Plazi
Info
The living colonies of the soft coral Sympodium yonaguniensis show groups of brown-gray extended polyps over the reef substrate to which it is attached.
The holotype is an encrusting and soft colony with irregular upper surface, measuring 5 x 32 mm and up to 3 mm thick .
Some polyps emerge singly, others in small groups of 3 - 5, forming low mounds up to 2 - 4 mm in diameter.
Almost all polyps are retracted, and the few that are either partially or mostly expanded measure up to 2 mm and have tentacles up to 1 mm long.
Most pinnules are retracted and only the few that are partially retracted can be seen under the dissecting microscope.
The morphological characteristics of the colony, especially the relatively thick crustal membrane and the polyps emerging in groups of low mounds, are considered diagnostic of this species.
Etymology. The species is named after the island "Yonagun "i, the type locality of the species.in Japan.
Literature reference:
Benayahu, Y.; Ekins, M.; McFadden, C.S. (2021)
Overview of the genus Sympodium (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism.
https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/html/FB5F8935FFD1FFBCFF0CFCED3C44D63D
Published under CC0 Public Domain Dedication
The holotype is an encrusting and soft colony with irregular upper surface, measuring 5 x 32 mm and up to 3 mm thick .
Some polyps emerge singly, others in small groups of 3 - 5, forming low mounds up to 2 - 4 mm in diameter.
Almost all polyps are retracted, and the few that are either partially or mostly expanded measure up to 2 mm and have tentacles up to 1 mm long.
Most pinnules are retracted and only the few that are partially retracted can be seen under the dissecting microscope.
The morphological characteristics of the colony, especially the relatively thick crustal membrane and the polyps emerging in groups of low mounds, are considered diagnostic of this species.
Etymology. The species is named after the island "Yonagun "i, the type locality of the species.in Japan.
Literature reference:
Benayahu, Y.; Ekins, M.; McFadden, C.S. (2021)
Overview of the genus Sympodium (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism.
https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/html/FB5F8935FFD1FFBCFF0CFCED3C44D63D
Published under CC0 Public Domain Dedication
