oo 
to U 
3 
<a 
B 
3 
o 
3k 
s 
3 
O 
c 
<3 73 
o. a 00? E T3  ^ 
^ 0 a. ?P    % 
> 
a? 
13 
G 
oi 
u 
x 
a X> 
Sx> 
s -s O U 3 B 0 <3 ifi   O. 
-a 
43 
s 
g 
O 
01 
13 
s 
o> I 
5 
CL 
6 
J2 
1 
E 
6 
IS 
*<3 
o> 
N 
"Z 
3i    J5 o o. 
,2 
Ji 
a, 
1 
'SL 
OH 
a 
01 
X (B 
%    i 
u 5      ? 
bO 
60 
s 
1 
3k 
T3 
o 
OH 
c 
HI 
01 
tu 
Is 
s 
3 
s 
o 
o- w i| 
S     OH 
$ * 
T3" S 
= > 
O $    1 8    I 
c 
o 
'Eb 
Si 
to 
1 N 
ai 
2 
u 
oo 
?S 
3 
0 
8 3k 
OH 8 
2 
?S 
c 01 G 
60 
33 "3 
OH 0) 0) S <B >, (3 
3 ra u 0) 3 
3 -^ E X 
3 oi OH 3 ? 
c 
Ol 
o 
OH 
o 
? 
tD 0) 1^ 00 
? ? 
u u 
Q. OH ?J3 (8 ? 
nj 
3 3 C 
o O 13 
XI o O 3 
OH OH tn 
X, 
X. 
u 
e 
ns 
01 
X 
0- 
x 
8 
o> 
c 
o 
o 
g      (3 
f? 3 ?u OH 
Si 8 
<S 
13 
Q. O) 
to 
a 
(3 
2 ? 
3 
OH 
s 
g 
xl 
c 
41 
illustrated style (Plate 24, a) 0.68 mm tall and 
0.097 mm in diameter (H : W = 7.01). H : W ratios 
of New Zealand specimens range from 2.7-6.6. 
Gastrostyles bear sparse, blunt spines up to 36 um 
long. Dactylopore spines tall (up to 0.7 mm) and 
slightly inclined distally; approximately 0.28- 
0.30 mm wide, with a dactylotome width of 0.13 mm. 
Dactylopore spines often ridged, caused by a 
continuation of the coenosteal slits onto the 
dactylopore spine and a narrowing and ridging of 
the enclosed strips. Each dactylopore has a robust 
dactylostyle, usually composed of three unilinear 
series (two lateral and one longitudinal) of large, 
blunt elements up to 50 um tall and 25 um in diameter, 
easily seen in an intact dactylopore spine. 
Contrary to Cairns' (1983a) observation that there 
is no sexual dimorphism of ampullae, on closer 
examination of Antarctic and New Zealand speci- 
mens, there does seem to be a slight size dimorphism 
that is masked by the extreme porosity of the 
ampullae. Female ampullae large (0.8-1.1 mm in 
diameter), thin-walled, porous hemispheres having 
an apical efferent pore approximately 0.18 mm in 
diameter. These efferent pores are only observable 
for a relatively short time in ontogeny because soon 
after opening the entire ampullar cap disintegrates, 
ultimately resulting in a large concave depression. 
Male ampullae also roughly hemispherical but only 
0.6-0.7 mm in diameter. They are also thin-walled 
and very porous, each with an apical pore 40-90 um 
in diameter. Both male and female ampullae 
uniformly distributed on branches as well as 
polychaete tube coenosteum. 
TYPES: Syntypes of Errina labiata are deposited at the 
BM(NH) (1880.11.25.172 and 1880.11.25.195). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Challenger Stn 320, 3717'S, 5352'W, 
off Rio de la Plata, Uruguay; 1097 m. 
REMARKS: Inferiolabiata labiata differs from the other 
two species of Inferiolabiata by having an extremely 
porous coenosteum and ampullae; a symbiosis with 
polychaetes and thus calcified polychaete galls; dis- 
crete coenosteal strips and slits on apical branches; 
and more delicate and profusely branching colonies 
(Table 4). 
Inferiolabiata spinosa n. sp.    (Plates 24, c-f, 25, a-e) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Found throughout the New Zealand 
region, including southern Norfolk Ridge; southern 
Kermadec Ridge; off North Cape; off Puysegur Point; 
and off Auckland Island; 211-781 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies robust and bushy, composed 
of relatively few, thick branches that gradually 
decrease to blunt branch tips 3-4 mm in diameter. 
Largest specimen (holotype) a colony fragment 5 cm 
tall composed of only five branches. Commensal 
polychaetes rarely present. Branching dichotomous 
and unequal; branch cross section circular. 
Coenosteum white, with an irregular linear- 
imbricate texture. Coenosteal strips and slits not 
apparent on specimens examined; however, some 
coenosteal pores persist, delimiting what were 
probably originally strips 0.17-0.20 mm wide. 
Coenosteum relatively smooth, covered with 
irregularly shaped, imbricate platelets. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
on branch surfaces. Gastropores circular, 0.19- 
0.21 mm in diameter. Gastropore tubes cylindrical, 
each bearing a very diffuse but well-developed ring 
palisade consisting of elements up to 30 um tall and 
35 um in diameter, the uppermost elements clearly 
visible in upper gastropore tube. Although gastro- 
pores are unlipped, some are surrounded by what 
appear to be several ring-palisade elements that 
project above the coenosteal surface. Gastrostyles 
long and cylindrical, their tips reaching to the 
coenosteal surface and their bases often stabilized 
by one or more horizontal tabulae. One gastrostyle 
measures 0.50 mm tall (estimated) and 0.067 mm in 
diameter (H : W = 7.5). Gastrostyles bear sparse, 
blunt spines up to 25 um long. Dactylopore spines 
extremely numerous (Plate 24, c), tall (up to 0.6 mm), 
and slightly inclined distally; dactylopore spines 
about 0.26 mm wide, with a dactylotome width of 
0.104X11 mm. Edges of dacrylopore spines adjacent 
to dactylotome finely serrate in well-preserved 
coralla; dactylopore spines not ridged, but smooth. 
Each dactylopore contains a robust dactylostyle, 
composed of three unilinear series (two lateral and 
one longitudinal) of large, blunt elements similar in 
size and shape to the ring-palisade elements and 
usually easily seen in an intact dactylopore spine. 
Female ampullae hemispherical and 1.2-1.4 mm 
in diameter, each having solid walls and a lateral 
efferent pore approximately 0.3 mm in diameter. 
Male ampullae smaller (0.6-0.7 mm in diameter), 
slightly irregularly shaped hemispheres, each with 
2-4 lateral efferent pores located around its per- 
imeter. Invariably there is a cluster of 8-10 slender, 
cylindrical spines (about 60 um tall and 20-22 um 
in diameter) that surround the male efferent pores 
and obscure it from view. Both male and female 
ampullae uniformly distributed on branch surfaces. 
42 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn E861,1 male col. and a 
fragment in alcohol, NZOI H-567, branch fragment 
and SEM stub 569, USNM 85112. Paratypes: NZOI 
Stn C527,1 col., USNM 76358; Stn D39,1 branch, 
NZOI P-820; Stn E822, 1 col., NZOI P-821, 1 col., 
USNM 85111; Stn E861, 1 col., NZOI P-926; Stn 
197, 1 female col., NZOI P-822; Stn 1372, 1 female 
col., NZOI P-823, SEM stub 568 (USNM). 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn E861, 32?25'S, I6735E, 
southern Norfolk Ridge; 318-383 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name spinosa (from the 
Latin spinosus, spiny) refers to the abundant dactylo- 
pore spines that cover the branches. 
REMARKS: Inferiolabiata spinosa is similar to /. labiata 
in having well-developed ring palisades and dactylo- 
styles, but differs in having lateral male and female 
efferent pores; smooth, non-porous coenosteum; 
and sparse, blunt branches. It differs from /. lowei 
in having a ring palisade and well-developed 
dactylostyles; lateral male efferent pores; and dactylo- 
tomes that extend to the coenosteal surface (Table 
4). 
Inferiolabiata lowei (Cairns, 1983) 
(Plates 25, f, g, 26, a-f) 
Errina (Inferiolabiata) lowei Cairns, 1983a : 113-117, 
figs 22, F, G, 28, A-G (synonymy). 
Inferiolabiata lowei: Cairns 1983b : 428,451. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn B488,1 col., NZOI, 1 
fragment, USNM 85110; Stn E305, 1 col. and 2 
branches, NZOI, SEM stub 670 (USNM); Stn E868, 
1 branch, NZOI;   Stn P541, 1 col., NZOI; Types 
(USNM). 
DISTRIBUTION: Off southern South America, Burd- 
wood Bank, and South Georgia (250-960 m); New 
Zealand region ? southern Norfolk Ridge, Three 
Kings Ridge, and southwest of South Island; 164- 
751m. 
DESCRIPTION OF NEW ZEALAND SPECIMENS: Colonies 
small and very sparsely branched, largest colony 
examined (NZOI Stn P541) 21 mm tall and 4 mm in 
basal branch diameter, consisting of only one main 
branch and two short secondary branches. Com- 
mensal polychaetes absent. Branches circular in 
cross section and robust; branch tips thick and 
blunt; no branch anastomosis. Coenosteum white 
and imbricate in texture; however, coenosteal strips 
and slits present only on basal 5-10 mm of main 
branch, which is reticulate in sculpture but lacking 
in platelets. Upper branches covered with well- 
defined imbricate platelets but very irregular in 
arrangement and variable in width, ranging from 
20 to over 100 urn wide; platelet polarity primarily 
anterior. Overall, coenosteum dense and somewhat 
porcellanous. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
on all branch surfaces. Gastropores circular, 0.20- 
0.35 mm in diameter. Gastropore tubes cylindrical, 
lacking ring palisades, but often bearing one or 
more transverse tabulae to help stabilise elongate 
gastrostyles (Plate 26, e). Gastrostyles needle shaped 
(with a sharp tip) and slightly ridged, the ridges 
bearing simple spines up to 40 urn long. Illustrated 
gastrostyle 1.19 mm tall and 0.155 mm in diameter 
(H : W = 7.67), but is broken basally so it would 
have had an even larger H : W ratio. Dactylopore 
spines tall and inclined distally; up to 0.7 mm tall 
and 0.17 mm wide, with a dactylotome width of 
about 0.09 mm. Lower portion of dactylotome often 
blocked with a plate of coenosteum, which results 
in a somewhat tubular dactylopore spine basally. 
Dactylopore spines of some specimens (e.g., those 
from NZOI Stns E305, P541, Plate 26, f) bear 8-10 
low, longitudinal ridges on their exterior surface. 
Dactylostyles rudimentary. 
Only one type of ampulla was present on the 
New Zealand specimens, consistent in shape with 
male ampullae reported from South American 
specimens, but slightly smaller in size: 0.55-0.60 mm 
in diameter, with an apical pore 0.10-0.15 mm in 
diameter. Ampullae ellipsoidal in shape, the greater 
axis perpendicular to coenosteal surface, and half 
submerged in coenosteum, the upper half appearing 
mammiform. 
TYPES: Holotype and most paratypes deposited at 
the USNM. Some paratypes also deposited at the 
BM(NH) and RMNH (see Cairns 1983a). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Eltanin Stn 1536, 54'29'S, 3972'W, 
west of South Georgia; 659-686 m. 
REMARKS: Inferiolabiata lowei differs from the other 
two species of Inferiolabiata in having mammiform, 
apical!y perforate male ampullae; feeble dactylo- 
styles; no ring palisade; and tubular lower dactylopore 
spines (Table 4). 
Sporadopora Moseley, 1879 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed on 
all branch surfaces.   Branching dichotomous and 
43 
equal, resulting in U-shaped axils; branches robust 
and blunt. Coenosteal texture variable ? porous, 
reticulate-granular, or reticulate-imbricate. Gastro- 
and dactylopores flush with coenosteal surface. 
Gastropores long (axial), lacking a ring palisade. 
Dactylopores also long (axial), lacking dactylostyles. 
Gastrostyles long (H : W ratio up to 21) and promi- 
nently ridged; tabulae often present. Ampullae 
internal; efferent pores open to coenosteal surface 
or upper gastropore tubes. 
TYPE SPECIES: Polypora dichotoma Moseley, 1876, by 
monotypy. 
REMARKS: Three Recent species belong to Spora- 
dopora : S. dichotoma (Moseley 1876); S. mortenseni 
Broch, 1942; and S. micropom n. sp., the latter two 
known from the New Zealand region. Cairns (1983b) 
listed two additional, exclusively fossil species in 
the genus: S. faxensis Nielsen, 1919 (Paleocene of 
Denmark) and S. marginata Tenison-Woods, 1880 
(Pliocene of Chatham Islands). The superficial 
ampullae of S. faxensis make it highly doubtful that 
it belongs to this genus (see Cairns 1983b) and S. 
marginata is discussed further in the account of S. 
micropora. Characters of value in discriminating 
among the species of Sporadopora include gastropore 
diameter, location of efferent pores, and coenosteal 
texture. 
DISTRIBUTION: Restricted to austral temperate, 
subantarctic, and Antarctic regions. Miocene: 
Victoria, South Australia (Hall 1898). Pliocene: 
New Zealand (Squires 1962); Chatham Island 
(Tenison-Woods 1880). Recent: Subantarctic South 
America; Riiser-Larsen Peninsula, Antarctica (Eguchi 
1964); New Zealand region; 119-1498 m. 
Sporadopora mortenseni Broch, 1942 
(Plates 27, a-f, 28, a, b) 
[?] Sporadopora dichotoma: Hall 1898 :177-178. 
Sporadopora mortenseni Broch, 1942 : 29-32, text-fig. 
8, pi. 3, fig. 9;  Boschma 1953 : 167;   1957: 61; 
Squires 1962 :136, pi. 3, figs 1-4; ?Eguchi 1964 : 
6-7, pi. 1, fig. 4; Boschma 1964a : 62; 1964c : 286; 
1966:117; Cairns 1983a : 67; 1983b : 428,438. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn E305,1 female branch, 
NZOI, 1 fragment and SEM stubs 574, 671, USNM 
85113; Stn E306,1 branch, NZOI; Stn P472,1 male 
branch, NZOI, SEM stub 672 (USNM); Stn P544,1 
female branch, NZOI; two syntypes of S. mortenseni 
(ZMC, but not Broch's figured specimen). 
DISTRIBUTION: Miocene: ?Victoria, Australia (Hall 1898). 
Pliocene: Ngaruroro River, North Island (Squires 
1962). Recent: Off Three Kings Islands, 119-290 m; 
?Gunnerus Bank and Riiser-Larsen Peninsula, 
Antarctica, 830 m (Eguchi 1964). 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies robust, uniplanar to slightly 
bushy, and up to 10.5 cm tall and 6.5 cm broad, 
with a basal branch diameter up to 1 cm. Branching 
dichotomous and equal, resulting in U-shaped axils. 
Branches circular in cross section and blunt apically, 
with a highly porous central core. Branches decrease 
gradually in size to tips 2.0-2.5 mm in diameter. 
Coenosteum white and reticulate-imbricate in texture. 
Coenosteal strips uniformly 0.10-0.11 mm wide and 
irregularly bordered by circular to slightly elongate 
coenosteal pores about 20 um wide. Platelets narrow 
(only 12-16 mm wide), often requiring 6-8 adjacent 
platelets to bridge a strip. 
Gastropores circular to slightly elliptical, the 
greater axis of the ellipse longitudinally aligned, 
0.32-0.36 mm in greater diameter. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical, long, and curved about 90* just beneath 
coenosteal surface such that they run parallel to 
branch axis. Gastrostyles needle shaped and often 
quite long, the illustrated style (Plate 28, b) 1.38 mm 
long and 0.12 mm in diameter (H : W = 11.7), its 
sharp tip barely visible in an intact gastropore. Basal 
section of gastrostyle sometimes atrophied, the 
remainder of the style held in position by several 
thin tabulae. Gastrostyles highly ridged, the ridges 
bearing small spines or cluster of spines. Dactylo- 
pores variable in size, ranging from 0.07-0.13 mm 
in diameter, circular to slightly teardrop-shaped, 
and slightly elevated on mounds approximately 
25-30 urn above coenosteum. 
Female ampullae large, internal, ellipsoidal 
spheres up to 1 mm in greater diameter, usually 
located beneath coenosteum just distal to each 
gastropore. Each mature female ampulla communi- 
cates with an adjacent gastropore tube through a 
large (0.35 mm diameter), circular efferent pore in 
the upper gastropore tube at the inflexion point of 
the tube just above the gastrostyle tip. In an immature 
colony, an efferent pore is still clearly visible as a 
highly porous circle in this location. Male ampullae 
smaller (0.5 mm in internal diameter) and also 
internal, located in the same relative position as the 
female ampullae; however, coenosteum corre- 
sponding to male efferent pore is spongy, never 
perforate. In addition, a small pore (approximately 
50 um in diameter) opens at the coenosteal surface 
on the distal edge of each gastropore (Plates 27, f, 
28, a), which is assumed to be the male efferent 
pore. The coenosteum overlaying male ampullae is 
44 
pitted, each pit about 0.25 mm in diameter and 
0.10-0.12 mm deep, and having a very porous base 
(Plate 27, d). 
TYPES: At least four syntypes of S. mortenseni are 
deposited at the ZMC, two of which were examined 
in 1982 (Plate 27, a). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Off Three Kings Islands; 65 fathoms 
(= 119 m). 
REMARKS: Although not examined, Hall's (1898) 
Miocene specimens of S. dichotoma from Victoria 
probably also pertain to S. mortenseni, although his 
description is inadequate to be certain. 
In Broch's (1942) original description of S. 
mortenseni, he noted only "slight and unimportant" 
characters that differentiated it from S. dichotoma 
(Moseley 1876), the only other Recent congener 
known at the time. Squires (1962) also expressed 
some doubt about the validity of S. mortenseni, 
suggesting that it might simply represent a geo- 
graphic variant of S. dichotoma. Boschma (1964a), 
however, distinguished the species based on 
differences of its raised gastropore margins, shape 
of branch cross section, and gastrostyle spination. 
Cairns (1983a) also maintained it as a separate species, 
but emphasised the differences in colony and branch 
robustness, gastrostyle tabulae, and gastropore 
diameter. Another fundamental can now be added 
to the list of distinctions ? S. mortenseni has its 
ampullae located just distal to each gastropore, with 
its efferent pores opening into the gastropore tube, 
whereas ampullae of S. dichotoma are uniformly 
distributed and open directly to the coenosteal 
surface. 
As discussed by Cairns (1983a : 67), the specimens 
of S. mortenseni reported by Eguchi (1964) from 
Antarctica are probably too worn for a confirmed 
identification (deposition unknown); however, 
nothing in Eguchi's description contradicts the 
possibility of his specimens being S. mortenseni. 
Sporadopora micropora n. sp. 
(Plates 28, c-e, 29, a-g) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. Syntypes of S. mar- 
gtnata, NZGS CO 1424 and 1425 (Plate 29, h). 
DISTRIBUTION: Puysegur Ridge; off Auckland Island; 
465-741 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies robust and uniplanar to slightly 
bushy, the largest colony (holotype) 4.1 cm tall and 
4.5 cm broad, with a basal branch diameter of 5.8 mm. 
