a lectotype of T. tanacetum designated, potential new species of Tanacetipathes can now be evaluated and compared directly with the type species. This is the case for T. paula n. sp., which is described here from the littoral of Archipelago of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (Brazil). This species has a corallum pseudo-dichotomously branched, with primary pinnules arranged in four rows and in alternating biserial groups of two pinnules each. The primary pinnules are up to 1.9 cm in length. The secondary pinnules usually occur bilaterally, on both sides of the primary pinnules, and often in subopposite pairs, especially near the base of the primary pinnules. There are usually 3-9 secondary pinnules per lateral primary pinnules. The anterior primary pinnules always with only two secondary pinnules arranged in subopposite pair nearer the base of primary. The axial spines are relatively large, conical, acute and slightly papillose; the polypar spines up to 0.25 mm tall and abpolypar spines up to 0.17 mm. Polyps are not present on the type specimen.

Black Corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

“…Colonies with small spines are the typical form of the species (see Perez et al, 2005). The morphotype with the larger spines may prove to be a different species.…”

The black coral fauna (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) of Bermuda with new records

“…The color of living colonies ranges between brown to light orange (Figure 7a). Bermudan specimens resemble the lectotype of T. tanacetum (see Perez et al, 2005) in terms of both colony branching pattern and skeletal spine morphology. However, the skeletal spines of Bermudan specimens are substantially larger (range=120-240 μm) than those of the lectotype of T. tanacetum (range=100-130 μm; Perez et al, 2005).…”

“…Bermudan specimens resemble the lectotype of T. tanacetum (see Perez et al, 2005) in terms of both colony branching pattern and skeletal spine morphology. However, the skeletal spines of Bermudan specimens are substantially larger (range=120-240 μm) than those of the lectotype of T. tanacetum (range=100-130 μm; Perez et al, 2005). Specimens from other locations, including Brazil, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, with skeletal spines that are up to 300 μm in height have also been assigned to this species (Opresko et al, 2016;Perez et al, 2005;Opresko & Sanchez, 2005;Loiola & Castro, 2005).…”

“…However, the skeletal spines of Bermudan specimens are substantially larger (range=120-240 μm) than those of the lectotype of T. tanacetum (range=100-130 μm; Perez et al, 2005). Specimens from other locations, including Brazil, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, with skeletal spines that are up to 300 μm in height have also been assigned to this species (Opresko et al, 2016;Perez et al, 2005;Opresko & Sanchez, 2005;Loiola & Castro, 2005). Consistent with this, we here also assign the Bermudan species to T. tanacetum, despite of it having larger skeletal spines than the T. tanacetum lectoype.…”

“…Consistent with this, we here also assign the Bermudan species to T. tanacetum, despite of it having larger skeletal spines than the T. tanacetum lectoype. Future studies should be undertaken, particularly those that include molecular data, in order to determine whether the two forms with different skeletal spine sizes represent different species or intraspecific variability (Perez et al, 2005). T. tanacetum has previously been reported from Brazil to the Northwest Atlantic at depths ranging between 20-1293 m (Opresko et al 2016;Opresko, 2009;Perez et al, 2005;Loiola & Castro, 2005;Padilla & Lara, 2003;Cairns et al, 1993;Opresko, 1972).…”