Cladiella dollfusi (Tixier-Durivault, 1943)

Lazar, Einav, Mcfadden, Catherine S., Huchon, Dorothée & Benayahu, Yehuda, 2025, Redescription of type material of the genus Cladiella Gray, 1869 (Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea, Cladiellidae) from the Red Sea, Zootaxa 5674 (1), pp. 1-84 : 23-25

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5674.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FF8F0124-E9C0-45E0-9989-C0B74BF11036
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039787D2-FC4E-FFC9-EDA9-FAF18D8BE2DE
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cladiella dollfusi (Tixier-Durivault, 1943)
status

Treatment

Cladiella dollfusi (Tixier-Durivault, 1943) View in CoL

( Figure 2E View FIGURE 2 , 11 View FIGURE 11 & 12 View FIGURE 12 )

Lobularia Dollfusi Tixier-Durivault, 1943: 442 View in CoL ; Tixier-Durivault 1948: 36–39, Figs. 20–23 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 , 34 View FIGURE 34 .

? Alcyonium sphaerophorum var. saxigena Thorpe, 1928: 496 , pl. 30, Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ; pl. 31, Fig. 2; P1. 34 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 View FIGURE 18 View FIGURE 19 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 View FIGURE 24 View FIGURE 25 View FIGURE 26 View FIGURE 27 View FIGURE 28 View FIGURE 29 View FIGURE 30 View FIGURE 31 View FIGURE 32 View FIGURE 33 View FIGURE 34 , Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 (Western Australia). Not Alcyonium globuliferum Klunzinger, 1877 ; Stiasny 1937: 392.

Material examined. Syntypes. MNHN-IK-2000-378, Red Sea, H. Michelin collection; MNHN-IK-2000-406 and MNHN-IK-2000-513 (4 fragments), Red Sea, 1850, coll. A. B. Clot Bey.

Description. Syntype MNHN-IK-2000-378 consists of two fragments that are part of an encrusting colony. The larger fragment is with a maximum cross-section of 112 x 69 mm and the smaller one is with a maximum cross-section of 40 x 38 mm ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). The lobes and lobules are laterally compressed and arranged in distinct groups on the colony surface. Polyps are retractile and their location is noted as small pits on the lobe surface.

The sclerome of the polyps comprises diverse platelet-shapes, some figure-eights and also some rods, 0.03–0.06 mm long ( Fig. 11A View FIGURE 11 ). Most of the platelets feature a lateral constriction and some slits. Their surface predominantly has a cristate-like texture and occasionally some tubercles. Commonly, their circumference has an elevated rim, forming a median depression. The sclerites of the surface layer of the lobes are poorly developed dumbbells, 0.06– 0.09 mm long, mostly with rounded tubercles ( Fig. 11B View FIGURE 11 ). The dumbbells from the lobe interior are 0.06–0.09 mm long, their bare waist is 0.02–0.03 mm wide and 0.01–0.02 mm long ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ). These dumbbells are ornamented with blunt-ended conical and some pointed conical tubercles. The poorly developed dumbbells of the base surface are 0.06–0.08 mm long, featuring rounded tubercles ( Fig. 12A View FIGURE 12 ). The sclerites from the interior of the colony base are dumbbells, 0.06–0.09 mm long and their bare waist is 0.02–0.03 mm wide and 0.01–0.02 mm long ( Fig. 12B View FIGURE 12 ). Both ends of these dumbbells feature pointed conical or blunt-ended conical tubercles ( Fig. 12B View FIGURE 12 ).

Color. The dry syntype MNHN-IK-2000-378 is light brown.

Remarks. The initial species assignment of L. dollfusi by Tixier-Durivault (1943a: 442) did not depict any of the morphological characters of the syntype. Subsequently, they were presented in the revision of the genus ( Tixier-Durivault 1948: 36–39, Figs. 20–23 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 , 34 View FIGURE 34 ). In general, the current examination of both the colony morphology and the sclerites of syntype MNHN-IK-2000-378 corresponds to that description. A typo exists in that description on p. 40: Fig. 34 View FIGURE 34 should read Fig. 24 View FIGURE 24 . The SEM images of the polyp sclerites reveal new platelet-types, presented here for the first time in a Cladiella species, featuring a complex surface microstructure and an elevated circumferential rim ( Fig. 11A View FIGURE 11 ). Such polyp sclerites further demonstrate their variation in this genus, and are suggested to be diagnostically important. C. dollfusi is characterized both by the arrangement of the tubercles at each end of the dumbbell (see above) and by its polyp sclerites. The other syntypes, MNHN-IK-2000-406 and MNHN-IK-2000-513 (both not shown), resemble syntype MNHN-IK-2000-378, except in size. The amended description of this species ( Tixier-Durivault 1948) noted seven colonies, but only five were found at the MNHN. It should be noted that no details were given regarding the precise location in the Red Sea where the type material was collected.

The suggested synonymy of Alcyonium sphaerophorum var. saxigena Thorpe, 1928 from Western Australia with C. dollfusi (see Tixier-Durivault 1948: 36) requires examination of the relevant material.

Distribution. Red Sea.