Branching dichotomous and equal, resulting in U- 
shaped axils. Often, at the first-generation (and less 
commonly at the second) colony bifurcation, there 
lives a commensal polynoid polychaete, which 
produces a linear coenosteal depression about 
1.6 mm wide that bifurcates the axil. In more fully 
developed associations, a semi-enclosed gall structure 
is present. Branches gradually attenuate to blunt 
tips 2.8-3.2 mm in diameter. Coenosteum white 
and reticulate-granular in texture. Coenosteal strips 
55-70 um wide and bordered by relatively broad 
(about 13 urn wide) coenosteal slits. Strips covered 
by very irregularly-shaped, coarse granules. 
Gastropores small and circular, only 0.20-0.22 mm 
in diameter, and slightly inclined toward branch 
tip. Gastropore tubes cylindrical and straight, up 
to 1 mm long. Gastrostyles elongate-conical and 
pointed apically, the tip barely visible in an intact 
gastropore. Illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 29, d, e) 
0.41 mm tall and 0.15 mm in diameter (H : W = 
2.7),occupying only lower 40% of gastropore tube. 
Gastrostyles unridged, but bear coarse multitipped 
spines. Dactylopores circular, about 0.12 mm in 
diameter, and flush with coenosteum. 
Female ampullae internal, ellipsoidal cavities up 
to 0.65 mm in greater diameter, the greater axis 
perpendicular to branch s urface, the lesser axis 
about 0.45 mm in diameter. A very slight bulge 
often overlays each ampulla. Each female ampulla 
communicates to coenosteal surface through a narrow 
canal, but superficial efferent pores (about 90 um in 
diameter) were rarely observed. Male ampullae 
also internal, ellipsoidal cavities up to 0.40 mm in 
greater diameter, which is perpendicular to branch 
surface, and about 0.25 mm in lesser diameter. Male 
efferent pores approximately 50 um in diameter 
and scattered over coenosteal surface. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn D39, 1 col., NZOI H- 
568. Para types: NZOI Stn D39,15 col., numerous 
branches, NZOI P-824, 10 col. and SEM stubs 573, 
576,673, USNM 85114; Stn D159,2 col., 11 branches, 
NZOI P-825,1 col. and 1 branch, USNM 85115. 
TYPE LOCALLY: NZOI Stn D39, 5038'S, 165?45'E, off 
Auckland Island; 465-549 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name micropora (from the 
Greek mikros, small + poms, orifice) refers to the 
small gastropores of this species. 
REMARKS: Sporadopora micropora, although superficially 
similar to S. mortenseni, is readily distinguished 
from it and S. dichotoma by having very small gastro- 
45 
pores; reticulate-granular coenosteal texture; very 
short (H : W = 2-3), nonridged gastrostyles; straight 
gastropore tubes; and often a polychaete commensal. 
It is further differentiated from S. mortenseni by 
having efferent pores opening to the coenosteal 
surface (not into gastropore tubes) and in having a 
considerably more southern distribution and 
greater bathymetric range. 
Sporadopora micropora is more similar to S. 
margimta Tenison-Woods, 1880 (Pitt Island, Late 
Pliocene, fide H. Campbell). The two worn syntypes 
of S. marginata have the same gastro- and dactylopore 
diameters and similar granular coenosteal texture 
(Plate 29, h). The only differences observed are that 
S. marginata has highly ridged^ elongate gastrostyles 
and gastropore tabulae, much like those of S. 
mortenseni or S. dichotoma, not S. micropoma. 
Distichopora Lamarck, 1816 
Gastropores usually aligned and slightly recessed 
in a sulcus along branch edge, flanked on either 
side by a row of dactylopores, together forming the 
pore row. In some species, however, dactylopores 
occur only on one side of the gastropore row, or the 
gastropore row meanders over the branch face, or 
the gastro- and dactylopores are arranged in isolated 
pseudocyclosystems. Branches usually flattened in 
cross section, sometimes flabellate. Coenosteal 
texture variable, including reticulate-granular, linear- 
imbricate, and tuberculate. Gastro- and dactylopore 
tubes long; dactylopore tubes axial. Gastrostyles 
needle shaped and highly ridged, with relatively 
high H : W ratios (e.g., 5-15). Dactylopores elliptical; 
dactylostyles usually absent (present in only one 
species). Ampullae usually superficial, but internal 
in some species. 
TYPE SPECIES: Millepora violacea Pallas, 1766, by 
monotypy. 
REMARKS: Twenty-one Recent, valid species have 
been previously described : 16 species are listed by 
Cairns (1983b), four more by Cairns (1986a), and 
one more by Cairns (1986b). The inclusion of D. 
dispar requires a modification of the generic 
diagnosis to allow for the presence of a dactylostyle. 
As described in the species account, the dactylostyle 
of D. dispar is actually a long, thin ridge that bears 
spines along its top (Plate 31, a-b). It is unlike any 
other dactylostyle known in the Stylasteridae, which 
are customarily unilinear or multilinear rows of 
cylindrical, blunt pillars. Because of the unique 
nature of the dactylostyles of D. dispar, they are 
termed dadyloridges to distinguish them from typical 
dactylostyles. 
Another characteristic of D. dispar that requires 
expansion of the generic diagnosis is its tendency to 
have isolated gastropores surrounded by 
dactylopores ? pseudocyclosystems ? scattered 
over branch faces and edges. Because of this 
character, some specimens might easily be mistaken 
for a species of Stylaster, but ultimately can be 
distinguished by their axial dactylopore tubes, 
tuberculate coenosteum, tendency to aggregate 
gastropores, and their dactyloridges (not dactylo- 
styles). 
Characters used to distinguish among the 22 
species of Distichopora are summarised by Cairns 
(1986a : Table 1); to reiterate: location of dactylo- 
pores, coenosteal texture and colour, dactylopore 
shape, gastropore and pore-row widths, and ampullar 
structure. 
Species of Distichopora have been reported at 
least four times previously from the New Zealand 
region, but always in a casual way and only once 
identified to species. Ralph (1948) reported Recent 
Distichopora sp. from New Zealand, but did not 
specify locality or depth. In his revision of the 
Indo-Pacific species of Distichopora, Boschma (1959) 
reported D. violacea (Pallas, 1766) from the mouth 
of the Rangitiki [sic] River, North Island, at 122 m, 
an usually great depth record for this species. 
Ralph's specimen may also have been D. violacea. 
There have also been two fossil records of 
Distichopora spp., by Squires (1962) from Middle to 
Lower Miocene of New Zealand, and by Hayward 
(1977 :101) from the Lower Miocene of North Auck- 
land. It is unlikely that any of these Recent or fossil 
records are conspecific with D. dispar, the latter 
having a much deeper bathymetric range and 
characteristic dactyloridges. 
DISTRIBUTION: Indo-West Pacific, North Pacific, Laysan 
Island, New Zealand region, Galapagos, western 
Atlantic; primarily a shallow-water, reef genus, but 
several species known as deep as 741 m. 
Distichopora dispar n. sp.     (Plates 30, a-g, 31, a, b) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Three Kings Ridge and continental 
slopes southwest of New Zealand, including off 
Auckland Island; 465-741 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and of moderate 
size, the largest specimen examined (NZOI Stn 
46 
D159) 6 cm tall, with a basal branch diameter of 11 x 
7 mm; holotype a colony fragment 25.5 mm tall and 
18.2 mm broad. Branching dichotomous and equal; 
no branch anastomosis. Branches strongly com- 
pressed in cross section; branch tips broad and 
rounded. Coenosteum white, consisting of large, 
irregularly shaped, smooth granules 35-70 urn in 
diameter, the granules occurring individually or 
linked in series of 2-4 (tuberculate coenosteal 
texture). Depressions of equivalent diameter separate 
granules, which are penetrated at regular intervals 
by small, irregularly shaped coenosteal pores 6-8 urn 
in diameter. The large linked granules are presumed 
to be homologous to coenosteal strips; the wide 
depressions between granules, to coenosteal slits. 
Coordination of gastro- and dactylopores quite 
variable; however, the predominant arrangement 
(as found in the holotype) is for gastro- and 
dactylopores to be arranged in pore rows (a row of 
gastropores flanked on either side by a row of 
dactylopores) that occur exclusively on lateral 
branch edges. Pore rows are best developed and 
continuous on branch tips; toward base of colonies, 
pore rows usually fragment into clusters of 1-5 
gastropores that are completely surrounded by 
dactylopores. Pore rows 1.2-1.3 mm wide, the gastro- 
pores recessed about 0.2 mm in a medial sulcus. 
Some colonies, however, have additional dactylo- 
pore-enclosedl clusters of 1-5 or 6 gastropores that 
occur randomly on branch faces. In still other 
colonies, lateral pore rows are absent entirely, the 
arrangement being exclusively dactylopore-enclosed 
clusters of 1-3 gastropores that resemble cyclo- 
systems in arrangement. In these colonies, individual 
gastropores are usually surrounded by 4-6 
dactylopores, with an adcauline diastema, or 6-8 
dactylopores without the diastema. These 
"pseudocyclosystems" are usually flush with the 
coenosteum but may be elevated as much as 0.5 mm. 
Gastropores circular to elliptical in shape and 
up to 0.47 mm in diameter, the greater axis of the 
ellipse parallel with branch edge, Gastropore tubes 
long and cylindrical, lacking a ring palisade. Gastro- 
styles needle shaped, the tip usually easily seen in 
an undamaged gastropore; illustrated gastrostyle 
(Plate 30, f) 1.32 mm long and 0.27mm in diameter 
(H : W = 4.89); no tabulae observed. Gastrostyles 
ridged, the thin ridges bearing a succession of tiny, 
sharp spines up to 16 urn tall and 4 urn in basal 
diameter. Dactylopores elliptical and 0.21-0.25 x 
0.17-0.20 mm in diameter, the greater axis perpen- 
dicular to the gastropore row. Each dactylopore 
bears a prominent, medial dactyloridge, which is 
easily visible in an intact dactylopore. Dactylo- 
ridges 12-15 urn wide, up to 0.15 mm tall, and several 
mm long. Base of dactyloridge (basal 0.06-0.07 mm) 
lamellar, the upper edge giving rise to irregularly 
shaped, granular spines that radiate from the basal 
lamella in a 90? arc (Plate 31, a). 
Ampullae internal and of two size classes; 0.35- 
0.38 mm in diameter (male ?) and 0.71-0.75 mm in 
diameter (female ?). Efferent pores not observed. 
Ampullae quite common on gravid branches, a cross 
section fracture revealing as many as 10. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn D159,1 female col., NZOI 
H-569. Paratypes: NZOI Stn D39, 1 male branch, 
NZOI P-826, SEM stubs 633-634 (USNM); Stn D159, 
over 50 col., NZOI P-827,7 branches and SEM stubs 
606-607, USNM 85116; Stn G937, 2 col., NZOI P- 
828; Stn S572,1 col., NZOI P-829. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn D39, 49WS, 16430'E, 
southwest of South Island; 741 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name dispar (from the Latin 
dispar, different, unlike) refers to the very distinctive 
nature of this species, the only species in the genus 
having dactyloridges and pseudocyclosystems. 
DISCUSSION: Distichopora dispar is easily distinguished 
from the other 21 Recent congeners by its prominent 
dactyloridges and its tendency to have isolated pore 
rows both on branch edges and faces. Its internal 
ampullae are also a relatively rare character, one 
shared only with D. anceps Cairns, 1978. 
System apora n. gen 
Both gastro- and dactylopores relatively short and 
unilinearly arranged, the former on branch faces, 
the latter on branch edges. Colonies uni planar or 
multiplanar and delicate. Coenosteum linear- 
imbricate. Gastropore bordered by a massive lower 
lip; gastropore tubes cylindrical, without a ring 
palisade. Gastrostyles conical and usually ridged, 
each with a massive apical spine. Dactylopores 
adcauline or flush; no dactylostyles. Ampullae 
superficial and highly sculptured. 
TYPE SPECIES: Systemapora ornata n. sp., here desig- 
nated. 
ETYMOLOGY: The generic name Systemapora (from 
the Greek systema, order + poros, orifice) refers to 
the discrete, linear arrangement of both gastro- and 
dactylopores. Gender: feminine. 
DISCUSSION: Two of the most important characters 
used to differentiate stylasterid genera are arrange- 
47 
merit and /or coordination of gastro- and dactylo- 
pores and dactylopore spine shape (Cairns 1991). It 
is on these criteria that Systemapora is established. 
The arrangement of gastropores on the branch faces 
and dactylopores on branch edges is not unique 
among the stylasterids: Phalangopora and some species 
of Lepidopora (e.g., L. glabra (Pourtales, 1867)) also 
share this character. However, Phalangopora is quite 
different in lacking gastrostyles and in having 
abcauline (not adcauline) dactylopore spines; 
Lepidopora glabra, which also has large abcauline 
gastropore lips, also differs fundamentally in having 
conical dactylopore mounds, a well-developed ring 
palisade, and a very different coenosteal texture 
(see Cairns 1986a). The genus Errina resembles 
Systemapora in having adcauline dactylopore spines, 
but the spines are constructed very differently, being 
thick walled and tall vs thin walled and short. 
Furthermore, Errina lacks coordination of gastro- 
and dactylopores, has a ridged gastrostyle, and a 
granular (not imbricate) coenosteal texture. 
Another unusual feature of Systemapora is its 
lateral branch edge sulcus. Two genera, Distichopora 
and Gyropora, sometimes have lateral edge sulci but 
their sulci enclose rows of gastropores, not 
dactylopores, and therefore these structures are not 
considered homologous. The gastrostyle of Systema- 
pora is also very unusual, probably having the largest 
gastrostyle spines in relation to gastrostyle diameter 
of any known stylasterid. Finally, the regular 
alternation of platelet polarity is another unusual 
character, but of unknown taxonomic value. 
DISTRIBUTION: North of Norfolk Island; 320-475 m. 
Systemapora ornata n. sp. 
(Plates 31, c-f, 32, a-f, 33, a, b) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Same as that for genus. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar to bushy, the latter 
habit achieved by the formation of two or more 
flabella orientated in different planes. Holotype 
(largest specimen) 8 cm tall and 7.3 cm broad, with 
a basal branch diameter of 4 mm, the corallum 
composed essentially of three parallel, uniplanar 
flabella. Branching dichotomous and unequal; 
branches delicate, attenuating to tips as small as 
0.5 mm in diameter; no branch anastomosis. Branch 
cross section rectangular in distal branches, but 
elliptical in older, larger-diameter branches. Coeno- 
steum   white   and   linear-imbricate   in   texture. 
Coenosteal strips broad (0.11-0.15 mm wide) and 
vary from flat to highly ridged. Platelets quite 
narrow (3-33 um wide) and flat, their polarity 
regularly alternating with each row. Circular coeno- 
steal pores 25-30 um in diameter common on coeno- 
steal slits and dactylopore sulcus; pores irregular in 
outline caused by a perimeter of slightly overreaching 
spines 10-15 um long. 
Gastropores unilinearly arranged on both branch 
faces; dactylopores also unilinearly arranged, but 
on branch edges. Gastropores circular (0.20-0.22 mm 
in diameter), each bordered by a prominent, wide 
(about 0.38 mm wide), thick, abcauline lip. Lips 
usually longitudinally ridged with two or three 
sharp, serrate carinae and bear 1-3 large (0.13- 
0.15 mm in diameter), flush pores (? modified dactylo- 
pores) between the carinae. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and lack a ring palisade; however, base 
of gastropore tubes bear numerous slender spines 
up to 20 urn tall and 5 um in diameter. Gastrostyles 
elongate-conical, the tip easily seen in an intact 
gastropore; illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 32, c, d) 
0.32 mm tall and 0.066 mm in diameter (H : W = 
4.8). Gastrostyles bear large, robust, smooth spines, 
much larger toward the tip than basally, the apical 
ones up to 50 um tall and 16 um in basal diameter. 
Dactylopore spines adcauline (opposite to orientation 
of gastropore lips) to flush, both shapes often present 
on same specimen. Dactylopores circular, about 
0.10 mm in diameter, the adcauline ones with a 
very low (about 50 um tall), serrate anterior margin, 
the lower (proximal) margin flush with coenosteum. 
Dactylopore centres spaced about 0.3 mm apart, 
occurring along a broad (about 0.3 mm wide), 
shallow sulcus on branch edges. Sulci bordered by 
tall lateral ridges, which are sometimes spinose as 
well, the spines up to 15 um tall and similar in 
shape to gastrostyle spines (Plate 32, e). The sulci 
and bordering ridges cause distal branches to be 
rectangular in cross section. In larger-diameter 
branches, the lateral sulcal ridges are less prominent 
and the branches are thus elliptical in cross section. 
Female ampullae large hemispheres 1.0-1.2 mm 
in diameter, bearing low, rounded ridges. Female 
efferent pores lateral: 0.35-0.40 mm in diameter. 
Male ampullae also roughly hemispherical (0.65- 
0.75 mm in diameter) and covered with tall, sharp 
ridges as well as small spines that surround the 
lateral efferent pores, the latter 0.05-0.10 mm in 
diameter. Both male and female ampullae abun- 
dantly scattered on branch faces, usually just off 
centre of the mid-line. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn P46,1 male col., NZOI 
H-570. Paratypes: NZOI Stn P46,25 col. (3 in alcohol) 
48 
and many branches, NZOI P-830, 5 col., branches, 
and SEM stubs 571-572,674, USNM 85117; Stn P47, 
1 male col., NZOI P-831. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn P46, 28?42.3'S, 167?56.7'E, 
north of Norfolk Island; 450-475 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name ornata (from the Latin 
ornatus, ornate, decorated) refers to the ornate and 
beautifully formed corallum of this species, including 
its finely sculptured ampullae, coenosteum, sulcal 
ridges, gastrostyles, and dactylopore spines. 
REMARKS: See remarks of the genus. 
Errina Gray, 1835 
Castro- and clactylopores arranged uniformly on 
terminal and subterminal branches; pores scarce or 
absent on large-diameter branches. Colonies uni- 
planar or bushy, anastomosing in some species. 
Coenosteal texture usually reticulate-granular, but 
may also be linear-granular and linear-smooth, as 
well as linear-imbricate (four species). Coenosteum 
white, orange, red, or pink, some species having 
two colour forms. Gastropores bordered by lower 
lip in about half of species; ring palisade usually 
absent Gastrostyle elongate-conical and of moderate 
H : W ratio (2-10), usually longitudinally ridged 
and spinose. Dactylopore spines thick walled (i.e., 
dactylotomes less than or equal to one-third 
dactylopore spine width) and primarily adcauline 
in orientation; dactylopore spines sometimes 
compound. Accessory conical dactylopores present 
in some species. Dactylostyles lacking. Ampullae 
usually superficial but in some species submerged 
in coenosteum; efferent pores rarely seen and sexual 
dimorphism not pronounced. 
TYPE SPECIES: Millepora aspera Linnaeus, 1767, by 
monotypy. 
REMARKS: Cairns (1983b) listed 16 Recent species 
(including 4 fades) of Errina in his generic revision, 
and another species was later described, E. altispina 
Cairns, 1986a, making a total of 17 Recent species 
(including 4 facies) in the genus. Five new species 
are described herein, two facies are elevated to 
species level, and one species is synonymised, 
which increases to 23 the number of valid Recent 
species of Errina. These additions from New Zealand 
were anticipated by Zibrowius as early as 1981 {see 
Cairns 1983b) and by Boschma earlier than that. 
