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HYDROIDS OF THE VEMA SEAMOUNT

N. A. H. Miciarp,

Koology Department, University of Cape Town

(With 1 figure in the text)

CONTENTS

PAGE

IMtroductOnwe- ee Flot Meu) PAGO

Systematic account Ge ou octaWy, Ware bors) et 4 BO

Discussion SMES eee aes ss alee AOA:

Summary 3 : ¢ ¢ 0 - 495

Acknowledgements : 5 : - 495

References : ‘ ; ; oer 405

INTRODUCTION

The material recorded in this paper is part of a collection of benthic

fauna made by the Department of Oceanography of the University of Cape

Town and the Division of Sea Fisheries, Cape Town, in November, 1964. The

Vema Seamount is situated in 31° 38’ South Latitude and 08° 20’ East Longi-

tude, approximately 550 miles off the west coast of South Africa, and is

surmounted by a plateau of about five square miles with a mean depth of 73 m.

The hydroid material was obtained from a rocky bottom in depths varying

from 42 to 61 m. and was part of a mixed community containing also sea-weeds,

sponges, ascidians and holothurians. Further details of the expedition are

reported by Simpson and Heydorn (1965). It is of interest that from a cursory

examination of the fauna these authors remark on an apparent affinity with

Tristan da Cunha. This was particularly evident in the fish, and the common

rock-lobster (Jasus tristani), which is now being exploited commercially, is

similar to that occurring in the Tristan area.

The hydroid collection is the property of the South African Museum and

will be lodged there.

Family Haleciidae

Halecium beanu (Johnston, 1838)

Three infertile samples, two from 54 m. and one from 61 m. Stems reaching

a maximum height of 8-6 cm.

489

Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 48 (19), 1966: 489-496, 1 fig.

490 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

Hydrodendron caciniformis (Ritchie, 1907)

aie,

Ophiodes caciniformis Ritchie, 1907: 500, pl. 23 (fig. 11, 12), pl. 24 (fig. 1).

Hydrodendron caciniformis: Millard, 1957: 186, fig. 3. Ralph, 1958: 342, fig. 13b, c, 14a.

Phylactotheca caciniformis: Pennycuik, 1959: 174.

Ophiodissa caciniformis: Vervoort, 1959: 218, fig. 1, 2.

One sample from 54 m. Stems reaching a maximum height of 0-9 cm.,

most of them unfascicled, though a few weakly fascicled at base. Structure of

stem and hydrophore similar to the South African material, though dimensions

on the whole slightly smaller.

Gonophores borne in numbers on hydrorhiza. Elongated barrel-shaped,

with short pedicel and truncated distal end, lightly annulated. Reaching

1°35 mm. in length and 0-58 mm. in maximum diameter. Male and female

similar in appearance and distinguishable only under the microscope. Male

Fic. 1. Hydrodendron caciniformis

A. Portion of stem. B. Male gonophore. Cand D. Female gonophores.

HYDROIDS OF THE VEMA SEAMOUNT 491

generally slightly smaller than female. Blastostyle consisting of an elongated

spadix bearing a single layer of rather flattened eggs in the female and a mass

of spermatogenic cells in the male, the whole enveloped by a diffuse layer of

tissue rich in large stenotele nematocysts. No hydranths present.

Although gonothecae were described by Bale (1919), for Ophiodes australis,

which Ralph suspects to be a synonym, they were not illustrated, and this is

the first certain record of gonophores for H. caciniformis.

I cannot agree with Pennycuik that Ophiodissa expansa Fraser, 1948, from

the Pacific coast of North America is a synonym. Not only does Fraser illustrate

the nematotheca of this species without the everted rim which is so typical of

H. caciniformis, but the gonophore is different. In O. expansa it is borne on the

stem, is much more strongly annulated (‘very strongly crested rugosities’ :

Fraser, 1948: 227) and has a narrower aperture.

Family Campanulariidae

Obelia geniculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

One young infertile colony growing on weed from 54 m. Maximum height

of stem 0-5 cm.

Family Lafoeidae

Lafoea fruticosa M. Sars, 1851

One small infertile colony from 54 m. Maximum height of stem 1-0 cm.

Family Sertulariidae

Amphisbetia bidens (Bale, 1884)

One infertile colony from 54 m. Maximum height of stem 3-4 cm.

Amphisbetia minima (d’Arcy Thompson, 1879)

One colony, with gonophores, from 54m. Maximum height of stem 0-6 cm.

