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. 2016 Jan 28:(557):1-44.
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.557.6298. eCollection 2016.

Overview of the genus Briareum (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) in the Indo-Pacific, with the description of a new species

Kaveh Samimi-Namin  1 , Leen P van Ofwegen  1
Affiliations

Overview of the genus Briareum (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) in the Indo-Pacific, with the description of a new species

Kaveh Samimi-Namin et al. Zookeys. .

Abstract

The status of Indo-Pacific Briareum species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) is reviewed by presenting their sclerite features and habitus descriptions. Following the re-examination of type material, museum specimens and newly collected specimens, a species identification key is provided. The species distributions are discussed and updated distribution ranges are depicted. Moreover, a new taxon, Briareum cylindrum sp. n. is described and depicted, whereas Briareum excavatum (Nutting, 1911) is synonymised with Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908). Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948) is recorded from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea for the first time. Consequently, in total four Briareum species are recognized in the Indo-Pacific; Briareum hamrum from the western Indian Ocean, and Briareum cylindrum sp. n., Briareum stechei, and Briareum violaceum from the central and eastern Indo-Pacific region.

Keywords: Alcyonacea; Anthozoa; Oman Sea; Persian Gulf; identification key; sclerite variability; species range; synonymy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution map of Indo-Pacific Briareum species based on: ● = examined material; ▲ = literature records. Colour shades on the background represent different marine regions. PG; OS; RS; NWIO; SEY; EAFR; CIO; EIO; SWIP; NWIP; NWP; SWP.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Colonies of Briareum: A–D Briareum cylindrum A RMNH Coel. 34193 (holotype) B RMNH Coel. 13747 C RMNH Coel. 32569 D RMNH Coel. 41443 E–F Briareum hamrum E RMNH Coel. 6809 F RMNH Coel. 41407. Scale bars: 1 cm.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Briareum cylindrum sp. n., holotype, RMNH Coel. 34193 A–B sclerites of top calyx C cortex sclerites. Scale bar of C also applies to B.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Briareum cylindrum sp. n., holotype, RMNH Coel. 34193, medullar sclerites.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Briareum cylindrum sp. n., paratype, RMNH Coel. 41443; A sclerites of coenenchyme next to polyp openings B cortex sclerites.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Briareum cylindrum sp. n., paratype, RMNH Coel. 41443, medullar sclerites.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Briareum cylindrum sp. n., paratype, RMNH Coel. 32569; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites C medullar sclerites.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948), RMNH Coel. 6809; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites C medullar sclerites.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948), RMNH Coel. 41407; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites C medullar sclerites; RMNH Coel. 41409 D sclerites of top calyx E cortex sclerites F medullar sclerites.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948), RMNH Coel. 41410; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites C medullar sclerites.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
A–B Colonies of Briareum hamrum; A RMNH Coel. 41409 B RMNH Coel. 41410 C–D Briareum stechei C ZMB 5828, holotype of Erythropodium stechei D ZMB 5816 E–F Solenopodium stechei var. novaepommeraniae E ZMB 5016 F ZMB 5854 G ZMA 3410, syntype of Briareum excavatum. Scale bars: 1 cm.
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), ZMB 5828, holotype; A cortex sclerites B medullar sclerites.
Figure 13.
Figure 13.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), ZMA 3410, syntype of Briareum excavatum; A cortex sclerites B medullar sclerites.
Figure 14.
Figure 14.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), RMNH Coel. 40023; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites.
Figure 15.
Figure 15.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), RMNH Coel. 40023; medullar sclerites.
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), RMNH Coel. 40023; A sclerites of top calyx B cortex sclerites.
Figure 17.
Figure 17.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), RMNH Coel. 40023; medullar sclerites.
Figure 18.
Figure 18.
Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908), RMNH 41421; A sclerites of top calyx B sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 19.
Figure 19.
Colonies of Briareum violaceum; A RMNH Coel. 38608 B RMNH Coel. 41435 C RMNH Coel. 41434 D RMNH Coel. 41436 E RMNH Coel. 41437 F RMNH Coel. 41441 G RMNH Coel. 41428. Scale bars: 1 cm.
Figure 20.
Figure 20.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH 38608; A sclerite of top calyx B–C cortex sclerites D medullar sclerites.
Figure 21.
Figure 21.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH Coel. 41435; A sclerite of top calyx B sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 22.
Figure 22.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH Coel. 41434, sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 23.
Figure 23.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH Coel. 41436, sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 24.
Figure 24.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH Coel. 41441, sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 25.
Figure 25.
Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833), RMNH Coel. 41437, sclerites of coenenchyme.
Figure 26.
Figure 26.
A–B Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948) A Colony B close-up of tentacles C–D Briareum stechei (Kükenthal, 1908) C Colony D close-up of tentacles E–F Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) E Colony F close-up of tentacles.
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