Eleven of the 23 species of Errina are known from 
the New Zealand region, making it, along with the 
adjacent Subantarctic and Antarctic regions, the 
centre of species diversity of the genus. 
Hickson (1912) made an elaborate argument for 
why he created four facies of E. novaezelandiae 
instead of four separate species, citing five lines of 
evidence. His arguments can be equally applied to 
what he considered to be intraspecific variation in 
Errina. To reiterate : 1) Hickson stated that dactylo- 
pore spine dimorphism was not a significant species 
level character. However, with many more speci- 
mens available from the New Zealand region, I 
consider this to be one of the most important 
characters at the species level. The presence or 
absence of accessory conical dactylopore spines 
appears to be consistent for most species of Errina, 
but variable in E. novaezelandiae. 2) Hickson stated 
that gastropore diameter was not of much value as 
a systematic character, being difficult to accurately 
measure and, in general, overlapping in range. 
Although they can now be easily measured, I concur 
that their size is of little discriminating value. 3) 
Hickson acknowledged that gastropore lips may or 
may not be present on species but, without much 
elaboration, apparently considered it as intraspecific 
variation. In general, this is a good species-level 
character, being easily observed and consistently 
present in 8 of the 23 species of Errina, but variable 
in expression in E. sinuosa and E. novaezelandiae. 4) 
As with gastropore diameter, Hickson considered 
dacrylopore-spine height to be difficult to measure 
and overlapping in range. There are, however, 
species that consistently have tall dactylopore spines 
(over 0.5 mm) and those that are characterised by 
having short dactylopore spines (less than 0.2 mm), 
and this character can be used to discriminate 
some species. As a subsidiary point, Hickson implied 
that clustered dactylopore spines also comprised 
intraspecific variation, but, in fact, this character 
does help to characterise some species. 5) Finally, 
Hickson maintained that it was difficult to believe 
that more than one shallow-water species of Errina 
occurred off New Zealand, the gene flow being too 
steady to allow for speciation. However, given the 
heterogeneity of the environments surrounding 
New Zealand and the morphological differences 
that are now known to exist using the SEM, this 
statement becomes untenable. New Zealand 
appears to be the centre of an adaptive radiation of 
species of Errina, most of which are geographically 
isolated on the diverse ridges and seamount systems 
south of New Zealand, including some regions 
containing 3 or 4 sympatric species. 
In addition to the previously discussed five 
character-suites, Hickson dismissed without dis- 
49 
cussion the characters of coenosteal texture and 
colony shape; however, colony shape and branching 
pattern are diagnostic for some species, and 
coenosteal texture as illustrated by SEM is also 
helpful in discriminating some species. 
Characters not addressed by Hickson include 
coenosteal colour, ampullar shape, and gastrostyle 
shape. Although colour may be variable in some 
species, the colour or colours (two) of a species are 
believed to be characteristic of that species. Gastro- 
style shape and ornamentation is of marginal value, 
but useful in discriminating several species. Unlike 
most stylasterid genera, little value was gained 
from a comparative examination of the ampullar 
structure and dimorphism of the various species of 
Errina. 
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene: Denmark. Recent: North 
Atlantic; off South Africa; Subantarctic and Antarctic; 
New Zealand region; 6-1772 m. 
Errina novaezelandiae Hickson, 1912 
(Frontispiece; Plates 33, c-g, 34, a-d) 
Errina  (Labiopora)   novae-zelandiae   facies   Ramosa 
Hickson, 1912 :882,884-886, pi. 94, fig. 3, pi. 96, 
fig. 9. 
Errina  (Labiopora) novae-zelandiae facies  Benhami 
Hickson, 1912 :883, pi. 94, figs 1-2, pi. 96, fig. 13. 
Errina (Eu-Errina) novae-zelandiae: Broch 1942 :51-53, 
pi. 4, fig. 14, text-fig. 15 (in part: facies ramosa 
and benhami). 
Errina novae-zelandiae: Boschma 1953 :167 (in part: 
facies ramosa and benhami). 
Errina novaezealandiae [sic] facies ramosa and benhami: 
Cairns 1983b : 428, 461. 
Errina (Errina) cruenta Boschma 1968b : 109-113, pis 
1-3, text-fig. 1; Dawson 1979 : 24-25; Vervoort 
and Zibrowius 1981 : 30. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn B482, 1 col. and 
fragments, NZOI, fragments, USNM 85118; Stn 
B485, 1 col. and fragments, NZOI, 1 col. and SEM 
stub 586, USNM 85119; Stn B619,1 branch, NZOI; 
Stn B621, 6 col. and branches, NZOI, 1 col., USNM 
85120; Stn C896,3 branches, NZOI; Stn D73,1 col., 
NZOI; Stn D156, 10 branch fragments including 
male and female paratypes of E. cruenta and SEM 
stub 585, USNM 76879; Stn Q740,1 col., NZOI; Stn 
Q741,4 col., NZOI, 2 col. and SEM stub 679, USNM 
85121; Stn Q748,1 col. and branches, NZOI, 1 col. 
and SEM stubs 597-598, USNM 85122; Stn Q749, 
branches, NZOI; Stn Q754, 5 branches, NZOI, 1 
branch, USNM 85123; 2 syntypes of E. n. ramosa, 
BM 1950.1.11.83. 
DISTRIBUTION: Fiordland to Auckland Island; 15- 
177 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and often massive, 
the largest colony known (NZOI Stn Q748) 17 cm 
tall and 21 cm broad, with a thick basal branch 
diameter of 3 cm. Basal branches sometimes ana- 
stomose, forming a solid palmate frond; otherwise, 
branching is dichotomous and unequal. Branches 
circular to slightly elliptical in cross section and 
gradually taper to tips of variable diameter, ranging 
from 1.0-5.0 mm. Coenosteum red to red-orange, 
but branch core, ampullae, and regenerated branch 
tips white. Coenosteum coarse in construction and 
reticulate-granular in texture. Coenosteal strips 
35-60 Jim wide, bordered by deep, wide, discon- 
tinuous coenosteal slits about 16 um wide. Strips 
covered by sparse, rounded granules 5-6 um in 
diameter. On large-diameter branches, slender 
spiniform processes up to 0.5 mm tall occur in 
abundance. No polychaete commensals present. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
on branches; however, pores of both kinds more 
abundant and better developed on anterior face. 
Gastropores numerous, circular in shape, variable 
in diameter (0.14-0.28 mm), and usually lack border- 
ing lips. Gastropore tubes cylindrical and straight, 
often perpendicular to branch surface; ring palisade 
lacking. A conical to elongate-conical gastrostyle 
occupies about 60% of each gastropore tube, its tip 
easily seen from above. Gastrostyles up 0.43 mm 
tall and 0.20 mm in diameter (Boschma 1968b), the 
illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 34, c) 0.40 mm tall 
and 0.14 mm in diameter (H : W = 2.85). Gastrostyle 
prominently ridged, each thin, longitudinal ridge 
bearing elongate (up to 27 um), sharp, multitipped 
spines. 
Dactylopore spines primarily of two kinds : tall, 
thick-walled, primarily adcauline-orientated spines, 
and low, slightly raised, circular mounds, but 
intergradations between these 2 forms are also 
common. Adcauline dactylopore spines up to 
0.6 mm tall and approximately 0.28 mm wide, with 
a dactylotome 75-80 um wide (about one-third 
dactylopore-spine width). Although primarily 
adcauline in orientation, many of these dactylopore 
spines are also orientated in random directions; 
compound dactylopore spines rare. Distal edges of 
adcauline dactylopore spines usually perpendicular 
to coenosteal surface. Smaller, conical dactylopore 
spines have circular apertures 70-75 um in diameter 
and are invariably only slightly raised above the 
coenosteum. Dactylopore spines intermediate in 
size appear to be modifications of the conical form, 
in which a tall, slender spine (up to 0.4 mm) occurs 
50 
directly adjacent to the circular dactylopore, the 
pore sometimes elongating into a dactylotome slit. 
Female ampullae hemispherical, approximately 
0.8 mm in diameter, with a relatively small lateral 
efferent pore about 0.13 mm in diameter. Female 
colonies rare in study material. Male ampullae also 
hemispherical and 0.54-0.61 mm in diameter; 
efferent pores were not observed. Both types of 
ampullae often support dactylopore spines that 
obscure their shape, and both types are quickly 
covered with coenosteum, resulting in layers of 
empty ampullar cavities easily seen in cross 
sections of large-diameter branches. 
TYPES: Eight syntype branches (Plate 33, d) of ?. n. 
fades ramosa are deposited at the BM(NH) 
(1950.1.11.83,87). Two fragments are also deposited 
at the Zoological Museum, University of Oslo (B885). 
One syntype branch of E. n. facies benhami is 
deposited at the BM(NH) (1964.9.17.4). Additional 
syntype branches (Plate 33, c) are at the Manchester 
Museum (Boschma #138). 
The holotype and most paratypes of E. cruenta 
are deposited at NZOI (H-49, P-10, respectively). 
Paratypes are also deposited at the RMNH (Coel. 
13755A,B) (see Vervoort and Zibrowius 1981) and 
USNM (76879). 
TYPE LOCALITY: The type locality of both Errina novae- 
zelandiae facies ramosa and benhami is Preservation 
Inlet; 6 m. 
The type locality of E. cruenta is NZOI Stn D156, 
48'01.5'S, 166'35'E, southeast of The Snares, south 
of Stewart Island; 81 m. 
REMARKS: Although two fades of Errina novaezelandiae 
(dendyi and cooki) are considered as separate species, 
specimens pertaining to facies ramosa and benhami 
display a bewildering range of variation, which, I 
believe, supports Hickson's (1912) original 
interpretation of conspecificity. For instance, branch 
thickness is quite variable, some colonies having 
predominantly thick, robust terminal branches 
3-5 mm in diameter, but also several lesser- 
diameter branches as small as 2 mm in diameter. 
The terminal branches of several syntypes of facies 
ramosa are 2.2-2.5 mm in diameter, but some of the 
smaller branches of the paratypes of E. cruenta are 
the same diameter. Other colonies from shallow- 
water fiord localities have even more slender 
terminal branches, as small as 1 mm in diameter. 
Branch anastomosis, reported as frequent in facies 
benhami, appears to be a relatively rare condition 
and not diagnostic. The presence of gastropore 
lips, which is usually consistent at the species level 
in this genus, is variable in expression in E. 
novaezelandiae, most specimens lacking lips, but some 
having small lips on gastropores on terminal branches. 
There is great variation in dactylopore spine width 
and shape but no consistent pattern among spedmens 
or covariance with other characters. Accessory, 
conical dactylopore spines are more common on 
the "benhami" facies but also occur on the "ramosa" 
facies. Clustering of dactylopore spines occurs to 
some degree on all specimens examined. 
To retain Hickson's characterisation, one might 
consider the "ramosa" form of E. novaezelandiae (the 
typical form) to have relatively slender branches; 
fewer conical dactylopores; broader adcauline 
dactylopore spines; and usually unlipped gastro- 
pores. The "benhami" form has thicker branches; 
abundant conical dactylopore spines; narrow 
adcauline dactylopore spines; and frequently lipped 
gastropores. However, intermediates occur between 
these forms. Perhaps analysis of the living coral or 
its tissue by observing its growth habit, colour when 
alive, reproductive biology, or analysis by means of 
histology or molecular techniques (e.g., electro- 
phoresis) will reveal differences not apparent in the 
stony coral lum. 
The types of E. cruenta are interpreted as a robust 
growth form of E. novaezelandiae, the syntypes of 
Errina novaezelandiae facies ramosa being virtually 
identical to small-diameter para type branches of E. 
cruenta. 
Errina novaezelandiae is most similar to E. chat- 
hamensis n.sp. in colony size and branching pattern, 
but can be distinguished by having: 1) a greater 
density of dactylopore spines, 2) fewer compound 
dactylopore spines, 3) ridged gastrostyles, and 4) 
exclusively reticulate-granular coenosteum. Further- 
more, E. novaezelandiae is known only from off South 
Island to Auckland Island, whereas E. chathamensis 
is known from the Chatham Rise and usually at 
greater depth. Errina chathamensis is also known to 
occur in a white form. 
Errina chathamensis n. sp.   (Plates 34, e, f, 35, a-g) 
Errina sp. Powell, 1947: 8, fig. 18 (in part: specimen 
from Chatham Island). 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Chatham Rise; 91-688 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and robust, the 
largest colony (NZOI Stn C618) 14 cm tall and 14 cm 
broad, with a dense massive basal branch 24 x 
51 
30 mm in diameter. Polychaete commensals not 
present. Branching dichotomous and unequal; distal 
branches circular in cross section, attenuating to 
tips approximately 1 mm in diameter; large-diameter 
basal branches elliptical in cross section. Coenosteum 
white or red, the branches of the latter usually 
having a white central core and branch tips. Both 
colour forms were found at three stations (see Types). 
Coenosteal texture linear- to reticulate-granular, 
the former common on small-diameter branches, 
the latter on medium to large-diameter branches. 
Coenosteal strips 60-80 um wide, bordered by dis- 
continuous but elongate slits about 13 um wide. 
Strips covered with widely spaced, tiny granules, 
all approximately 4 um in diameter and up to 5 um 
tall, many of which project laterally from the strip 
edge into the coenosteal slits. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
on branch surfaces; however, there are often fewer 
pores on one face (posterior, by definition) and 
pores are completely lacking from large-diameter 
basal branches. Gastropores circular, relatively 
small (0.19-0.25 mm in diameter), and usually not 
bordered by a lip; however, occasionally one or 
more adjacent dactylopore spines may resemble a 
lower lip and, rarely, a small lip is present on 
gastropores on distal branches. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and lacks ring palisades. Gastrostyles 
variable in shape, being conical to elongate-conical 
and occupying approximately three-quarters length 
of tube. H : W ratios range from 2 to 6. Gastrostyles 
covered with elongate, pointed spines up to 26 um 
long. 
Dactylopore spines dimorphic (adcauline and 
conical to flush), both forms occurring in approxi- 
mately equal numbers. Adcauline spines quite tall 
(up to 0.7 mm) and about 0.25 mm wide, with a 
dactylotome width of 70-89 um. Adcauline dactylo- 
pore spines often compound, each having 2-6 
dactylotomes orientated in various directions. Com- 
pound dactylopore spine clusters often form the 
basis of incipient branchlets. Conical dactylopore 
spines have a circular pore diameter of 55-75 um 
and are flush to only slightly raised above the 
coenosteal surface. 
Female ampullae relatively smooth, regular 
hemispheres 0.70-O.S2-0.93 mm in diameter, often 
clustered on branch faces. Often 1 or 2 dactylopore 
spines occur on each ampulla. Female efferent 
pores rarely observed, but when present, 0.18- 
0.22 mm in diameter. Unequivocal male ampullae 
not observed, perhaps because efferent pores, 
an important sexually dimorphic character, are rarely 
present. Also, because the female ampullar size 
range is broad, a size sexual dimorphism might be 
obscured. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn J55,1 female col. (white), 
NZOI H-571. Paratypes: NZOI Stn A910, 15 col. 
and branches (white), NZOI P-832, 3 col., USNM 
60253; Stn C617, numerous branches (white and 
red), NZOI P-833, 4 branches, USNM 85124; Stn 
C618,2 col. (red), NZOI P-834,1 col. and SEM stubs 
588,599, USNM 85125; Stn D871,2 branches (white), 
NZOI P-835; Stn D876,5 col. and several branches 
(white and red), NZOI P-836; Stn D878,4 col. and 
branches (white), NZOI P-837, SEM stub 589 (USNM); 
D887, 9 branches (white), NZOI P-838; D889, 2 
branches (red), NZOI P-839; Stn D896, 6 col. and 
branches (white and red), NZOI P-840,3 col., USNM 
85126; Stn E153, 3 col. and 2 branches (white), 
NZOI P-841; Stn E751,1 branch (white), NZOI P- 
842; Stn 155,7 col. and many branches, NZOI P-843, 
4 branches and SEM stubs 577-578, USNM 85127; 
Stn J59,3 col. and numerous branches (white), NZOI 
P-844,4branches, USNM 85128; Stn Q38,6 col. and 
branches (white), NZOI P-845; Eltanin Stn 1847, 1 
branch (white), USNM 76519. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn J55, 44?05.5'S, 176?12.0'E, 
Chatham Rise west of Chatham Island; 198 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: Named for the island and associated 
rise from which all the type specimens were 
collected. 
REMARKS: The red form of E. chathamensis is similar 
to ?. novaezelandiae and is compared to that species 
in the account of the latter. The white form of E. 
chathamensis is superficially similar to E. gracilis, but 
differs in having fewer, thinner dactylopore spines; 
no ring palisades; and no polychaete commensals 
(see account of E. gracilis). Furthermore, E. gracilis 
appears to be restricted to the Subantarctic region. 
Errina laevigata n. sp. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
(Plate 36, a-g) 
DISTRIBUTION: South of Stewart Island; Macquarie 
Ridge; 113-371 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Holotype colony uni planar and mas- 
sive, 9.7 cm tall and 6.2 cm broad, with a broad 
basal branch 9x19 mm in diameter. Like E. novae- 
zelandiae, basal branches loosely fused, forming an 
almost solid basal flabellum. Branching dichotomous 
and unequal; branches taper to blunt tips approxi- 
mately 2 mm in diameter. Holotype colony bored 
52 
internally, resulting in a hollow corallum, but 
apparently without affecting the normal colony and 
branch shape. Coenosteum light orange, with white 
central branch cores and dactylopore spines. 
Coenosteum composed of slightly convex, parallel, 
linear strips 70-75 um wide, bordered by shallow, 
almost continuous slits about 5 urn wide. Strips 
smooth on top, giving a shiny, porcellanous aspect 
to coenosteum. Very small granules present on 
lateral edges of strips, the granules projecting into 
the slits. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
on small-diameter branches, but virtually absent 
from basal, large-diameter branches. Gastropores 
well spaced, circular, and small (0.16-0.19 mm in 
diameter); gastropores not bordered by lips. Castro- 
pore tubes cylindrical, lacking a ring palisade. 
Gastrostyles small and elongate-conical, the largest 
gastrostyle observed 0.31 mm tall. Illustrated 
gastrostyle (Plate 36, g) 0.20 mm tall and 0.09 mm 
in diameter (H : W = 2.2); H : W ratios range from 
1.6 to 3.4 (N - 10). Gastrostyles prominently and 
obliquely ridged, at least in the illustrated style; 
ridges bear simple, elongate, sharp spines up to 
32 urn long. 
Dactylopore spines of 2 kinds: a tall, thick- 
walled, primarily adcauline-orientated spine, and a 
low, only slightly raised, circular dactylopore. 
Adcauline dactylopore spines up to 0.6 mm tall and 
about 0.19 mm wide, with a dactylotome width of 
about 70 um. Their lateral walls are sharply edged 
at the dactylotome. Occasionally there are 1 or 2 
cylindrical spinules that project upward from either 
side of the dactylopore spine apex, thus adding to 
the height of the spine (Plate 36, d). Adcauline 
dactylopore spines rarely compound. Smaller, 
conical dactylopore spines are much less abundant, 
circular (40-50 um in diameter), and only slightly 
raised. Dactylopore spines shorter and more slender 
(about 15 |xm wide) than those first described also 
present, having circular or slit-shaped dactylotomes 
restricted to their lower portion. Coenosteal spinules 
of similar size but without a dactylotome also present, 
most abundantly on branch edges that are closely 
adjacent to another branch. 
