Revision and redescription of the species previously included in the genus <i>Amphilaphis</i> Studer and Wright in Studer, 1887 (Octocorallia: Primnoidae)

Abstract

SUMMARY: The taxonomy of the primnoid genus Amphilaphis Studer and Wright in Studer, 1887 has been in a confused state for a long time and a revision of the species included in that genus has become a necessity. We have revised and redescribed the species previously included in the genus using up-to-date technology, such as polyp and sclerite images obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result of this study, because the type species of Amphilaphis is actually a Thouarella species, we consider the genus Amphilaphis to be no longer valid. One of the species previously considered in Amphilaphis has a set of morphological characters that are not recognizable in any of the current primnoid genera. Primnocapsa n. gen. has a dichotomous branching pattern, polyps placed singly, in spirals around the branchlets, 8 opercular scales with the inner surface keeled and with 2 mounds basally and 8 marginal scales offset from the operculars. The new genus is described and illustrated. Moreover, one of the re-examined species has been included in a new subgenus, Faxiella n. subgen. of Plumarella Gray, 1870 because it has polyps placed in pairs. Finally, the remaining re-examined species have been included in the genus Thouarella Gray, 1870, one of the most specious primnoid genera.Keywords: Cnidaria, new genus, new subgenus, Faxiella, Primnocapsa, Thouarella.RESUMEN: Revisión y redescripción de las especies incluidas previamente en el género AmphilAphis Studer y Wright en Studer, 1887 (Octocorallia: Primnoidae). -Durante mucho tiempo, el género de primnoido Amphilaphis Studer y Wright en Studer, 1887, ha sido un cajón de sastre y la revisión de las especies incluidas en este género se ha convertido en algo indispensable. Mediante el uso de la tecnología más actual, como es la microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM), para la obtención de imágenes de pólipos y escleritos, hemos revisado y redescrito todas las especies previamente incluidas en el género. Como resultado de este estudio, y dado que la especie tipo de Amphilaphis es de hecho una especie perteneciente al género Thouarella, concluimos que el género Amphilaphis no debería considerarse válido. Una de las especies previamente consideradas en este género presenta un conjunto de caracteres morfológicos no reconocibles en ningún género de primnoido. Primnocapsa n. gen. se caracteriza por tener un patrón de ramificación dicotómico, pólipos aislados dispuestos en espiral alrededor de las ramas, ocho escamas operculares con quilla y con dos protuberancias basales y ocho escamas marginales dispuestas de forma alterna con las operculares. El nuevo género es descrito e ilustrado. Además, una de las especies re-examinadas ha sido incluida en un nuevo subgénero, Faxiella n. subgen. de Plumarella Gray, 1870 por poseer pólipos dispuestos en pares. Por último, las restantes especies re-examinadas han sido incluidas en el género Thouarella Gray, 1870, uno de los géneros de primnoidos con más especies.

Deep-Water Octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from the Galápagos and Cocos Islands. Part 1: Suborder Calcaxonia

“…It fits the re-description of the holotype given by Zapata-Guardiola and López-González (2012), except that the Galápagos specimen sometimes has polyps arranged in whorls of three.…”

“…There are 37 species in the genus arranged in four subgenera, most listed in Cairns (2011: table 2), however, two new subgenera were recently added by Zapata-Guardiola and López-González (2012) and Zapata-Guardiola, López-González and Gili (2012).…”

“… Not Thouarella abietinaPasternak 1981: 49–50 (=T. vityazi Zapata-Guardiola and López-González 2012). …”

Polar marine biology science in Portugal and Spain: Recent advances and future perspectives

“…Though fragmentary, the fossil record for certain groups of benthic marine invertebrates can shed some light on the origin and diversification of the Antarctic fauna. Gorgonian octocorals are a case in point, with high Antarctic benthic assemblages being dominated by two families, Primnoidae and Isidiidae (López-González and Zapata-Guardiola and López-González, 2012). Other families such as Chrysogorgiidae, Acanthogorgiidae, and Subergorgiidae are found only at lower latitudes in the Southern Ocean, mainly in the Scotia Arc.…”

A revision of the genus Thouarella Gray, 1870 (Octocorallia: Primnoidae), including an illustrated dichotomous key, a new species description, and comments on Plumarella Gray, 1870 and Dasystenella, Versluys, 1906

“…Thus, although Amphilaphis is very similar to Thouarella in many respects (discussed in the Thouarella genus description), in this study we consider only the so-called 'original' Thouarella species and those incorporated into Thouarella in peer-review journals up to the end of 2010 (see Table 1). The genus Amphilaphis has recently been revised by Zapata-Guardiola & López-González (2012). Aurivillius (1931) described T. hilgendorfi forma plumatilis after which there was a 60 year hiatus in Thouarella descriptions until provided a revised species list and described three new species.…”