Franz Anthony, Indonesia
Info
Very special thanks for the first two photos of Isaurus maculatus to Frank Anthony from Indonesia.
This, compared to typical crustose anemone, at first strange and unusual looking crustose anemone was discovered September 7, 1979 by Dr. J. S. Ryland in the zone of the reef crest of the Korotongo fringing reef near Singatoka in the southwest of Viti Levu, Fij, and collected for identification.
The brown alga Sargassum cristaefolium grew in the same habitat.
The body wall of each individual was pale gray, but with many darkly pigmented, small, bumpy elevations regularly arranged in rows and series.
All individuals had the same shape, with little morphological variation within a tuft or between adjacent tufts.
Isaurus maculatus never showed large crown and body humps, although it occurs in Fiji in the same reefs as Isaurus tuberculatus, its habitat is more limited, and the two species are quite distinct.
Isaurus maculatus was found only in the breakwater zone and reef crest of the southwestern fringing reef of Viti Levu.
Dr. Ryland had not found any fertile polyps, but individuals were observed to reproduce asexually, in the same manner as the asexual reproduction of Isaurus tuberculafus.
Polyps have never been observed feeding in aquaria despite the use of overnight time-lapse photography; polyps of Isaurus maculatus have never been observed feeding in Fiji.
Isaurus tuberculatus can be purchased m specialized trade from time to time (colony price around 40€), Isaurus maculatus cannot.
Remark: Data about the water depth in centimeters or meters were not noted in the first description, in the internet these data are also missing.
This, compared to typical crustose anemone, at first strange and unusual looking crustose anemone was discovered September 7, 1979 by Dr. J. S. Ryland in the zone of the reef crest of the Korotongo fringing reef near Singatoka in the southwest of Viti Levu, Fij, and collected for identification.
The brown alga Sargassum cristaefolium grew in the same habitat.
The body wall of each individual was pale gray, but with many darkly pigmented, small, bumpy elevations regularly arranged in rows and series.
All individuals had the same shape, with little morphological variation within a tuft or between adjacent tufts.
Isaurus maculatus never showed large crown and body humps, although it occurs in Fiji in the same reefs as Isaurus tuberculatus, its habitat is more limited, and the two species are quite distinct.
Isaurus maculatus was found only in the breakwater zone and reef crest of the southwestern fringing reef of Viti Levu.
Dr. Ryland had not found any fertile polyps, but individuals were observed to reproduce asexually, in the same manner as the asexual reproduction of Isaurus tuberculafus.
Polyps have never been observed feeding in aquaria despite the use of overnight time-lapse photography; polyps of Isaurus maculatus have never been observed feeding in Fiji.
Isaurus tuberculatus can be purchased m specialized trade from time to time (colony price around 40€), Isaurus maculatus cannot.
Remark: Data about the water depth in centimeters or meters were not noted in the first description, in the internet these data are also missing.