Female ampullae unknown. Male ampullae 
primarily internal, having an internal diameter of 
0.4-0.5 mm and accompanied by a superficial 
mound only about 0.3 mm in diameter. Often a 
short, cylindrical spinule occurs in the centre of 
the ampullar mound, but efferent pores were not 
observed. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn D145,1 male col., NZOI 
H-572, fragments of holotype, SEM stubs 595, 678, 
USNM 85129. Paratypes: NZOI Stn D9, 1 col., 
NZOI P-846; Eltanin Stn 1411, 1 branch, USNM 
60161. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn D145, 48"42'S, 167*27% 
between Stewart and Auckland Islands; 366 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name laevigata (from the 
Latin laevigatus, smooth) refers to the smooth 
coenosteum of this species. 
REMARKS: Errina laevigata is most similar to E. 
novaezelandiae ("cruenta" form) particularly in colony 
and dactylopore spine shapes. It differs signif- 
icantly, however, in coenosteal texture (linear- 
smooth), male ampullar structure (internal), and 
in having accessory dactylopore spine spinules. It 
also appears to have proportionally fewer small 
circular dactylopore spines, smaller gastropores, 
and more slender adcauline dactylopore spines. 
Both species overlap in distribution, but E. laevigata 
appears to have a deeper range. 
Errina hicksoni n. sp. (Plate 37, a-g) 
[?] Errina (Eu-Errina) antarctica: Broch 1951a : 35 (in 
part: Discovery Stn 2215); Boschma & Lowe 1969 : 
pi. 5, map 1 (in part: record from off Antipodes 
Island). 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Bounty Plateau 
off Bounty and Antipodes Islands; 40-155-? 210 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and broad, the 
lower part of large colonies being a solid, thick 
flabellum or a reticulate fan of fused branches. 
Colonies moderately large, up to 7 cm tall and 10 cm 
broad (NZOI Stn A743), with massive basal branches 
up to 2.5 x 1.5 cm in diameter (NZOI Stn A751). 
Branching dichotomous and unequal; branch ana- 
stomosis common. Branches attenuate gradually to 
blunt tips about 1.5 mm in diameter. No polychaete- 
induced skeletal modifications seen. Coenosteum a 
delicate light orange, with white branch cores and 
ampullae, the latter sometimes producing a mottled 
appearance. Coenosteum composed of strips 33- 
52 urn wide arranged in reticulate order, the strips 
flanked by deep, fairly continuous coenosteal slits 
approximately 6 pm wide. Tops of strips smooth; 
however, small granules about 4 |im in diameter 
project from lateral edges of strips. 
Castro- and dactylopores uniformly distributed 
53 
on branches; however, pores of both kinds are 
more abundant on anterior colony face and less 
abundant on large-diameter, basal branches. 
Gastropores numerous: circular in shape and vari- 
able in diameter, ranging from 0.12-0.29 mm. 
Gastropores usually lack lips; however, occasionally 
some will have a small lower lip and others are 
rimmed about their entire perimeter. Gastropore 
tubes cylindrical and straight, the gastrostyle 
restricted to lower two-thirds of tube. Ring palisade 
present at level of gastrostyle tip, composed of 
irregularly shaped, globose elements up to 30 Jim in 
diameter, which are covered with minute granules 
about 5 urn in diameter. Gastrostyles conical to 
elongate. Illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 37, f) 0.37 mm 
tall and 0.12 mm in diameter (H : W = 3.1); how- 
ever, H : W ratios vary from 2.0 to 5.9 (N = 14, 
Boschma's unpublished notes deposited at the 
RMNH), depending on gastropore depth, which in 
turn is dependent on branch diameter. Gastrostyle 
longitudinally ridged, the ridges bearing small, 
multitipped spines. 
Dactylopore spines of one type: thick-walled, 
relatively short, and primarily adcauline-orientated 
spines, which are never compound. Dactylopore 
spines only up to 0.21 mm tall and about 0.26 mm 
wide, with a dactylotome width of 75-80 urn. 
Female ampullae smooth hemispheres 0.70- 
0.75 mm in diameter, most obvious on small- 
diameter branches. As branches increase in diameter, 
ampullae are covered with coenosteum and thus 
become internal, only about 0.50 mm in internal 
diameter. These internal cavities are easily seen in 
a fractured branch cross section. Female efferent 
pores rare, about 0.14 mm in diameter and accom- 
panied by a short efferent tube. Male ampullae 
unknown. 
Errina, especially those species first reported from 
New Zealand (Hickson 1912). 
REMARKS: Among the nonlipped, orange Errina, E. 
hicksoni is most similar to E. kerguelensis Broch, 1942. 
Although not known from the New Zealand region, 
E. kerguelensis is known from the Subantarctic and 
Ross Sea areas (Cairns 1983a) and is similar to E. 
hicksoni in having the same coenosteal colour, same 
sized gastropores, and in having ring palisades, 
and internal ampullae. Errina hicksoni differs in 
having a more tightly branched, sometimes 
anastomotic, colony; smaller dactylopore spines; 
and a smooth, nongranular coenosteum. 
Broch's (1951a) report of E. antarctica from five 
Discovery stations represents at least four species 
(see Cairns 1983a). Although the specimens from 
Discovery Stn 2215 (Antipodes Island, 163-210 m) 
are not present at the BM(NH) (Zibrowius, pers. 
comm.), their location, depth, and general resem- 
blance to E. antarctica suggest an identification of E. 
hicksoni. 
Errina cooki Hickson, 1912, new rank (Plate 38, a-f) 
Errina (Labiopora) novae-zelandiae fades Cooki Hickson, 
1912 : 884, pi. 95, fig. 5, pi. 96, figs 10-12. 
Errina (Eu-Errina) novae-zelandiae: Broch 1942 :51-53 
(in part: facies Cooki). 
Errina novae-zealandiae [sic]: Ralph 1948 :110. 
Errina novae-zelandiae facies cooki: Boschma 1953 : 
167. 
Errina novae-zelandiae: Boschma 1957: 56 (in part: 
facies cooki). 
Errina novaezealandiae [sic] facies cooki: Cairns 1983b : 
428. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn A743, 1 female col., 
NZOI H-573. Paratypes: NZOI Stn A704, 1 col., 
NZOI P-847; Stn A705, 6 col. and branches, NZOI 
P-848; Stn A734, 3 branch fragments, NZOI P-849; 
Stn A743, 2 col. and branches, NZOI P-850, 2 col., 
branches and SEM stubs 593-594, USNM 76517; Stn 
A747,1 col. and branches, NZOI P-851; Stn A748, 
10 col. and many branches, NZOI P-852, 5 col., 
USNM 76516; Stn A751,6 col. and many branches, 
NZOI P-853,4 col., USNM 76518; Stn 1711,3 branches, 
NZOI P-854; Stn S80,4 col., NZOI P-855. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn A743,49 39.8'S, 17830.2'E, 
north of Antipodes Island;  40 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: Named in memory of Sydney John 
Hickson for his pioneering work on the genus 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn A444, 22 col. and 
branches, NZOI, 6 col. and SEM stub 582, USNM 
60252; Stn A502,1 col. and 4 branches, NZOI; Stn 
C60, 2 col., NZOI; Stn C617,1 col., NZOI. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Cook Strait and the 
western edge of Chatham Rise; 143-380 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar, broad, and of 
medium size, the largest colony (a syntype) 5 cm 
tall and 7 cm broad, the largest basal branch 
diameter 7.5 mm (NZOI Stn A444). Branching 
dichotomous, unequal, and relatively sparse; no 
branch anastomosis. Branches circular to slightly 
elliptical in cross section, tapering to blunt tips 
1.0-1.8 mm in diameter. No polychaete commensals. 
Coenosteum white and reticulate-granular in texture. 
54 
Coenosteal strips 40-60 jim wide, bordered by deep, 
discontinuous slits about 6 urn wide, and uniformly 
covered with small granules about 6 urn in diameter 
and height. 
Castro- and dactylopores occur predominantly 
on anterior face and lateral branch edges, being 
much less common on posterior face. Gastropores 
circular, 0.15-0.22 mm in diameter, and very rarely 
lipped. Gastropore tubes cylindrical, lacking a ring 
palisade. Gastrostyles elongate but no tabulae 
noted; illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 38, e) 0.46 mm 
tall and 61 um in diameter (H : W = 7.5). Gastrostyles 
bear tall, obliquely orientated ridges, which in turn 
bear tiny spines. 
Dactylopore spines short, thick-walled, and 
primarily adcauline in orientation, rarely compound. 
Dactylopore spines rarely exceed 0.12 mm in height 
and 0.24 mm in width, with a dactylotome width of 
55-60 urn. Smaller, conical dactylopores, having a 
pore diameter of only 40-50 jxm, occur infrequently 
on some branches. 
Female ampullae are prominent hemispheres 
0.65-0.80 mm in diameter; however, efferent pores 
are never seen. Instead, the tops of many female 
ampullae are completely ruptured, resulting in 
concave coenosteal depressions. Planulae may be 
released through this rupture instead of through a 
smaller efferent pore. Male ampullae much less 
conspicuous, being partially submerged in branch 
coenosteum and about 0.6 mm in diameter. Both 
male and female ampullae clustered on both faces. 
TYPES: At least one syntype (Plate 38, b) is 
deposited at the Manchester Museum (Boschma 
#140); another eight syntype branches are deposited 
at the Zoological Museum, University of Oslo (B886), 
undoubtedly specimens borrowed and retained by 
Broch (1942). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Cook Strait, depth unknown: "from 
the cable" (Hickson 1912 : 884). 
REMARKS: Although Hickson (1912) made lengthy 
arguments for considering all four facies of Errina 
novaezelandiae as the same species, and both Broch 
(1942) and Boschma (1957) accepted his arguments, 
I disagree with the conspecificity of the four facies 
(see generic Remarks) and herein raise facies cooki to 
the species level. 
Among the three other nonlipped, white species 
of Errina (E. aspera, E. atlantica, and E. gracilis), E. 
cooki is remarkably similar to the type-species E. 
aspera, known only from the eastern Atlantic and 
Mediterranean from 95-236 m (Zibrowius and 
Cairns, in press). A direct comparison between the 
two species revealed no significant differences, even 
at the SEM level; however, because of the great 
geographic separation of the two populations, they 
are treated as separate species pending the collection 
of a larger suite of E. cooki. 
Errina gracilis Marenzeller, 1903      (Plate 39, a-g) 
Errina gracilis Marenzeller, 1903 :4-7, figs 1-4. 
Errina aspera: Boschma & Lowe 1969: 15, pi. 15, 
map 2. 
Errina (Errina) gracilis: Cairns 1983b: 98-101, figs 
11G, 19A-F, 20A-B (synonymy and lectotype 
designation). 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn C734, 8 col., NZOI, 3 
col., USNM; Stn D24, 1 col., NZOI; Eltanin Stn 
1415,1 col., USNM 60168; 1416,1 col., USNM 60166; 
Stn 1419, 4 col., USNM 60077; Stn 1422, 1 col., 
USNM 59926; Stn 1691, 7 col., USNM 60150; Stn 
1975,5 col. and SEM stub 681, USNM 60167; speci- 
mens cited by Cairns (1983a); 4 paralectotypes, 
Belgica Stn 387, USNM 76874. 
DISTRIBUTION: Circum-subantarctic, including south- 
ern Macquarie Ridge and Hjort Seamount; 100- 
1226 m. 
DESCRIPTION OF NEW ZEALAND SPECIMENS: Colonies uni- 
planar and broad, the largest specimen (Eltanin Stn 
1975) 4.8 cm tall and 5.5 cm broad, with a basal 
branch diameter of 6.2 mm (Plate 39, a). Branching 
dichotomous and unequal; branches circular to 
slightly elliptical in cross section, tapering to tips 
1.3-2.5 mm in diameter. Polychaete commensal 
invariably present, inducing the coral to form 
flattened tubes along its large-diameter branches. 
Basal branches often anastomose into a dense, 
reticulate lamella. Coenosteum white and reticulate- 
granular in texture. Coenosteal strips 50-80 urn 
wide and bordered by wide (about 16 um) but 
shallow slits. Strips very coarsely granulated, the 
granules 5-7 um in diameter and irregular in shape. 
Castro- and dactylopores most abundant on 
distal branches, very few occurring on large- 
diameter branches. Gastropores circular, 0.15- 
0.25 mm in diameter, and very rarely lipped. 
Gastropore tubes cylindrical, each having a well- 
developed, annular ring palisade at level of 
gastrostyle tip, composed of large granular ele- 
ments 30-35 um in diameter; tabulae lacking. 
Gastrostyles elongate-conical (H ; W about 4), with 
a bare basal main shaft and a sparsely ornamented 
distal section that bears sharp spines up to 26 um 
55 
tall. Gastrostyle tip extends up to and sometimes 
above coenosteal surface. 
Dactylopore spines of medium height (03-0.4 mm 
tall), thick walled, and primarily adcauline in 
orientation; often compound. Dactylopore spines 
0.27-0.30 mm wide, with a dactylotome width of 
about 0.1 mm. Circular, flush pores 50-70 um in 
diameter abundantly scattered over coenosteum, 
these pores interpreted to be modified dactylopores. 
Female ampullae prominent, thin-walled hemi- 
spheres 0.8-0.9 mm in diameter; however, efferent 
pores were not observed. Instead, large circular 
depressions are common on certain branches, the 
remnants of ruptured female ampullae. Male 
ampullae 0.7-0.8 mm in diameter, each bearing 2 or 
3 apical efferent pores about 40 um in diameter. 
TYPES: Lectotype and most paralectotypes deposited 
at the Institut des Sciences Naturelles, Brussels (see 
Cairns 1983a : 100). Paralectotypes are also deposited 
at the USNM (76874). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Belgica Stn 387, 71*15'S, 8739'W, 
Bellinghausen Sea; 100 m. 
REMARKS: Among the 14 nonlipped species of Errina, 
E. gracilis is the only species to host a polychaete 
symbiont. It is further distinguished by having 
white coenosteum, ring palisades, and being 
restricted to the Subantarctic region in relatively 
deep water (360-996 m). 
Errina sinuosa n. sp. (Plates 40, a-g, 41, a, b) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Kermadec Ridge 
from Raoul Island to south of Esperance Rock; 
290-814 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Corallum unique in shape, strongly 
influenced by its obligate commensal polychaete ? 
main branch vertical and sinusoidal, the diameter 
and amplitude of the sinuous curves decreasing 
with height. Holotype 37 mm tall and 12.2 mm 
wide, with a firmly attached base 3.4 mm in diameter; 
largest specimen (NZOI Stn T256) 5.8 cm tall and 11 
x 6 mm in basal branch diameter. Main vertical 
branch hollow (apically open) and laterally perforate, 
forming tube for commensal polychaete, which runs 
entire length of colony. Inner tube diameter 
approximately 2.6 x 2.0 mm. Within the basal 
0-7 mm of the corallum, there is invariably an 
efferent pore approximately 2 mm in diameter 
this pore and continuing the length of the main 
branch is a groove about 1.75 mm in width that is 
flanked by short, modified branches, which 
apparently serves as an external path for the 
polychaete. Short (rarely over 7 mm long), slender 
branchlets project from lateral edges of main branch, 
terminating in slender, pointed tips only 0.35 mm 
in diameter. Coenosteum white: linear-imbricate 
on branchlets; linear-imbricate to radial-imbricate 
(Plate 40, e, g) on main branches. Coenosteal strips 
60-95 um wide, sometimes slightly convex, and 
bordered by short, discontinuous slits about 10 um 
wide. Platelets have irregular, but smooth, margins. 
Location of gastro- and dactylopores variable ? 
in some specimens (e.g., NZOI Stn K842) gastro- 
pores occur only on branch faces and dactylopores 
are restricted to branch edges; however, in other 
specimens (e.g., NZOI Stn K844) both gastro- and 
dactylopores are uniformly distributed on all 
branch surfaces. Gastropores circular, 0.20-0.25 mm 
in diameter, and sometimes bordered by a promi- 
nent lower lip (e.g., NZOI Stn K842), sometimes 
not (e.g., NZOI Stn K844). Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical, lacking a ring palisade. Gastrostyle a 
massive cone; illustrated style (Plate 40, f) 0.16 mm 
tall and 84 urn in diameter (H : W = 1.9). Gastrostyles 
unridged and bear smooth, thick, sharp spines up 
to 23 Lim long. 
Dactylopore spines primarily short, thin walled, 
and exclusively adcauline in orientation, never 
compound. Dactylopore spines up to 0.10 mm tall 
and 80 um wide, with a dactylotome width of 40- 
60 um. However, in some specimens the dactylotome 
slit is not present, the spine being apically perforate 
with a pore diameter of about 60 um. 
Ampullae unique in construction (Plate 41, a, b), 
consisting of a squat, irregularly shaped cylinder 
up to 0.4 mm tall and 0.5 x 0.2 mm in diameter. Its 
top is flat but recessed about 0.1 mm below its 
outer edges. The recessed top is very porous 
and bears several discrete apically perforate cones, 
one cone invariably in the centre, the others near 
the edge. Cones about 40 um tall and 50 um in 
basal diameter. Judging from the size of the 
perforate cones, they are assumed to be male 
efferent pores. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn K842, 1 col., NZOI 
H-574. Paratypes: NZOI Stn C527, 1 col., USNM 
85130; Stn K839,2 col., P-939; Stn K840,2 col., NZOI 
P-856; Stn K842,3 col., NZOI P-857,2 col. and SEM 
stubs 596, 685A, USNM 85131; Stn K844, 2 col., 
NZOI P-858, 1 col. and SEM stub 685B, USNM 
85132; Stn K859, 1 col., NZOI P-859; Stn T214, 2 
col., NZOI P-860; Stn T256,2 col., NZOI P-861. 
56 
TYPE LOCALITY: MZOI Stn K842,3010.2'S, 178 35.9 W, 
northwest of McCauley Island; 325-370 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name sinuosa (from the Latin 
sinuosus, curved, sinuous) refers to the sinusoidal 
shape of the colonies of this species. 
REMARKS: Among the 23 Recent species of Errina, E. 
sinuosa is easily distinguished by its sinusoidal 
growth form created by its polychaete commensal, 
its uniquely shaped ampullae, and its thin-walled 
dactylopore spines. Its shape is identical to that of 
Calyptopora sinuosa, a species known from the same 
geographic and bathymetric range. 
Errina cheilopora Cairns, 1983 
(Plates 41, c-g, 42, a-c) 
Errina (Errina) cheilopora Cairns, 1983a : 105-107, 
figs 22A, 23A-I. 
Errina cheilopora: Cairns 1983b : 428. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn D175, 1 col., NZOI; 
Stn D176, 8 col., NZOI, 5 col. and SEM stub 682, 
USNM 85133; Stn D871, 2 branches, NZOI; Stn 
E803, 7 col., NZOI, 3 col. and SEM stubs 579-580, 
USNM 85134; Stn E821,1 col., NZOI; Stn F127,1 
col., NZOI; Stn G937,1 col., NZOI; Stn H636,1 col., 
NZOI; Stn ]55, 2 col., NZOI, 2 col., USNM 85135; 
Stn 525,1 col., NZOI; Stn S30,1 col., NZOI, 1 col., 
USNM 85136; Stn S45,1 branch, NZOI; Stn T47,4 
col., NZOI. Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Widespread on continental shelf and 
slopes south and east of New Zealand, including 
Macquarie Ridge, Campbell and Bounty Plateaus, 
and Chatham Rise; 198-1400 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and of moderate 
size, the largest specimen examined (NZOI Stn S30, 
Plate 41, c) 6.5 cm tall and 6.4 cm broad, with a 
basal branch diameter of 6.1 x 11.0 mm. Colony 
branching fairly characteristic, the short basal 
branch dividing into 2-4 widely divergent major 
branches near colony base, which in turn give rise 
to numerous branches of considerably smaller 
diameter that fill the flabellum but do not anastomose. 