Dynamena quadridentata nodosa Hargitt, 1908

Two infertile samples growing on weed, both from 61 m. Maximum height

of stem 0-6 cm.

Parascyphus simplex (Lamouroux, 1816)

Thyroscyphus tridentatus: Ritchie, 1909: 74, fig. 1.

epee simplex: Splettstdsser, 1929: 126. Totton, 1930: 179, fig. 29. Ralph, 1961: 755,

g. Ib.

Two small infertile colonies from 42-50 and 54 m. Stems reaching a

maximum height of 1-0 and 0-8 cm. respectively. Stem usually unbranched,

but in some cases giving off one, or even two, lateral branches. Structure of

stem and hydrothecae as in previous descriptions. .

This species has not been recorded from South Africa, but has been

reported from Gough Island by Ritchie. Apart from this there are several

records from Australasia and one from Great Britain,

492 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

Salacia articulata (Pallas, 1766)

One colony, with gonophores, from 54 m. Maximum height of stem

2:3 cm.

Sertularella arbuscula (Lamouroux, 1816)

Two very typical, though infertile, colonies from 54 and 61 m. Maximum

height of stem 6-8 cm.

Sertularella flabellum (Allman, 1886)

Two infertile colonies from 61 and 54 m. Maximum height of stem 2-0 cm.

Sertularella mediterranea Hartlaub, 1901

One infertile colony from 42-50 m., consisting of stems reaching a maxi-

mum height of 2:3 cm., most of them with one lateral branch. Also a fragment

from 54 m.

Sertularella megista Stechow, 1923

One infertile colony from 54 m. Maximum height of stem 3-9 cm.

Sertularia distans gracilis Hassall, 1848

Four infertile colonies growing on weed, two from 54 m. and two from

61 m. Maximum height of stem 0-4 cm.

Also a colony with rather larger dimensions and of more doubtful identi-

fication from 61 m. The stems in this sample reach a maximum height of

1:0 cm. The hydrothecae are larger than the normal material found on the

South African coast (Millard, 1957, 1958, 1964), the internodes longer, and the

typical basal hinge-joints are absent. One of the stems has a branch arising

from the posterior surface.

Sertularia marginata (Kirchenpauer, 1864)

One infertile colony growing on weed from 54 m. Both simple and branched

forms present. Maximum height of branching stem 1-7 cm.

Family Plumulariidae (subfamily Halopterinae)

Antennella quadriaurita Ritchie, 1909

Antenella quadriaurita Ritchie, 1909: 92, fig. 9.

Antennella quadriaurita: Stechow, 1919: 113.

Three infertile samples from 42-50, 54 and 61 m. and one fertile sample

from 42-50 m.

Stems reaching a maximum height of 2:2 cm., normally solitary, but some-

times clustered together at base, and sometimes giving off up to four subsidiary

branches. These branches arise quite irregularly, usually from the posterior

surface of the basal athecate region, and successive branches never form the

main axis of the stem as in Monostaechas faurei Millard, 1958. Stem with alternate

HYDROIDS OF THE VEMA SEAMOUNT 493

thecate and athecate internodes, of which the athecate ones are longer in the

basal region and the thecate in the distal region. Athecate internodes generally

bearing two nematothecae each, but sometimes one, and only rarely three.

Hydrotheca with depth and marginal diameter approximately equal.

Other details as described by Ritchie.

Gonothecae (not previously described) borne on thecate internodes just

below hydrothecae, pear-shaped, with truncated distal end and wide spherical

aperture, with two nematothecae on basal region (probably female). Pedicel

of two segments.

A. quadriaurita is known only from Gough Island and Havana. There is

little to distinguish this species from A. africana Broch, 1914, other than the

number of nematothecae borne on the athecate internodes. For the type

material of A. quadriaurita from Gough Island Ritchie gives two to four, but

' generally three, and for the Havana material Stechow gives two. In A. africana

there is normally only one, but occasionally two, and very rarely three. As

shown in the following table, material from the Vema Seamount is inter-

mediate between that from Gough Island and A. africana from South Africa.

A. quadriaurita is retained as a separate species solely on the fact that most of the

athecate internodes have more than one nematotheca, though it is likely that

more material from the Atlantic will show a completely intergrading series,

in which case it will be necessary to sink A. africana in the synonymy of A.

quadriaurita. The gonophores of the two species are identical.

