A new species of Solenopodium (Stonolifera, Octocorallia) from the Red Sea

Abstract

Summary. Solenopodium violaceum was found creeping on upright alga stems in shallow water at Ghardaqa, Red Sea. The polyps are bright green; the stolon is purplish‐brown. The responses to stimuli and the co‐ordination of the polyp retraction are described. The anthocodia are devoid of spicules, which distinguishes the new material from S. contortum Kükenthal. The verrucae are not laterally compressed and many of the spicules are purplish violet, which distinguish it from S. excavatum Nutting. Branched spicules are infrequent and the horny substance of the basal lamella is less pronounced than in previously known species; both of these characters approach the condition found in Erythropodium. The new species is therefore an intermediate between the Briareidae and the Anthothelidae according to Verseveldt's classification. A discussion of the systematic position of these groups, intermediate between the Stolonifera and the Scleraxonia, is given.