Branching subsequent to major branches thus may 
be characterised as dichotomous but unequal. 
Branches quite dense, each having a solid core. 
Polychaete commensal lacking. Cross section of 
basal branch elliptical; that of distal branches, 
circular. Coenosteum white, on rare occasions a 
light pink (e.g., Eltanin Stns 1411,1414). Coenosteal 
texture linear-granular, the strips 50-80 um wide, 
bordered by short, discontinuous coenosteal slits 
and pores 7-15 urn wide. Strips uniformly covered 
with rounded granules 3-7 um in diameter. 
Castro- and dactylopores abundant on small- 
diameter branches but lacking on large-diameter 
basal branches. Castropores circular and 0.18- 
0.33 mm in diameter, each bordered by a promi- 
nent, broad, abcauline lip. Gastropore lips up to 3 
times gastropore width (e.g., 0.65 mm wide), project 
as much as 0.5 mm over the gastropore, and usually 
bear 1-4 dactylopore spines. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and usually bear a poorly-developed, 
granular ring palisade. Gastrostyles elongate- 
conical, with a sharp tip. Illustrated gastrostyle 
(Plate 42, a) 0.29 mm tall and 0.14 mm in diameter 
(H :W = 2.07); however, H : W ratios range from 1.8 
to 8.5 (Cairns 1983a). Upper third of gastrostyle 
bears large, smooth spines; lower section transversely 
ridged, the short ridges bearing small spines. 
Dactylopore spines of one type ? short, thick 
walled, and exclusively adcauline in orientation, 
which are uniformly distributed and never com- 
pound or laterally fused. Dactylopore spines 
0.07-0.15 mm tall and about 0.15 mm wide, with a 
dactylotome width of about 50 um. 
Female ampullae superficial hemispheres 0.5- 
0.6 mm in diameter on distal branches, transforming 
to internal cavities 0.32-0.37 mm in diameter as 
branch increases in diameter and incorporates the 
ampullae. Superficial ampullae on large-diameter 
branches not observed. Efferent pores never seen. 
Male ampullae also presumed to be internal. 
TYPES: The holotype and most para types are 
deposited at the USNM. A para type from Eltanin 
Stn 1975 is also deposited at the BM(NH) (see Cairns 
1983a). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Eltanin Stn 1975,54 30'S, 150 WE, off 
Macquarie Island; 443-549 m. 
REMARKS: Among the 23 Recent species of Errina, 
nine have lipped gastropores: E. cochleata Pourtales, 
1867; E. dabneyi Pourtales, 1871; E. macrogastra 
Marenzeller, 1904; E. altispina Cairns, 1986a; E. dendyi 
Hickson, 1912; E. cheilopora Cairns, 1983a; E. sinuosa 
n. sp.; E. reticulata n. sp. ; and E. bicolor n. sp., the 
last five of which occur in the New Zealand region. 
Errina cheilopora differs from its New Zealand 
congeners by having broad, elongate gastropore 
lips, which often bear 1-4 dactylopore spines; 
having a delicate growth form; and having a deep- 
water habit (198-1400 m). It is perhaps most similar 
to E. cochleata, known only from the Straits of Florida 
57 
at 194-534 m (Cairns 1983a), but differs in having 
linear-granular coenosteum (not linear-imbricate) 
and uniformly distributed gastropores (not restricted 
to anterior face and branch axils). 
Errina bicolor n. sp. (Plates 42, c-g,43, a-d) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. NZOI Stn S48, 1 
poorly-preserved branch fragment, NZOI. 
DISTRIBUTION: Continental shelf surrounding Auck- 
land Island, southeast Campbell Rise, south of South 
Island, and Macquarie Island; 95-625 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies fragile, uniplanar to slightly 
bushy, and small, one of the largest colonies (NZOI 
Stn D172) only 32.5 mm tall and 18.5 mm broad, 
with a basal branch diameter of 2.2 mm; however, 
basal branch diameters up to 4 mm occur on 
specimens from NZOI Stn B175. Colonies that 
remain attached to substrate extremely rare (only 3 
among the many specimens examined), but in each 
case the basal branch was attached to a small 
bryozoan-encrusted pebble 6-7 mm in diameter. 
Branching sparse, dichotomous, and equal, often 
resulting in branching axils of 90?; no branch 
ansatomosis. Branches slender and delicate, always 
circular in cross section, and taper to pointed tips 
0.75-0.80 mm in diameter. Commensal polychaetes 
absent; however, many colonies are partially 
encrusted by bryozoans and serpulids, and some 
have the attached gastropod Pedicularia. Coenosteum 
light orange or white, both colour forms usually 
present at each station; coenosteum porcellanous in 
well-preserved specimens. Light orange coral la 
usually have white gastropore lips, ampullae, distal 
branch tips, and branch cores. Coenosteal texture 
linear-granular, the strips 50-55 um wide and poorly 
defined by short coenosteal slits or pores 7-8 um 
wide. Rounded granules 3?4 jxm in diameter 
uniformly cover strips. 
Gastropores circular and 0.15-0.20 mm in diameter, 
each bordered by a small but distinct lower lip 
much like that of Errina reticulate. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and straight, lacking a ring palisade. 
Gastrostyles elongate-conical, the illustrated style 
(Plate 43, a, b) 0.27 mm tall and 0.10 mm in diameter 
(H : W = 2.7). Gastrostyles very similar to those of 
Errina reticulata ? transversely ridged, the ridges 
bearing small spines. 
Dactylopore spines of one type ? thick-walled, 
short, primarily adcauline-orientated spines, which 
are sparsely distributed and never compound or 
laterally fused.    Dactylopore spines only up to 
0.14 mm tall and about 0.20 mm wide, with a 
dactylotome width of about 55 |im. 
Female ampullae hemispherical, about 0.7 mm 
in diameter. Male ampullae appear to be partially 
submerged hemispheres, each about 0.6 mm in 
diameter. Uneqivocal distinction between male and 
female ampullae was not possible because the 
characteristic female efferent pores were never 
observed. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn D172,1 white col., NZOI 
H-575. Paratypes: NZOI Stn Bl 75, about 30 branches, 
NZOI P-862,10 branches and SEM stub 675, USNM 
60250; Stn D38, 1 col., and about 20 branches, 
NZOI P-863, 1 col. and 3 branches, USNM 85137; 
Stn D72,1 branch, NZOI P-864; Stn D133,1 branch, 
NZOI P-865; Stn Dl 48,4 branches, NZOI P-866; Stn 
D172, several hundred branches, NZOI P-867, 27 
branches and SEM stubs 590, 676, USNM 60249. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn D172, 51?00'S, 166?03'E, 
south of Auckland Island; 179 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name bicolor (from the Latin 
bicolor, two colours) refers to the orange and white 
coenosteal colours of the populations. 
REMARKS: Errina bicolor is characterised by its sparse, 
dichotomous, equal branching, which often results 
in 90? branch axils. No other species of Errina has 
such equal and symmetrical branching. Other 
distinctive characters are its relatively small gastro- 
pore lips and its two coenosteal colour morphs. 
Errina reticulata n. sp. (Plates 43, e, f, 44, a-f) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Macquarie Ridge and north of Auck- 
land Island; 79-145 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar and relatively small, 
one of the largest colonies (the holotype) only 4.5 cm 
tall and 5.4 cm broad, with a basal branch diameter 
of 6.5 mm. Branching dichotomous and unequal, 
the branches frequently fusing, forming reticulate 
flabella. Branches circular to elliptical in cross 
section, gradually attenuating to branch tips about 
0.9 mm in diameter. Commensal polychaetes not 
present. Coenosteum a delicate light orange, with 
white branch cores, dactylopore spine tips, and 
ampullae. Coenosteum linear-granular and some- 
what porcellanous on distal branches; coenosteum 
reticulate-granular on larger-diameter branches. 
58 
Coenosteal strips 45-60 urn wide, bordered by 
discontinuous slits about 3 urn wide and uniformly 
but sparsely covered with small, rounded granules 
3-4 urn in diameter. Basal branches often bear tall 
(up to 80 urn), slender, apically perforate papillae 
(Plate 44, b), the pores about 13 urn in diameter. 
Castro- and dactylopores most abundant on 
anterior branch faces and lacking on large-diameter 
branches. Gastropores circular (0.14-0.20 mm in 
diameter), each usually bordered by a prominent, 
broad, lower lip, which is usually broader than the 
gastropore and extends well above it (Plate 44, d). 
Gastropore lips best developed on small-diameter 
distal branches, but may be rudimentary or lacking 
on large-diameter branches. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and straight, the gastrostyle confined to 
the lower two -thirds of tube. Each gastropore tube 
contains a granular ring palisade similar to that 
described for Errina hicksoni. Gasrrostyles elongate- 
conical, the illustrated example (Plate 44, e) 0.35 mm 
tall and 0.10 mm in diameter (H : W = 3.5). Castro 
styles transversely ridged, the ridges bearing small 
spines, in general, very similar to those of Errina 
bicolor. 
Dactylopore spines of one type ? thick walled, 
relatively tall and narrow, and primarily adcauline 
in orientation; dactylopore spines occasionally com- 
pound and laterally fused into short tiers. Dactylopore 
spines up to 0.36 mm tall and about 0.18 mm wide, 
with a dactylotome width of approximately 50 urn 
Female ampullae hemispherical, 0.60-0.65 mm 
in external diameter and 0.50-0.55 mm in internal 
diameter. Female efferent pores about 0.11 mm in 
diameter, but rarely observed. Male ampullae 
unknown. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn D18,1 female col., NZOI 
H-576. Para types: NZOI Stn D17, several dozen 
colonies and several hundred branches, NZOI P- 
868, about 50 branches, USNM 60248; Stn D18, 
several dozen col. and many branches, NZOI P-869, 
23 col. and SEM stubs 591-592, 677, USNM 60247; 
Stn D20,5 branches, NZOI P-870; Stn D148,1 col., 
NZOI P-871; Eltanin Stn 1417,4 col. and branches, 
USNM 59908. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn D18, 5231'S, 16031'E, 
Macquarie Ridge north of Macquarie Island; 128 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name reticulata (from the 
Latin reticulwn, net, network) refers to the net-like 
growth form of its colonies, consisting of closely 
spaced, often anastomosing branches. 
REMARKS: Errina reticulata is easily distinguished from 
other species of lipped Errina by its reticulate orange 
corallum; occasionally compound dactylopore spines; 
and its gastropore-rube ring palisades. It is more 
easily confused with Errina hicksoni (a species without 
lips), both species having reticulate orange coralla; 
ring palisades; and a similar depth range. However, 
in addition to having gastropore lips, E. reticulata 
differs in having a more delicate colony and being 
geographically isolated from E. hicksoni (Macquarie 
Ridge vs Bounty Plateau). 
Errina dendyi Hickson, 1912 new rank 
(Frontispiece; Plates 44, g-i, 45, a-f) 
Errina   (Labiopora)   novae-zelandiae  fades   Dendyi 
Hickson, 1912 : 883, pi. 94, fig. 4. 
Errina (Eu-Errina) novae-zelandiae: Broch 1942 :51-53 
(in part: fades Dendyi). 
Errina (Eu-Errina) rubra Broch, 1942 : 46-48, pi. 4, 
fig. 13, text-fig. 13. 
Errina novae-zelandiae fades dendyi: Boschma 1953 : 
167. 
Errina rubra: Boschma 1953 :167; 1957 :57;  Cairns 
1983b: 428. 
Errina novae-zelandiae: Boschma 1957: 56 (in part: 
fades dendyi). 
? Errina novaezelandiae: Grange et at, 1981 : fig. 4g; 
Richardson 1981 : fig. 1. 
Errina novaezealandiae [sic] facies dendeyi [sic]: Cairns 
1983b: 428. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn E305,1 frag, (orange), 
NZOI; Stn E312, 2 branches (orange), NZOI; Stn 
E337,1 branch (orange), NZOI; Stn E845,2 branches 
(orange), NZOI; Stn E861, 1 col. and 2 branches 
(orange), NZOI, 1 col., USNM 85138; Stn E865, 1 
col. and 1 branch (orange), NZOI; Stn M794,1 col. 
(salmon-orange), NZOI, branch fragment and SEM 
stub 683, USNM 85139; Stn Q741,1 col. (salmon- 
orange), NZOI, 1 col., USNM 85140; Long Sound, 
depth unknown, 1 col. (light pink), NZOI; Hall 
Arm, Doubtful Sound, 20 m, 2 red colonies, USNM 
76300; Gut Passage, between Bauza Island and Sec- 
retary Island, mouth of Doubtful Sound, 30 m, 2 
pale yellow col., USNM 76301; Wet Jacket Arm 
between Dusky and Breaksea Sounds, 30 m, 3 pale 
yellow col. and SEM stubs 587, 680, USNM 76302; 
Terra Nova Stn 90, 1 branch, BM(NH) 1950.3.16.91; 
fragment of holotype of E. dendyi, BM(NH) 
1964.9.17.1, SEM stub 684, USNM 85784; syntypes 
of E. rubra from Cape Maria van Diemen, 2 branches, 
ZMC. 
DISTRIBUTION: Throughout Fiordland, South Island 
(17-30 m) and Three Kings and Norfolk Ridges; 
91-318 m. 
59 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar to bushy, and 
relatively large, the largest corallum (USNM 76301) 
10 cm tall and 8 cm broad, with a basal branch 
diameter of 5.6 x 5.0 mm. Many colonies from off 
Fiordland attached to anterior dorsal valve of a 
living brachiopod by a thin, expansive base; deeper- 
water northern populations less delicate and often 
attached to antiparharians. Basal branch short, divid- 
ing into 2-4 main branches only millimetres above 
the base; thereafter branching is dichotomous and 
unequal; no branch anastomosis. Colony and 
branches quite fragile, distal branches attenuating 
to diameters as small as 0.35 mm; however, deeper- 
water northern populations slightly more robust. 
Branches round in cross section and dense in 
structure; no polychaete commensals known. 
Coenosteum variable in colour, including salmon- 
orange (e.g., syntypes of E, dendyi), light pink, red 
(e.g., a syn type of E. rubra) and pale yellow, the 
ampullae usually a darker shade of yellow and the 
dactylopore spines and branch tips a lighter shade 
of colour. One colony (USNM 76300) is pre- 
dominantly orange but has one medium-sized white 
branch. Coenosteal texture linear-granular, the 
relatively narrow strips 32-45 um wide and bordered 
by broad discontinuous slits 8-10 |im wide. Coeno- 
steal granules round, 6-8 um in diameter, and 
concentrated near coenosteal slits, resulting in 
relatively smooth coenosteal strips. 
Castro- and dactylopores concentrated on 
terminal and subterminal, small-diameter branches; 
few, if any, pores occur on large-diameter branches. 
Gastropores circular and small (0.18-0.22 mm in 
diameter), each bordered by a prominent, straight 
lower lip that projects well above the gastropore at 
a 45? angle from the coenosteum. Gastropore lips 
invariably present on terminal branch gastropores 
but less common and/or prominent on gastropores 
on large-diameter branches. Gastropore tubes 
cylindrical and potentially quite long; no ring pali- 
sades. Gastrostyles elongate but no tabulae were 
noted; illustrated gastrostyle (Plate 45, a) 0.75 mm 
long and 0.09 mm in diameter (H :W = 8.4), although 
shorter styles are not uncommon (e.g., H : W of 
3-5). Gastrostyles unridged but covered with rather 
long, individualised spines up to 30 um long. 
Dactylopore spines of only one type ? thick- 
walled, low, exclusively adcauline-orientated spines 
that are never compound. Dactylopore spines rarely 
over 0.2 mm tall and 0.13^0.17 mm wide, with a 
dactylotome wide of 40-50 fim. 
Female ampullae hemispherical, 0.62-0.80 mm 
in diameter, often bearing several dactylopore spines. 
Female efferent pores rarely observed, 0.10-0.11 mm 
in diameter and often accompanied by a short efferent 
tube. Male ampullae also superficial hemispheres 
0.50-0.55 mm in diameter, with tiny lateral efferent 
pores each about 40 um in diameter. Both types of 
ampullae abundant on terminal branches, often 
clustered in groups on both anterior and posterior 
branch faces. 
TYPES: The holotype of Errina novaezelandiae fades 
dendyi is presumed to be deposited at the Man- 
chester Museum (Boschma #139). A fragment of 
the holotype is also deposited at the BM(NH) num- 
bered 1964.9.17.1 and another fragment is at the 
USNM (SEM stub 684, USNM 85784). 
The syntypes of E. rubra are deposited at the 
Zoological Museum of Copenhagen (Plate 44, i). 
TYPE LOCALITIES: Errina dendyi: Milford Sound, South 
Island, depth unknown; E. rubra: Between Cape 
Maria van Diemen and Three Kings Islands, 91- 
119 m. 
REMARKS: Errina dendyi is quite variable in both 
coenosteal colour and growth form. The speci- 
mens available for analysis show a disjunct 
bathymetric and geographic distribution of: 
Fiordland, 17-30 m and the ridges north of North 
Island, 91-318 m. The shallow-water Fiordland 
specimens are large and delicate; red, orange, or 
pale yellow to white in colour; and often attached 
to brachiopod valves. The deeper-water, northern 
populations, which include the types of E. rubra, are 
smaller, slightly more robust specimens; orange or 
red in colour; and often attached to antipatharian 
axes. All specimens have in common distinct 
gastropore lips that project at a 45* angle to the 
coenosteum; relatively slender distal branches; and 
short, exclusively adcauline-orientated dactylopore 
spines. 
Stylaster Gray, 1831 
Castro- and dactylopores arranged in cyclosystems, 
which are variable in location, ranging from uniformly 
distributed on all branch surfaces (Group A) to a 
strictly sympodial arrangement (Group C), with 
many intermediate arrangements (Group B). 
Coenosteal colour and texture variable: the common- 
est textures reticulate-granular and linear-imbricate. 
Castro- and dactylostyles present. Gastrostyles 
usually ridged and highly spinose; dactylostyles 
may be quite robust (Group A) or rudimentary 
(Groups B and C). Well-developed, annular ring 
palisades usually present; gastropore inner shelf 
often present in species of Group C.   Ampullae 
60 
usually superficial with lateral or apical efferent 
pores, but in some species internal, with efferent 
pores opening into adjacent gastropore. 
TYPE SPECIES: Madrepom rosea Pallas, 1766, by sub- 
sequent designation (Milne Edwards and Haime 
1850b) 
REMARKS: Stylasler is a highly variable genus com- 
posed of 82 valid species, i.e., about one-third of the 
species in the family. In order to facilitate comparison 
among species, the genus was divided (Cairns 1983b) 
into three groups of species based primarily on the 
location of cyclosystems on the branches, designated 
as Group A (currently 24 species, "AHopora"), Group 
B (19 species), and Group C (39 species). These 
group designations have no taxonomic status and 
are usually (but not always) mutually exclusive for 
any species. However, an example of a species that 
does not fit exclusively into any group is Stylaster 
brunneus, specimens of which could be placed in 
any of the three groups, its growth form and 
cyclosystem arrangement apparently dependent on 
degree of water turbulence. Of the four remaining 
New Zealand species of Stylaster, one belongs to 
Group A and three to Group C. 