Number of Number of

nematothecae per I 2 3 4 internodes

athecate internode examined

Gough Island xe = 40% 55% 5% a)

(from Ritchie)

Vema Seamount .. 23% 74.% a = go

South Africa. . PO) 4530/7. 575% 0:2% TOR 506

Halopteris constricta Totton, 1930

Two samples, both from 54 m., one bearing gonophores. Maximum height

of stem 0-8 cm.

Family Plumulariidae (subfamily Plumulariinae)

Plumularia pulchella Bale, 1882

Three samples, all from 54 m. The most luxurious colony has stems

reaching a maximum height of 1-0 cm. and bears gonophores. Some of its stems

bear one to three irregular lateral branches.

Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Six samples, none of them luxurious, two from 42-50 m., three from 54 m.

494 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

and one from 61 m. Two samples bear gonophores, and the maximum height

of the stem is 1-7 cm.

Plumularia spinulosa Bale, 1882

Three samples, one from 42-50 m. and two from 54 m. Maximum height

of stem 0-5 cm. Young gonophores present in one sample.

Family Plumulariidae (subfamily Kirchenpauerinae)

Pycnotheca mirabilis (Allman, 1883)

One infertile sample from 42-50 m. Maximum height of stem 3-1 cm.

Family Plumulariidae (subfamily Aglaopheniinae)

Aglaophenia pluma pluma (Linnaeus, 1758)

Six samples, one from 42-50 m., three from 54 m. and two from 61 m.

Four of these colonies fertile and both male and female corbulae present.

Stems reaching a maximum height of 2:4 cm. This material is of more delicate

build than that found in South Africa, and in many cases the internodal septa

and intrathecal septum are poorly developed or absent. The median nemato-

theca is always short as shown by Broch (1933, fig. 18a).

Lytocarpus filamentosus (Lamarck, 1816)

Five samples, all infertile, one from 42-50 m., three from 54 m. and one

from 61 m. Maximum height of stem 9:0 cm.

DIscussION

Of the 23 hydroid species here recorded, 21 also occur in South Africa

and it appears that in the case of the hydroid fauna at any rate the two areas

have close affinities with one another. Of the remaining two (Parascyphus

simplex and Antennella quadriaurita) both have been reported from Gough Island

in the South Atlantic by Ritchie, 1909. The hydroid fauna of the Tristan group

of islands is, however, very poorly known, and it is probable that further

investigation would show more species in common with the Vema Seamount.

Further analysis shows that of the total 23 species 10 are cosmopolitan,

namely:

Halecium beani

Obelia geniculata

Lafoea fruticosa

Amphisbetia minima (south of the Mediterranean)

Dynamena quadridentata

Sertularella mediterranea

Sertularia distans gracilis

Sertularia marginata

HYDROIDS OF THE VEMA SEAMOUNT 495

Plumularia setacea

Aglaophenia pluma pluma

With these should probably be included Parascyphus simplex and Hydro-

dendron caciniformis, which have a peculiar scattered distribution, the former

being known from Australasia, Gough Island and the west coast of Scotland,

and the latter from the Cape Verde Islands, Mediterranean, West Indies,

tropical West Africa, Australasia and South Africa.

Seven species have an Indo-Pacific distribution, namely:

Amphisbetia bidens: Australia, Madagascar, South Africa.

Sertularella arbuscula: Indian Ocean, Australia, South Africa.

Halopteris constricta: New Zealand, South Africa.

Plumularia pulchella: Australasia, South Africa.

Plumularia spinulosa: Australasia, Japan, South Africa.

Pycnotheca mirabilis: Australasia, Japan, west coast of North America, South

Africa.

Lytocarpus filamentosus: Australia, Madagascar, South Africa.

Three species are so far known only from South Africa, namely:

Salacia articulata

Sertularella flabellum

Sertularella megista

One species has an Atlantic distribution, namely:

Antennella quadriaurita: Gough Island, Havana.

SUMMARY

A total of 23 species of hydroids is recorded from the Vema Seamount.

Of these the gonophores of Hydrodendron caciniformis and Antennella quadriaurita

are described for the first time.

The distribution of the species in the rest of the world is discussed. It is

concluded that the affinities of the hydroid fauna are mainly with South Africa.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Trustees of the South African Museum gratefully acknowledge the

receipt of a grant from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

towards the costs of publication.