Characters of value in distinguishing species 
within the genus are tabularised by Cairns (1986a) 
and in Table 5. To reiterate, six useful characters 
are: location of cyclosystems; coenosteal colour 
(although this is often variable) and texture; 
gastropore tube shape; presence or absence of a 
ring palisade; average number of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem; and cyclosystem diameter. 
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan; 0.5-1485 m (Cairns 
1991b). 
Stylaster eguchii (Boschma, 1966) 
(Plates 46, a-g, 47, a, b) 
Allopora bithalamus: Eguchi 1964 : 7-9, pi. 1, figs 
la-d. 
Allopora eguchii Boschma, 1966 : 109-112, pi. 1, figs 
6-8, text-figs 1-2;   Boschma & Lowe, 1969 :15, 
pi. 5, map 3; Vervoort & Zibrowius, 1981 :29-30; 
Cairns 1983a : 143-146, figs 41C, 46A-G, 47A-C. 
Stylaster eguchii; Cairns 1983b : 429. 
Calyptopora reticulata: Cairns 1983a: 151 (in part: 
NZOI Stn A910). 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Southern form: NZOI Stn A734, 
3 col., NZOI; Stn A744, 1 col., NZOI; Stn A745,4 
col., USNM 60261; Stn C734,8 col., NZOI; Stn D6, 
1 col., NZOI; Stn D17, over 10 col., NZOI, 2 col., 
USNM 85141; Stn D18,1 col., NZOI, SEM stub 603 
(USNM); Stn D20, over 10 col., NZOI; Stn D37, 3 
col., NZOI; Stn D39, over 50 col., NZOI, 7 col., 
USNM 85142; Stn D76,5 col., NZOI, 2 col. and SEM 
stub 604, USNM 85143; Stn D145, 4 col., NZOI, 1 
col., USNM 85144; Stn D149,1 branch, NZOI; Stn 
D153, 3 col., NZOI; Stn D176,12 col., NZOI, 3 col. 
and SEM stub 601, USNM 85145; Stn E234, 2 
branches, NZOI; Stn El 32, 1 branch, NZOI; Stn 
S25,8 col., NZOI; Stn S29,3 col., NZOI; Stn S46,1 
col., NZOI; Stn S53,3 col., NZOI; Eltanin Stn 1411, 
over 30 col., USNM 60096. Northern form: NZOI 
Stn A846, 2 col., NZOI; Stn A910, over 20 col., 
NZOI 4 col., USNM 60255; Stn A917,1 col., NZOI; 
Stn B487, 12 col., NZOI; Stn B488, 4 col., NZOI, 
SEM stub 605A (USNM); Stn B489, 10 col., NZOI; 
Stn B491,2 col., NZOI; Stn C617,31 col., NZOI; Stn 
C618, 7 col., NZOI; Stn C896, 1 col., NZOI; Stn 
D159, 2 col., NZOI; Stn D877, 1 col., NZOI; Stn 
D899, 1 col., NZOI; Stn E147, 1 col., NZOI; Stn 
E804, 12 col., NZOI; Stn E821, 4 col., NZOI; Stn 
E822,16 col., NZOI, 4 col. and SEM stubs 602,605B, 
USNM 86940; Stn E855, 1 col., NZOI; Stn E861,1 
col., NZOI; Stn 1717, 3 col., NZOI; Stn 1721, 3 col., 
NZOI; Stn J55, 20 col., NZOI, 4 col., USNM 86941; 
Stn J59, 5 col., NZOI; Stn K825, 1 col., NZOI; Stn 
Q25,5 col., NZOI; Stn Q38,1 col., NZOI. Shallow- 
water form: NZOI Stn M794, 2 col., NZOI; Stn 
Q749,2 col., NZOI, 1 col., USNM 86942; Stn Q754, 
2 col., NZOI. Other Material Examined: Paralectotype 
of A. eguchii from BANZARE Stn 34, RMNH Coel. 
13901. 
DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in New Zealand region, 
particularly off southwest South Island, and the 
islands and plateaus south and east of South Island, 
including Macquarie Ridge, Campbell and Bounty 
Plateaus, and Chatham Rise. Also known from 
Norfolk and Kermadec Ridges and off continental 
Antarctica {see Cairns 1983a); 15-1485 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies variable in shape; however, 
deep-water specimens invariably uniplanar, 
shallow-water specimens bushy. Colonies firmly 
attached to small pebbles and rocks; largest specimen 
examined (Eltanin Stn 1411) 8.5 cm tall and 8.0 cm 
broad, with a basal branch diameter of 17.1 x 7.5 mm. 
Branching dichotomous and unequal; branch 
anastomosis common. Virtually all colonies, except 
those from shallow water, live in association with a 
commensal polychaete, which causes the stylasterid 
to produce large, flattened tubes along its main 
branches. Worm tubes approximately 3.6 x 2.2 mm 
in  internal  diameter;  tubes  open  distally  and 
61 
proximally as well as along their edges via elongate 
slits 0.1-0.2 mm wide and 4-5 mm long. Worm 
tubes restricted to posterior faces (by definition), 
the coenosteum forming the tubes relatively smooth. 
Branches circular in cross section unless modified 
by a polychaete, in which case they are rectangular 
in cross section. Branches vary in robustness, often 
in relation to cyclosystem diameter (see Remarks on 
forms). Coenosteum white, dense, and reticulate- 
granular in texture. Strips 50-80 urn wide, bordered 
by deep slits about 10 urn wide, and covered with 
irregularly-shaped granules 3.5-10 urn in diameter. 
Whereas cyclosystems on slender distal branches 
are often sympodial in arrangement, cyclosystems 
are usually uniformly distributed on anterior and 
lateral faces of larger-diameter branches. Posterior 
faces modified by the polychaete tube usually 
lack cyclosystems. Cyclosystems circular to slightly 
elliptical in shape and bimodal in size range (see 
Remarks on forms), ranging from 0.8-1.4 mm in 
diameter. Cyclosystems flush to slightly exsert as 
much as 1 mm above coenosteum. Based on 31 
cyclosystems, the range of dactylopores per cyclo- 
system was 6-10, average 14.51 (a = 0.99), and 
mode 8 (Cairns 1983a). Boschma (1966) reported a 
range of 5-16 dactylopores per cyclosystem. 
Gastropores circular to slightly elliptical and very 
large: 0.35-0.60 mm in diameter. Gastropore tubes 
long (as much as 2.4 mm deep) and cylindrical, 
usually straight but sometimes slightly curved. 
Gastrostyles occupy lower one-fourth to one-third 
of gastropore tubes; gastrostyle tips easily visible in 
intact gastropore tube, facilitated by the lack of a 
ring palisade and the large gastropore tube. Viewed 
from above, gastrostyles often appear to be laterally 
compressed. Gastrostyles variable in shape, ranging 
from lanceolate to short and squat, with H : W ratios 
of 1.0-2.5. Style covered with tall, slender, multi- 
tipped spines, which are laterally fused along 
meandering ridges. Dactylotomes 0.10-0.16 mm 
wide and extend only a short distance into gastro- 
pore tube. Pseudosepta 1-2 times dactylotome width, 
with slightly convex upper surfaces; diastemas rare. 
Dactylostyles conspicuous, composed of a medial, 
unilinear to bilinear row of tall, blunt, cylindrical 
elements up to 75 um tall and 9-14 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae low, superficial mounds 
approximately 0.7 mm in external diameter and 
0.5 mm in internal diameter. Female ampullae 
invariably located directly adjacent to cyclo- 
systems, their efferent pores leading into the upper 
cavity of the closest gastropore tube, each tube 
receiving one or two efferent pores apiece. Female 
efferent pores large and circular; 0.21-0.24 mm in 
diameter. The internal female efferent pores explain 
why Cairns (1983a) overlooked them in his account 
of this species. Male ampullae small, low, often 
clustered mounds approximately 0.1 mm high, about 
035 mm in external diameter, and only about 0.2 mm 
in internal diameter. Each male ampulla has one 
apical efferent pore 40-50 um in diameter. 
TYPES: The lectotype and paralectotype, designated 
by Vervoort and Zibrowius (1981), are deposited at 
the RMNH: Coel. 13753 and 13901, respectively. 
TYPE LOCALITY: BANZARE Srn 34, 66?21'S, 58?50E, 
off Cape Boothby, Kemp Coast, Antarctica; 603 m. 
REMARKS: In this study, S. eguchii was the most 
frequently collected species, obtained from 51 
stations. Three forms of the species, none implying 
nomenclatural distinction, can be distinguished 
among the specimens: a southern (robust, typical) 
form, a northern (delicate) form, and a shallow- 
water form. Specimens of the southern, or typical, 
form ? described by Boschma (1966), Eguchi (1964), 
and Cairns (1983a) ? are robust, with thick, often 
anastomosing branches and large cyclosystems 1,2- 
1.45 mm in diameter. It occurs only south of 49?30'S 
at depths of 124-1335 m. The northern form has a 
more delicate colony with more slender, rarely 
anastomosing branches, and has smaller cyclo- 
systems 0.8-1.15 mm in diameter. It occurs north 
of 49 303 at depths of 95-1485 m. The third, shallow- 
water form is only known from several specimens 
from the fiords of southeast South Island at depths 
of 15-42 m. It is similar to the northern form in 
having small cyclosystems and a delicate growth 
form, but is characterised by having a bushy corallum, 
slightly exsert pseudosepta, and in lacking a 
polychaete commensal. 
Although the location of the cyclosystems on 
distal branches of S. eguchii is often sympodial 
(Group C), cyclosystems are, in general, uniformly 
distributed on branches. Stylaster eguchii is therefore 
relegated to Stylaster Group A. It is distinguished 
from all other species of Stylaster by the unique 
character of having its female efferent pores 
opening into adjacent gastropore tubes. It can be 
further differentiated from the four other New 
Zealand species in Table 5. 
Stylaster brunneus Boschma, 1970 
(Cover; Plates 47, c-g, 48, a-g) 
Stylaster brunneus Boschma, 1970 :154-158, pis 1-2, 
text-figs 1-3; Vervoort & Zibrowius 1981 : 24, 
31; Cairns 1983b : 430. 
62 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn 185,1 male, 1 female 
col., NZOI, branches and SEM stubs 612-613, USNM 
86943; Stn 187,1 female col., NZOI, SEM stub 600B 
(USNM); Stn PI8, 8 female col. and branches, 
NZOI, 1 col., USNM 86944; Stn P19, 1 male col., 
NZOI, 1 col. and SEM stubs 600A, 686, USNM 
86945; Stn P23,1 col., NZOI; Stn P49,1 col., NZOI; 
north side of Norfolk Island, 15-20 m, 7 Nov. 1987, 
1 male col., WAM 551-87; Norfolk I., 91-108 m, 1 
female col., AM G15282; Norfolk L, Crystal Pool, 1 
male col., AM G15280; Balls Pyramid, 15 m, 1 male 
and 1 female col., AM G15281; North Islet of Balls 
Pyramid, 30 m, 1 male col., AM G15279; 1 frag, of 
paratype, USNM 76880. 
DISTRIBUTION: Off Kuare Island and Noumea, southern 
New Caledonia; off Norfolk and Philip Islands, 
Norfolk Ridge; Balls Pyramid, Lord Howe Islands; 
15-290 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar to slightly bushy, 
robust, and of fairly large size, the largest speci- 
men examined (NZOI Stn 185) 21 cm tall and 24 cm 
broad, with a basal branch diameter of 23 x 
27 mm. Colonies from deeper water (e.g., NZOI 
Stns 185,187; 89-290 m) have tall, delicate, uniplanar 
coralla with exclusively sympodially arranged 
cyclosystems, whereas shallow-water specimens 
have shorter, more massive coralla with cyclo- 
systems uniformly distributed on all branch surfaces. 
Larger-diameter main branches divide dichoto- 
mously and equally, often producing 90? axils (Plate 
47, c); however, many smaller-diameter branchlets 
originate from the main branch with regularity. 
Branches and branchlets relatively straight, not 
affected by sympodial arrangement of cyclosystems; 
branch anastomosis absent. Branches bluntly tipped. 
Coenosteum dense and usually light to dark 
brown, the darker colonies usually having pale 
brown to white branch tips, pseudosepta, ampul- 
lae, and coenosteal slits (all areas of rapid growth). 
The deepest-collected colony, however, (NZOI 
Stn 185,290 m) has a pure white corallum. Primary 
coenosteal texture linear-imbricate, the strips 
60-70 Jim wide and bordered by narrow slits about 
5 um wide. Platelets flat, each one extending 
across entire strip; leading platelet edges 
irregular in shape. Secondarily the platelets are 
covered by a ^granular stereome, an example of this 
transition shown in Plate 48, b. No polychaete 
commensals observed. 
There is great variation in the arrangement of 
cyclosystems. As mentioned before, in some deep- 
water colonies (e.g., NZOI Stns 185, 187) cyclo- 
systems are exclusively sympodially arranged on 
lateral branch edges (Group C); in other colonies 
(e.g., NZOI Stn P18) the arrangement is primarily 
sympodial but with additional cyclosystems on 
the branch faces (Group B); and in still other 
colonies (e.g., NZOI Stn P23) cyclosystems are 
uniformly arranged on all branch surfaces (Group 
A). Cyclosystem arrangement thus appears to be 
determined by the environment and probably 
strongly influenced by water turbulence. Cyclo- 
systems circular to slightly elliptical and small, 
ranging from 0.8 to 1.1 mm in greater diameter. 
Smaller cyclosystems are more common on larger- 
diameter branches. Cyclosystems usually project 
perpendicular to coenosteum about 0.3-0.4 mm. 
Based on 200 cyclosystems, the range of dactylo- 
pores per cyclosystem was 9-20, average 14.51, and 
mode 15 (Boschma 1970). 
Gastropores circular to slightly elliptical; 0.24- 
0.30 mm in diameter. Gastropore tubes long and 
cylindrical, sometimes slightly curved, and slightly 
flared at the gastropore; gastropore tubes as much 
as 1.7 mm deep (Boschma 1970), the gastrostyle 
occupying only basal one-third to one-quarter of 
tube. Upper half of gastropore tube covered with 
linear-imbricate coenosteum, the strips running in 
a circle within the tube. A discrete, annular ring 
palisade occurs at two-thirds gastrostyle height, 
composed of pillow-shaped elements up to 40 urn 
in diameter and 25 urn tall. Gastrostyles cylindrical 
to lanceolate, ranging from 0.33 to 0.49 mm tall 
and from 0.07 to 0.15 mm in diameter, with H : W 
ratios of 2-4,5; tabulae sometimes present. Lower 
third of gastrostyles (basal main shaft) coarsely 
ridged but nonspinose. Upper portion of gastro- 
styles bears robust, smooth, sharp spines up to 
20 um long. Dactylotomes uniform in width, 65- 
75 um; pseudosepta equal to or wider than dactylo- 
tomes, 75-150 um. Diastemas absent. Dactylostyles 
conspicuous in undamaged cyclosystems, composed 
of a medial, unilinear series of tall, blunt, cylin- 
drical elements, each approximately 37-40 um tall 
and 9-10 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae superficial hemispheres 0.60- 
0.75 mm in diameter, each mature ampulla having 
one spongy lateral efferent pore 0.10-0.18 mm in 
diameter. Male ampullae partially to totally 
internal (0.3-0.4 mm in diameter), each bearing 1-3 
apical efferent pores 25-35 um in diameter. Both 
male and female ampullae often clustered on 
branch faces. 
TYPES: Holotype deposited at the ZMA (Coel. 5564). 
Para types deposited at the ZMA and RMNH (see, 
Vervoort and Zibrowius 1981); one paratype frag- 
ment at USNM (USNM 76880, ex RMNH 6597). 
63 
TYPE LOCALITY: Kuare Island, south of New Caledonia 
(see Vervoort and Zibrowius 1981); 35 m. 
REMARKS: AS stated in the generic remarks, the 
variation in cyclosystem orientation among 
specimens of S. brunneus allows it to be placed in 
any of the three groups of Stylaster described by 
Cairns (1983b). Boschma (1970) distinguished this 
species by its brown coenosteum, which he stated 
to be unique among the Stylasteridae. This may be 
true; however, specimens are herein reported 
that also have white coenosteum, so this 
character cannot be used exclusively to dis- 
tinguish the species. Other than colour, S. brunneus 
can be distinguished from the other New Zealand 
stylasterids by a combination of characters (Table 
5) ? having large coralla, linear-imbricate coeno- 
steum, and lacking a polychaete commensal. 
Stylaster horologium n, sp,   (Plates 49, a-g, 50, a-c) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Southern Norfolk Ridge and off Three 
Kings Islands; 179-1169 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar to slightly bushy, 
heavily branched, and relatively small; largest 
colony (holotype) 44 mm tall and 41 mm broad, 
with a broken basal branch 5.0 mm in diameter. 
No polychaete commensal known. Branching 
dichotomous, unequal, and closely spaced, but rarely 
anastomosing. Coenosteum white, dense, and 
reticulate-granular in texture. Coenosteal strips 
55-65 urn wide, bordered by deep slits about 10 um 
wide. Strips densely covered with tall, slender 
spines up to 13 um tall, some projecting laterally 
into the coenosteal slits, altogether giving the 
coenosteum a rough texture. 
Cyclosystems exclusively sympodially arranged 
on branch edges, those on the edges of large- 
diameter branches obsolete and often sealed with 
coenosteum. Cyclosystems circular, elliptical, or 
irregular in shape, ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 mm in 
greater diameter. Based on 50 cyclosystems, the 
range of dactylopores per cyclosystem was 8-18, 
average 11.70 (a = 3.1), and mode 11. 
Gastropore tubes complex in structure, but, in 
general, resembling an hourglass, consisting of 
three sections. Upper tube a broad, open, infundi- 
buliform chamber approximately 0.50-0.55 mm in 
upper diameter and narrowing to 0.15-0.22 mm 
in diameter basally. Upper section about 0.4 mm 
deep and bears same texture as coenosteum. Below 
upper chamber is a short intermediate tube 
0.15-0.22 mm in diameter and about 0.25 mm long, 
which basally widens into a roughly spherical 
lower chamber 0.40-0.45 mm in diameter. The 
massive gastrostyle base occupies the spherical 
lower chamber, its apical spine projecting through 
the intermediate tube and about 0.1 mm into upper 
infundibuliform chamber, its tip therefore easily 
visible in an intact cyclosystem. Gastrostyles variable 
in shape, those from the holotype having a thick 
basal section about 0.4 mm in diameter and 0.3 mm 
tall, surmounted by a tall apical spine up to 0.5 mm 
high and 0.1 mm in basal diameter. Gastrostyles of 
specimens from other stations more regularly 
conical, but also have sharp tips that project 
through the narrow intermediate chamber. Gastro- 
styles covered with robust, sharp spines up to 25 urn 
tall. Dactylotomes 75-85 um wide; pseudosepta 
1-2 times dactylotome width; diastemas often 
present, up to 2-4 times dactylotome width. 
Dactylostyles robust, composed of 2 or 3 contigu- 
ous rows of tall, cylindrical, blunt elements up to 
50 um tall and about 12 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae superficial hemispheres up to 
1.1 mm in diameter, each with a lateral efferent 
pore 0.20-0.25 mm in diameter. Female ampullae 
bear low reticulate ridges. Male ampullae small, 
primarily internal, ellipsoidal cavities about 0.36 x 
0.21-0.25 mm in diameter, the greater axis of the 
ellipse perpendicular to coenosteal surface. 
Upper third of ampulla (about 0.15 mm) rises above 
coenosteal surface as a small mound, each with 
1 apical efferent pore 15-25 um in diameter. 
Both male and female ampullae scattered uniformly 
over branches. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn 5856,1 female col., NZOI 
H-577, fragment of holotype and SEM stub 611, 
USNM 87523. Paratypes: NZOI Stn E845, 1 male 
col., NZOI P-872, SEM stub 610 (USNM); Stn E846, 
4 male and 2 female col., NZOI P-973, 1 male, 1 
female col. and SEM stub 688, USNM 87522. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn E856, 32?11'S, 16818'E, 
southern Norfolk Ridge; 1157-1169 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name horologium (from the 
Greek horologion, clock, hourglass) is an allusion to 
the hourglass shape of the gastropore tubes of this 
species. 
REMARKS: Stylaster horologium clearly belongs to 
Stylaster (Group C) as defined by Cairns (1983b). It 
is easily distinguished from other New Zealand 
Stylaster (Table 5) by having a very coarse, reticulate- 
64 
granular coenosteal texture, and massive gastrostyle 
bases each surmounted by a tall apical spine. The 
hourglass shape of the gastropore tube is also 
distinctive. 
Stylaster imbricatus n. sp. (Plate 51, a-h) 
MATERIAL EX^CNED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Southern Norfolk Ridge; Three Kings 
Ridge; off northeast North Island; 128-665 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar, sparsely branched, 
and relatively small, the largest corallum (NZOI 
Stn E845) 45 mm tall with a basal branch diameter 
of 6.2 mm; holotype 33 mm tall and 18 mm broad, 
with a basal branch diameter of 5.5 mm. Colony 
shape strongly influenced by commensal poly- 
chaetes, which, in every corallum examined, 
induced the coral to form a large, flattened, some- 
times branched gall. Polychaete tubes thick walled, 
up to 5.6 x 2.0 mm in internal diameter, constituting 
most of posterior face (by definition) of colony; 
tube open apically and along lateral edges via 
slender, elongate slits about 0.1 mm wide and up to 
5 mm long. Colonies usually composed of only 1 or 
2 main branches from which relatively short 
branchlets diverge; branch anastomosis absent. 
Coenosteum dense, smooth, and white or light 
orange in colour, colonies of the latter usually 
having white branch tips and colony bases. Based 
on the limited specimens available, populations 
appear to exist as white or orange forms, or as 
mixed populations. Coenosteum originally linear 
to reticulate-imbricate, the platelet structure 
secondarily obscured by a relatively smooth 
coenosteum covered with very low, smooth granules, 
resulting in a porcellanous texture. Coenosteal 
strips 50-80 um wide, separated by narrow slits 
3-4 urn wide Platelets continuous across a strip; 
polarity of platelets changes periodically. 
Cyclosystems exclusively sympodially arranged 
on short terminal branches, but less regularly on 
larger-diameter, polychaete-modified branches. 
Cyclosystems well defined, circular to irregularly 
shaped, and moderately exsert; 0.9-1.3 mm in 
diameter. Based on 100 cyclosystems, the range of 
dactylopores per cyclosystem was 7-20, average 
13.0, and mode 13. 
Gastropores circular, 0.35-0.41 mm in diameter. 
Gastropore rubes long (as deep as 2.0 mm), straight, 
and cylindrical, each bearing a well-developed, 
annular ring palisade low in tube at approximately 
two-thirds   gastrostyle   height.      Ring   palisade 
effectively reduces diameter of gastropore tube by 
0.1 mm by creating a solid, circumferential ledge 
about 50 (im wide surrounding gastrostyle tip. 
Elements of ring palisade closely spaced, 
irregularly shaped spheres 40-50 um in diameter. 
Gastrostyles conical, occupying only lower one-fifth 
of gastropore tube, their tips projecting through 
and above the ring palisade about 0.1 mm. Illus- 
trated gastrostyle (Plate 50, g) 0.40 mm tall and 
0.23 mm in basal diameter (H : W = 1.74), and 
covered with tall, slender, sharp spines up to 45 urn 
long. Dactylotomes 0.09-0.13 mm wide; pseudosepta 
1-2 times dactylotome width; narrow adcauline 
diastemas about 3 times dactylotome width rare. 
Dactylostyles conspicuous, composed of a unilinear 
series of tall, blunt pillars up to 40 am tall and 
10 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae low, superficial bulges (rarely 
hemispheres) up to 1.1 mm in diameter, each 
having a lateral efferent pore 0.15-0.27 mm in 
diameter. Because of the low profile of female 
ampullae, their efferent pores are often orientated 
obliquely (upward) instead of perpendicular to 
surface. Concave depressions 0.8-0.9 mm in diameter 
resulting from ruptured female ampullae are 
sometimes present. Female ampullae scattered over 
branch faces and worm tube. Male ampullae 
primarily internal, but easily seen in a transverse 
fracture of a cyclosystem as a circumferential ring 
of 7-9 ampullae surrounding a gastropore tube 
0.8-1.0 mm below gastropore. Male ampullae also 
occur within polychaete tube coenosteum and 
uniformly on branch coenosteum. Occasionally 
small superficial bulges correspond to the internal 
ampullae but efferent pores were not observed. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn E861, 1 female col. 
(orange), NZOI H-578, SEM stub 609 (USNM). 
Paratypes: NZOI Stn C814, 1 female col. (white), 
NZOI P-874; Stn E720,2 col., (white) NZOI P-875, 
2 col. (white) USNM 87524; Stn E845, 1 male col. 
(orange), 1 female col. (white), NZOI P-876, SEM 
stub 614 (USNM); Stn E846, 1 male col. (orange), 
NZOI P-877; Stn F928, 2 female col. (white), NZOI 
P-878; Stn G941, 1 female col., NZOI P-879, 1 
female col. and SEM stub 615, USNM 87525; Stn 
J691, 1 female col. (white), NZOIP-880; Stn S571, 
8 male and 5 female col. (orange and white), NZOI 
P-881, 2 male, 2 female col., and SEM stubs 608 A, 
687, USNM 87526; Stn S572, 4 female and 2 male 
col. (white), NZOI P-882, 1 male, 1 female col., 
and SEM stub 608B (white), USNM 87527; Eltanin 
Stn 1716, 1 female col. (white), USNM 76697; 
unknown Eltanin station, 1 female col. (white), USNM 
76719. 
65 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn E86,32*25'S, 16735'E, south- 
ern Norfolk Ridge; 318-383 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name imbricatus (from the 
Latin imbricatus, placed like tiles) refers to the dis- 
tinctive primary imbricate coenosteal texture of 
the species. 
REMARKS: Stylaster imbricatus clearly belongs to 
Stylaster (Group C) as defined by Cairns (1983b). It 
is distinguished from the other New Zealand 
congeners by its smooth to linear-imbricate 
coenosteum, which is often light orange in colour 
(Table 5). Other diagnostic characters are its 
commensal polychaete association and the tendency 
for its male ampullae to be partially internal and to 
surround gastropores. 
? Stylastergracilis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850 
(Plate 52, a-g) 
Stylaster gracilis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850a : 
98, pi. 3, fig. 4; Moseley 1881 :81 (Challenger Stn 
170); Broch 1936 : 26-29, pi. 1, fig. 4; Boschma 
1957 : 11-12 (synonymy); Eguchi 1968 : 21-23, 
pi. 13, figs 1-10 (synonymy). 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Challenger Stn 170,1 specimen, 
BM(NH) 1880.11.25.190 and SEM stub 707 (USNM); 
NZOIStnU594,4col. 
DISTRIBUTION:   Kermadec and Three Kings Ridges; 
406-951 m. 
DESCRIPTION OF KERMADEC ISLANDS SPECIMEN (CHALLENGER 
STN 170): Colony fragment bushy, 45 mm tall and 
24 mm broad. Polychaete commensal not present 
but several Pedicularia deposits were present. 
Branching dichotomous, unequal, and non- 
anastomosing. Branches straight (not zigzag), 
circular in cross section, attenuating to slender tips 
0.65-0.75 mm in diameter. Coenosteum a light 
orange-pink, with white branch tips and inner 
cores. Coenosteal strips 35-60 |im wide, frequently 
bifurcating and joining with adjacent strips in a 
meshwork pattern. Slits bordering strips composed 
of elongate pores about 9 urn wide and up to 
35 |xm long. Strips covered with small, rectangular, 
imbricate platelets ranging from 3-14 (xm wide, 4-10 
adjacent platelets required to cross the width of a 
strip. 
Cyclosystems closely spaced and exclusively 
sympodially arranged on branch edges. Cyclo- 
systems circular, elliptical, or irregular in shape, a 
typical cyclosystem being 0.85 x 0.55 mm in 
diameter. Based on 15 cyclosystems, the range of 
dactylopores per cyclosystem was 12-16, average 
13.93 (a = 1.22), and mode 13. 
Gastropore tubes cylindrical, each bearing a well- 
developed, annular ring palisade adjacent to upper 
third of gastrostyle. Ring-palisade elements 
distinctive in shape, resembling vertically aligned 
platelets: up to 36 urn in vertical (parallel to gastro- 
pore tube) dimension, only about 8 urn wide, and 
up to 30 urn tall (Plate 52, c). Gastrostyles cylindrical 
and highly ridged, the ridges bearing tall, sharp 
spines up to 22 Lim tall. Illustrated style (Plate 52, c) 
0.41 mm tall and 0.10 mm in diameter (H : W = 4.1). 
Both dactylotomes and pseudosepta 60-70 Lim 
wide; diastemas often present for part of adcauline 
cyclosystem perimeter. Dactylostyles rudimentary, 
composed of a single row of blunt, cylindrical 
elements 22-25 urn tall and about 9 Lim in diameter. 
Male ampullae common on branch faces, con- 
sisting of small mounds 0.45-0.50 mm in diameter, 
each with one apical efferent pore about 20 Lim in 
diameter. 
TYPES: Type assumed to be lost ? not present at 
the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris or 
the BM(NH), (pers. comm. H. Zibrowius). 
TYPE LOCALITY: Australia; depth unknown. 
REMARKS: Stylaster gracilis has been reported from 
throughout the western Pacific from Australia to 
off Japan at depths of 18-951 m (see Boschma 1957 
and Eguchi 1968 for records). It is unlikely that all 
of these specimens are conspecific. In the absence 
of the type specimens and other comparative 
specimens, it is with considerable doubt that 
Moseley's (1881) identification of S. gracilis from 
the Kermadec Islands is correct. 
Calyptopora Boschma, 1968 
Castro- and dactylopores arranged in cyclosystems, 
which are usually unilinearly arranged along median 
anterior branch faces. Coenosteum white and 
reticulate-granular in texture; nematopores com- 
mon. Broad abcauline cyclosystem lids usually 
present, but sometimes reduced to abcauline lips. 
Castro- and dactylostyles present; gastrostyles 
unridged; annular ring palisade present. Both male 
and female ampullae superficial. 
TYPE SPECIES: Calyptopora reticulata Boschma, 1968a, 
by original designation. 
66 
o 
CX 
s 
II 
ex 
oi 
oT ?a 
? 
Cx 
00 
.5 
II 
EX 
w 
o 
LO 
00 
a? 
6 3 
2 Z 
.? ?8 
u T3 g K 
6C 
ui ?a 
w 
EX 
-El S 
C 
>, 
U) ,3 
'So 0 Q 
? 
O 
8 .? 
CX vi 
?a 
c 
ns 
tfl 
0) 
N (5 S 5 -C 
01 
o (2 
> 
3 
m ? 
"o 
u vj 
? 
Is 
(0 
?g 
a 
ai 
IS 
'u 
'2 
P 
"8 
01 
00 
(0 
00 
0) 
B 
oi 
2 
a 
3 
c 
(U I 
o 
e &^ 
JX, 
I 
0> 
a% 
O   u 
HJ .5 
e ? 
g K a 
os a. 
I 
s. 
(0 
u 
01 
S   00 
SB 
p 
0 
"3 
oi 
11 
"3 
13 
c is 
c 
o 
o 
E 
s 
II 
u CH u ? 
U 
ex, g 3 o 0 
^ O 
to 
? 00 
'C 
?8 
2_ 
? u 
^3 &. 
a 3 5  o 
I % E  bo 
ex 
p 
2 
y. 
01 bo 
01 
.3 0 
a 
o 
23 
P 
x> ? 
s Y m -* l< " 
II a ?, ?S   3 <0   o 
is CJ 7 > ? o\ 
ii 
x 
I 
CM 
O 
CO 
II 
X 
3 
II 
X 
3 
in 
X 
o- 
3 
00.? E 
_0J 
>    (0 >\ 
a 73 JS 
e  ? 
tO    t. 
0?   % 
a?? ss tg   p o 
DfS   C CL 
T3    &> 
.a > 
|| 
U T3 
& 
8 
T3 
(0 
u 
'C 
T3 a c o> 
^ <u 
u &, 
(0 JS 
1 5 
?X 13 
0 ^ 
a S 
% 
u 
1 S o 
C t 0 <0 U c 
CL, 
u 
?X 
g 
T3 
? 
"3 c c 01 
">-> 01 
U eL 
a. 
M 
g- ? o 
E   J   d) 
T3 
bo 
T3 
o 
4 
X 
o 
u 
0) 
II 
X 
% 
tu 
u 
c 
a 
Li   S D_ 3, 
Ifi      p    {NJ 
3    0! 
?c 
1 &, 
a) 
1 "#3 
"S, g 15 u > J3Z 
c 
3   m 
3 B C   m 
01 | Hi 
c 
s 
JS 
c 
p 01 
o E p JJ 
?X 
s 
o C u 
4-: c 
m oi 
P "3 
?8=3 
'S 
p 
I 6 
ex ^ 
o S Us 
p 
P ? 
o 6 P a> 
3- k g ffl 
o c U a 
m 
oi C bo o 
"p   x 
-?   " 
M | 
oi ex, 
ex ? p  g 
?> " 
^ j= q  .- 
X. 
CX tn 
oi   EX 
X   O) 
g oi 
" I ? oi 
? x 
X O) 
15   6 
Oi ? 
c ?> 
'" 5 
? "? 01 .5 
iP 3    * 
1 S.3 
s ? a 
o fx o 
_i oi rx 
p 
01 
01 
I4 
tx 
S 
to 
o 
IS 
u B 
,01 a 
P-, 
l E 
6 Lf) 
T3 ^ e oo 
ts oo 
x; <N 
o *o c a 
?p ^S 
c 
m 
?5 ? 1 u 0 Z 
CX      S 
01 \o 
00^ 
13   S 
I 
0 
Z 
c I 
s 
00 
c 
g eg 
'     i 
01    r; 
N   3 
01  ^ 
1^ 
ta  ? 
cLgp 
01  _^ 
5 ^ 
a 
o 
?J= 
p 
JI ?c 
67 
REMARKS: AS discussed by Cairns (1983b), Calyptopora 
is very similar to Stylaster (Group C), differing 
primarily in having unilinear, anterior-facing cyclo- 
systems; ridged gastrostyles; and cyclosystem lids. 
These characters are consistently and well exem- 
plified by the type and nontype specimens of C. 
reticulata reported by Boschma (1968a); however, 
now that many more specimens of this species are 
available, it is clear that these characters are 
quite variable. Although specimens usually have 
anteriorly facing cyclosystems, the cyclosystems on 
some branches are anterolateral, and on still others 
sympodially arranged on branch edges, all three 
arrangements sometimes occurring on the same 
corallum. Furthermore, the expression of the cyclo- 
system lid or lip may also be variable within one 
colony, ranging from prominent to almost 
absent. Nonetheless, Calyptopora is maintained as a 
genus distinct from Stylaster based on its tendency 
to have anteriorly facing cyclosystems and cyclo- 
system lids. 
Calyptopora contains only two species, both 
known from the New Zealand region. Two other 
species previously assigned to the genus have been 
subsequently reassigned : C. pachypoma (Hickson & 
England, 1905) was designated the type species of 
Pseudocrypthelia Cairns, 1983c; and C. complanata 
(Pourtales, 1867) was considered to be a species of 
Stylaster (Group C) by Cairns (1986a). 
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand region; 216-2100 m. 
Calyptopora reticulata Boschma, 1968 
(Plates 53, a-g, 54, a-h) 
Calyptopora reticulata Boschma, 1968a: 102-108, pis 
1-3, text-figs 1-2; 1968d : 315-320; Vervoort & 
Zibrowius 1981 :30; Cairns 1983a : 150-151, figs 
41E, 49A-H, 50A-E (but not NZOI Stn A910); 
1983b : 430,484^86, figs 19A-I. 
Calyptropora [sic] reticulata: Dawson 1979 : 24. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn A744, 2 branches, 
NZOI; Stn A846, 2 col., NZOI; Stn C618,1 branch, 
NZOI; Stn C781, 1 branch, NZOI; Stn D6, 1 col., 
NZOI; Stn D39, 5 col., NZOI; Stn D169, 1 col., 
NZOI; Stn D176, 13 col., NZOI, 3 col., USNM 
87528; Stn E800, 2 col., NZOI; Stn E821, 4 col., 
NZOI, 2 col., USNM 87529; Stn E822,4 col., NZOI, 
2 col., USNM 87530; Stn E861, 1 col., NZOI, SEM 
stub 618 (USNM); Stn F123, 2 col., NZOI, 2 col., 
USNM 87531; Stn F127,1 col., NZOI; Stn El 32,10 
fragments (paratypes) and SEM stub 653, USNM 
76878;    Stn G3,   1 col.,  NZOI,  SEM  stub 617B 
(USNM); Stn G927, 9 col., NZOI, 1 col., USNM 
87532; Stn 1721,1 col., NZOI; Stn P46,2 col., NZOI, 
3 col., USNM 87533; Stn 522,1 col., NZOI; Stn S29, 
4 col., NZOI; Stn S30, 3 col., NZOI; Stn S45, 2 
col., NZOI, 1 col., USNM 87534; Stn S46, 3 col., 
NZOI; Stn S53,1 col., NZOI; Stn S70,1 col., NZOI; 
Stn T39,5 col., NZOI; Stn U599,7 branches, NZOI; 
specimens reported by Cairns (1983a), USNM. 
DISTRIBUTION: Very common in deep water south 
and east of South Island, including Macquarie 
Ridge to Macquarie Island, Campbell and Bounty 
Plateaus, Chatham Rise, and off South Island; Nor- 
folk and Three Kings Ridges; 216-2100 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies large, forming broad, uni- 
planar, reticulate fans composed of frequently 
anastomosing branches. Tallest colony (holotype) 
17 cm high, broadest colony (Eltanin Stn 1851) 20 cm 
wide; basal branches of large colonies are massive, 
dense structures up to 2.3 x 1.9 cm in diameter. 