REFERENCES

Bate, W. 1919. Further notes on Australian hydroids, IV. Proc. roy. Soc. Vict. 31: 327-361.

Brocu, H. 1933. Zur Kenntnis der adriatischen Hydroidenfauna von Split. Skr. norske

Vidensk-Akad., Mat.-natur. Kl. 1933 (4): 1-115.

Fraser, C. McL. 1948. Hydroids of the Allan Hancock Pacific expeditions since March,

1938. Allan Hancock Pacif. Exped. (1) 4: 179-335.

Mitiarp, N. A. H. 1957. The Hydrozoa of False Bay, South Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Mus., 43:

173-243.

496 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

Mitiarp, N. A. H. 1958. Hydrozoa from the coasts of Natal and Portuguese East Africa.

Part I. Calyptoblastea. Ann. S$. Afr. Mus. 44: 165-226.

Miuiarp, N. A. H. 1964. The Hydrozoa of the south and west coasts of South Africa. Part II.

The Lafoeidae, Syntheciidae and Sertulariidae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 48: 1-56.

Pennycuik, P. R. 1959. Faunistic records from Queensland. Part V. Marine and brackish

water hydroids. Pap. Dep. Zool. Univ. Qd. 1: 141-210.

Rautpu, P. M. 1958. New Zealand thecate hydroids. Part II. Families Lafoeidae, Lineo-

lariidae, Haleciidae and Syntheciidae. Trans. roy. Soc. N.Z. 85: 301-356.

Ratpu, P. M. 1961. New Zealand thecate hydroids. Part III. Family Sertulariidae. Trans.

roy. Soc. N.&. 88: 749-838.

RitcuiE, J. 1907. On collections of the Cape Verde Islands marine fauna, made by Cyril

Crossland, M.A.(Cantab.), B.Sc.(Lond.), F.Z.S., of St. Andrews University, July to

September, 1904. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1907: 488-514.

Rircuir, J. 1909. Supplementary report on the hydroids of the Scottish National Antarctic

Expedition. Trans. roy. Soc. Edinb. 47: 65-101.

Simpson, E. S. W. & Heyporn, A. E. F. 1965. Vema Seamount. Nature 207: 249-251.

SPLETTSTOsSER, W. 1929. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Sertulariiden. Thyroscyphus Allm., Cnidos-

cyphus nov. gen., Parascyphus Ritchie. Zool. Fb. 58: 1-134.

StecHow, E. 1919. Zur Kenntnis der Hydroidenfauna des Mittelmeeres, Amerikas und

anderer Gebiete. <ool Fb. System. 42: 1-172. :

Torron, A. K. 1930. Coelenterata. Part V. Hydroida. Nat. Hist. Rep. Terra Nova Exped. 5:

131-252.

VeERVooRT, W. 1959. The Hydroida of the tropical west coast of Africa. Atlantide Rep., no. 5:

211-325.

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

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REFERENCES

Authors’ names and dates of publication given in text; full references at end of paper in

alphabetical order of authors’ names (Harvard system). References at end of paper must be

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first and last, preceded by a colon (without prefix ‘p’). Thus:

SmitH, A. B. 1956. New Plonia species from South Africa. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (12) 9: 937-945.

When reference is made to a separate book, give in this order: Author’s name; his initials;

date of publication; title, underlined; edition, if any; volume number, if any, in arabic numerals,

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When reference is made to a paper forming a distinct part of another book, give: Name of

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in arabic numerals, with wavy underlining; pagination of paper; place of publication; name

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SmitTH, C. D. 1954. South African Plonias. In Brown, X. Y. Marine faunas. and ed. 3: 63-95.

London: Green.

SYNONYMY

Arranged according to chronology of names. Published scientific names by which a species

has been previously designated (subsequent to 1758) are listed in chronological order, with

abbreviated bibliographic references to descriptions or citations following in chronological

order after each name. Full references must be given at the end of the paper. Articles and

recommendations of the International code of zoological nomenclature adopted by the XV International

congress of zoology, London, July 1958, are to be observed (particularly articles 22 and 51).

Examples: Plonia capensis Smith, 1954: 86, pl. 27, fig. 3. Green, 1955: 23, fig. 2.

When transferred to another genus:

Euplonia capensis (Smith) Brown, 1955: 259.

When misidentified as another species:

Plonia natalensis (non West), Jones, 1956: 18.

When another species has been called by the same name:

[non] Plonia capensis: Jones, 1957: 27 ( = natalensis West).