Branching dichotomous but quite unequal, with 
very slender, delicate branches originating directly 
from thick main branches. Branches often straight 
and long, extending for 5 or 6 cyclosystems without 
branching. Branches circular to elliptical in cross 
section, the posterior sides of some branches (e.g., 
the types) prominently ridged. Colony shape 
influenced by the invariable presence of commensal 
polychaetes (i.e., Malmgreniella dicirra Hartman), 
which induce the coral to produce large (e.g., 4.2 x 
1.8 mm internal diameter), flattened gall-tubes that 
run along and between main branches. Polychaete 
galls occur with equal frequency on both anterior 
and posterior faces, undoubtedly several poly- 
chaetes occurring on large colonies. Edges of 
polychaete galls porous, bearing elongate coarse 
slits up to 1.5 mm wide. Coenosteum white and 
reticulate-granular in texture. Coenosteal slits 
50-90 um wide, bordered by deep, thin slits 4-5 um 
wide, and covered with rounded granules 6-8 um 
in diameter. Occasionally small papillae (nemato- 
pores) occur on large-diameter branches, each 
0.14-0.20 mm in diameter and about 50 um tall. 
Cyclosystems usually unilinearly arranged on 
midline of anterior branch faces; however, 
occasionally cyclosystems slightly staggered off- 
centre of midline, and, in extreme cases, cyclo- 
systems occur sympodially on branch edges. All 
degrees of arrangement may occur on the same 
colony. Cyclosystems large (0.9-1.6 mm in greater 
diameter) and variable in shape, ranging from 
circular to elliptical, to quite irregular. Most 
cyclosystems (e.g., those of the type specimens) 
bear a prominent, broad abcauline  lid, which 
68 
extends high alcve and slightly over the cyclosystem. 
A smaller adcauline lip is often present as well. In 
the extreme case, the distal edges of the lid and lip 
fuse over the gastropore, dividing the cyclosystem 
in half (Plate 53, d). However, there is great variation 
in the degree of development of cyclosystem lids, 
sometimes being expressed as only one or two 
highly exsert and slightly broader abcauline 
pseudosepta. Occasionally there are no lips or 
lids. Based on 100 cyclosystems, Boschma (1968a) 
found a range of 7-13 dactylopores per cyclo- 
system, an average of 10.31, and a mode of 10; 
based on 16 cyclosystems Cairns (1983a) found a 
range of 3-17 and an average of 11.30 (a = 2.27). 
Gastropores take the shape of the cyclosystem 
perimeter and are about 0.4 mm in diameter. 
Gastropore tube a somewhat inflated elongate 
cavity, which tapers abruptly to a narrow diameter 
of about 0.25 mm at the ring palisade. A well- 
developed, annular ring palisade occurs at about 
two-thirds gastrostyle height, composed of tall, 
irregularly-shaped elements up to 50 |im long. 
Gastrostyle restricted to lower part of gastropore 
chamber, its tip projecting just above level of ring 
palisade. Gastrostyles spindle shaped, the illus- 
trated style (Plate 54, d) 0.52 mm tall and 0.21 mm 
in diameter (H : W = 2.5), the range of H : W ratios 
being 1.3-2.9. Gastrostyles with coarse, sharp 
spines up to 25 pm tall, clustered in tufts on 
gastrostyle. Dactylotomes 70-120 |jm wide; pseudo- 
septa of approximately same width, broader if 
modified into Hips or lids. Diastemas usually absent. 
Dactylostyles well developed, composed of 2 or 3 
contiguous rows of blunt pillars, each element up 
to 38 um tall and 16 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae superficial hemispheres 0.70- 
1.05 mm in diameter, sometimes with a lateral 
efferent tube that terminates in an efferent 
pore about 0.2 mm in diameter. Male ampullae 
superficial, irregularly-shaped mounds 0.50- 
0.61 mm in diameter, often clustered in groups of 
two or more. Male efferent pore apical, approxi- 
mately 25 um in diameter. Both male and female 
ampullae uniformly distributed over coenosteum, 
including cyclosystem lids, but most common on 
coenosteum forming worm tubes. 
TYPES: HolotyjDe (H-48) and most pararypes (P-100) 
deposited at the NZOI. Two para types are also 
deposited at the RMNH (Coel. 13754 A, B) and 
several para type branches are at the USNM (76878) 
(see Vervoort and Zibrowius 1981; Dawson 1979). 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn F132,49'59'S, 177 30'E, off 
Antipodes Islands; 1335 m. 
Calyptopora sinuosa n. sp. (Plate 55, a-g) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Colville and Kermadec Ridges; 260- 
814 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies sinuous in shape, resembling 
a vertical, low-amplitude sine wave, with only 
short branchlets originating from the single main 
vertical branch. Largest colony (NZOI Stn T256) 
6.7 cm tall and 8 mm in basal branch diameter; 
holotype 5.4 cm tall and 2.6 cm broad, with a basal 
branch diameter of 6.5 mm. Colony shape deter- 
mined by its commensal polychaete, the main 
branch in reality a hollow worm tube with an 
internal diameter of 2.8-3.6 mm. In general, walls 
of worm tube near colony base solid and thick, 
penetrated only by elongate lateral slits about 0.2 mm 
wide; distally, where tubes are being formed, they 
are thinner and more porous. In well-preserved 
basal coralla, there is invariably an elliptical pore 
1.6- 1.8 mm in diameter confluent with the main 
poly-chaete tube, which allows the polychaete to 
escape the central tube at the base. Anterior to this 
pore and extending 2.0-2.5 cm up the corallum is a 
shallow groove or semi-enclosed tube about 
2.5 mm in width that rejoins the main tube higher 
on the corallum. This "external" tube thus completes 
a basal loop for the polychaete. Tubes within dead 
coralla are often inhabited by ophiuroids. The 
main, vertical branch may bifurcate once or twice, 
but branching of any kind is minimal. Coenosteal 
strips reticulate-imbricate, 60-100 pm wide, and 
covered by irregularly shaped granules. Short, low 
coenosteal ridges are also common. 
Cyclosystems primarily unifacial but occasion- 
ally occurring in an antero-lateral arrangement, the 
influence of the commensal polychaete producing 
a disruptive effect on branching and cyclosystem 
location. Cyclosystems often quite irregular in 
shape and about 1.2 mm in diameter. Abcauline 
and occasionally adcauline pseudosepta enlarged 
into, small lips, in the extreme case their distal 
edges fusing over the gastropore (Plate 55, b); 
however, very often gastropore lips are not 
present at all. The small size of the pseudosepta 
and the often slightly damaged condition of the 
specimens make it difficult to accurately count 
dactylopores; however, based on 25 cyclosystems 
the range of dactylopores per cyclosystem was 9-16, 
average 12.36 (a = 1.73), and mode 12. 
Upper gastropore tube large, open, and 
chaliciform, about 0.7 mm in diameter and depth. 
Openness of gastropore tube accentuated by the 
69 
extremely short pseudosepta. Base of upper tube 
horizontal (shelf-like), made so by a robust annular 
ring palisade consisting of large (up to 40 um tall), 
irregularly shaped elements. Below ring palisade 
a much smaller, roughly spherical lower chamber 
about 0.32 mm in diameter contains the gastrostyle. 
Gastrostyles short and squat, the illustrated style 
(Plate 55, g) only 0.21 mm tall and 0.17 mm in 
diameter (H : W = 1.23), its blunt apex terminating 
at or below level of ring palisade. Gastrostyles 
covered with numerous simple, smooth spines up 
to 28 urn tall. Dactylotomes uniformly 60-70 um 
wide but pseudosepta quite variable in width, 
ranging from 70 um to 0.2 mm, especially those 
modified into lips. Abcauline pseudosepta often 
quite exsert and flared, whereas diastemas are not 
uncommon on the adcauline side. Dactylostyles 
composed of 2 or 3 contiguous rows of blunt pillars, 
each element up to 30 um tall and 7 um in diameter. 
Female ampullae unknown. Male ampullae 
primarily internal ellipsoidal cavities 0.3-0.4 mm 
in diameter, sometimes rising slightly above coeno- 
steal surface. Apical efferent pores small, about 
30 um in diameter. Male ampullae tend to concen- 
trate in worm-tube coenosteum and in circles 
around gastropore tubes. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn K840,1 male col., NZOI 
H-579. Paratypes: NZOI Stn K800,18 col., NZOI P- 
938; NZOI Stn K827, 15 col., NZOI P-883, 3 col., 
USNM 87535; Stn K840,1 col. and SEM stub 690, 
USNM 87536; Stn P947,13 col., NZOI P-884,4 col. 
and SEM stub 689, USNM 87537; Stn T217, 5 col., 
NZOI P-885, 2 col., USNM 87538; Stn T256,1 dead 
col., NZOI P-886. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn K840,3017'S, 178 ?25'W, off 
McCauley Island, Kermadec Islands; 398-412 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name sinuosa (from the Latin 
sinuosus, curved, sinuous) refers to the sinusoidal 
shape of the colonies of this species. 
REMARKS: Calyptopora sinuosa is distinguished from 
C. reUculata by its distinctive sinusoidal growth 
form, its paucity of branching, its internal ampullae, 
and its short gastrostyles. In growth form it is 
identical to Errina sinuosa, a species known from the 
same geographic area. 
Cyclosystems lack lids and lips. Coenosteum usually 
white, either linear- or reticulate-imbricate in 
texture. Gastropore tubes elongate and usually 
curved; gastrostyles present, usually encircled by a 
robust ring palisade. Dactylostyles usually well 
developed. Ampullae superficial, often clustered 
around base of cyclosystems. Ampullar efferent 
pores of both sexes usually well distinguished. 
TYPE SPECIES: Allopora maderensis Johnson, 1862, by 
subsequent designation (Broch 1936). 
REMARKS: Ten valid species are recognised in this 
genus, most of them listed by Cairns (1983b : 430- 
431); however, subsequently one species has been 
described (S. pauciseptata Cairns, 1986a) and one 
synonymised (S. robusta Boschma, 1964 as S. con- 
cinna Boschma, 1964, see Cairns 1991a), resulting in 
the same number of valid species. An eleventh, 
undescribed species is known from west of New 
Caledonia (NZOI Stn 1741), which has pale orange 
coenosteum. Characters of diagnostic value 
include coenosteal texture, cyclosystem diameter, 
nature of ampullae, number of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem, and presence or absence of ring 
palisades. 
Moseley (1879,1881) reported and illustrated a 
specimen of Stenohelia profunda Moseley, 1881 
from the Kermadec Ridge north of Raoul Island 
(1097 m). This specimen (BM(NH) 1880.11.25.183), 
designated a paralectotype by Cairns (1986a), is 
indistinguishable from typical western Atlantic 
specimens, having 13 uni facial cyclosystems 
(Plate 57, d) about 1.4 mm in diameter, 16-18 
dactylopores per cyclosystem, clustered female 
ampullae about 0.82 mm in diameter, and concave 
pseudosepta. But as Zibrowius and Cairns (1982) 
and Cairns (1986a) suggested, it is unlikely for a 
stylasterid to have such a widespread and disjunct 
distribution, implying that a station error might 
be responsible for the unusual distribution. For 
instance, in reporting this specimen, Moseley 
(1881) listed it from Challenger Stn 191 from 19730'W, 
meaning instead to write Stn 171 from 177*50'W. 
Given previous station errors among the Chal- 
lenger material and the lack of any additional 
records of this species in the Pacific, the presence 
of S. profunda in the New Zealand region is 
considered questionable. 
Stenohelia Kent, 1870 
DISTRIBUTION: Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; 91-2021 m. 
Gastro- and dactylopores arranged in cyclosystems 
which occur exclusively on anterior branch faces. 
Stenohelia conferta Boschma, 1968 
(Plates 56, a-h, 57, a-c) 
70 
Stenohelia conferta Boschma, 1968e: 435^138, text- 
fig. 1, pi. 1, figs 1-9; Dawson 1979 :25; Vervoort 
& Zibrowius 1981 : 31; Cairns 1983b : 430. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types (NZOI). 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality off 
the Antipodes. Islands; 1335 m. 
REDESCRIPTION or TYPE SPECIMENS: Colonies uniplanar, 
the largest specimen (holotype) 34 mm tall and 
21.2 mm broad, with a basal branch diameter of 
2.5 mm. Branching dichotomous and unequal; 
branch anastomosis rare. Commensal polychaetes 
absent. Branches straight, circular in cross section, 
and narrow to the diameter of a terminal cyclo- 
system. Coenosteum white and reticulate-imbric- 
ate in texture. Coenosteal strips 55-75 um wide, 
bordered by deep, discontinuous slits about 12 urn 
wide. Platelets quite narrow (4-5 um wide) and 
irregularly shaped, arranged in a rather disorganised 
fashion, which obscures the imbricate arrangement. 
Cyclosystems circular to slightly elliptical and 
closely spaced, occurring only on anterior face but 
sometimes staggered along branch. Cyclosystems 
0.8-1.2 mm in diameter, the greater diameter of an 
elliptical cyclosystem perpendicular to branch axis. 
Based on 100 cyclosystems, the range of dactylo- 
pores per cyclosystem was 7-13, average 10.42, 
and mode 11 (Boschma 1968e). 
As is typical for the genus, gastropore tubes are 
cuved about 90?. Lower gastropore tube roughly 
spherical (about 0.35 mm in diameter), opening to 
an upper infundibuliform tube through a circular 
aperture about 0.25 mm in diameter. Ring 
palisades absent. Upper gastropore tube widens 
to about 0 55 mm in diameter at level of dactylo- 
tomes. Gastrostyles cylindrical and robust, the illus- 
trated style (Plate 57, a-c) 0.47 mm tall and 0.13 mm 
in diameter at mid-height (H : W = 3.6), standing on 
a more massive base about 0.20 mm in diameter. 
Upper third of gastrostyle projects through aper- 
ture separating upper and lower gastropore tubes. 
Gastrostyles densely covered with clusters of small 
spines, each spine only about 6 um tall and 2 um 
in basal diameter. Dactylotomes uniformly 61- 
65 mm wide; pseudosepts 2-3 times dactylotome 
width; diastemas absent. Dactylostyles robust and 
easily seen in an intact cyclosystem, each composed 
of 1 or 2 rows of tall, cylindrical to clavate elements 
up to 41 um tall and 18 um in distal diameter. 
Female ampullae unknown. Male ampullae 
primarily internal, clustered near cyclosystems and 
on posterior branch faces. Internal diameter of 
ampullae 0.35-0.45 mm. A small conical spine over- 
lays each ampulla, probably containing the efferent 
pores. 
TYPES: The holotype (H-53 as illustrated in Plate 
56, a) and most paratypes (P-l 02-107) of S. conferta 
are deposited at NZOI; one paratype is also at the 
RMNH (see Vervoort and Zibrowius 1981) and one 
SEM stub (#706) is at the USNM. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn Pi 32,49'59'S, 177"32'E, off 
Antipodes Island; 1335 m. 
REMARKS: Stenohelia conferta is the only described 
species in its genus known from the southern hemi- 
sphere and can be distinguished from most 
congeners by its low number of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem (average 10.42); robust, clavate 
dactylostyle elements; reticulate-imbricate coeno- 
steal texture; and in lacking ring palisades. It is 
most similar to S. pauciseptata Cairns, 1986a 
(Lesser Antilles, 300-514 m), both species having a 
low number of dactylopores per cyclosystem and 
similar coenosteal texture, but S. conferta differs 
in having larger cyclosystems, a lower gastrostyle 
H: W ratio, and in lacking ring palisades. Only 
one other species, S. concinna Boschma, 1964 
(Galapagos, 549-704 m) is known to lack ring pali- 
sades, but is otherwise distinguished by having 
linear-imbricate coenosteum, polychaete commen- 
sals, a higher number of dactylopores per cyclo- 
system (average 15.54), and large, porous ampullae. 
Conopora Moseley, 1879 
Castro-and dactylopores arranged in cyclosystems, 
which are: sympodially arranged on branch edges 
(Group Asensu Cairns 1983b), uniformly distributed 
on all branch surfaces (Group B sensu Cairns 1983b), 
arranged tetraserially, or uniserially. Colonies 
usually uniplanar and firmly attached; however, 
one species (C. adeta Cairns 1987a) is free living. 
Corallum shape often strongly influenced by 
commensal polynoid. Coenosteum linear-imbri- 
cate (Group A) or linear-granular (Group B) and 
invariably white. Gastropore tubes double- 
chambered, the chambers usually separated by a 
gastropore ring constriction. Gastro-and dactylo- 
styles absent. Gastrozooid tentacles absent. 
Ampullae superficial or internal (usually the latter); 
efferent pores apical or open within gastropore tube 
(usually the latter). 
TYPE SPECIES: Conopora tenuis Moseley, 1879 (= C. 
laevis (Studer, 1878)), by monotypy. 
71 
REMARKS: Cairns (1983b) divided Conopora into two 
groups, A and B, the former having species with 
sympodially arranged cyclosystems and imbricate 
coenosteal texture, the latter having species with 
uniformly distributed cyclosystems and granular 
coenosteum. The genus diagnosis must now be 
amended to accommodate C. tetrastichopora and C. 
unifacialis, colonies of which have tetraserial rows 
of cyclosystems or a single anterior row of cyclo- 
systems, respectively and therefore do not fit 
within either of the two groups. It is interesting 
to note that in the analogous case of Stylaster (see 
Cairns 1983b : 489), species with unifacially orientated 
cyclosystems are placed in a different genus, 
Stenohelia. Another amendment of the generic 
diagnosis must be made to accommodate variation 
in gastropore shape: C. tetrastichopora and C. 
gigantea do not have a typical double-chambered 
gastropore tube separated by a gastropore ring 
constriction, and C. unifacialis also lacks a gastro- 
pore ring constriction but does have a homo- 
logous intermediate cylindrical gastropore tube. 
Eight or nine Recent species of Conopora are 
recognised. In addition to the six species that occur 
in the New Zealand region, there remain C. major 
Hickson and England, 1905 (=? C. verrucosa) 
(Indonesia); C. dura Hickson and England, 1909 
(Providence Island, west Indian Ocean); and C. 
adeta Cairns, 1987a (off Queensland, Australia). 
Characters of value in discriminating species are 
listed in Table 6. 
DISTRIBUTION:   Indo-West  Pacific,  Antarctic,  and 
Subantarctic; 110-2355 m (see Cairns 1991b). 
Conopora verrucosa (Studer, 1878) 
(Plates 57, e-g, 58, a-d) 
Stylaster verrucosus Studer, 1878 : 635, fig. 6a-b; 
Moseley 1881 :87; Boschma 1953 :166; 1957:17. 
Stylaster laevis (?): Moseley 1881 : 81. 
Stylaster erubescens: Moseley 1881 : 81;   Boschma 
1953 :169. 
[?]Conopora major Hickson & England, 1905 :25-26, 
pi. 3, figs 33-35. 
Conopora pauciseptata Broch, 1951a ; Al-AA, pi. 4, figs 
1-2; Boschma 1957 : 39; 1966 : 113-116,117, pi. 
1, figs 1-5, 9-11; Boschma & Lowe 1969 :15, pi. 
15, map 3; Cairns 1983a : 128-130, figs 31C-D, 
36A-G. 
Conopora verrucosa: Zibrowius 1981 : 275;   Cairns 
1983b : 490, figs 21E-H. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn A745, 6 branches, 
NZOI;   Stn C618, 2 col., NZOI;   Stn D6, 2 col., 
NZOI; Stn D39,10 col., NZOI, 6 col. and SEM stub 
628, USNM 87539; Stn D149, 3 col., NZOI, 2 col., 
USNM 87540; Stn D150, 2 col., NZOI, SEM stub 
(USNM); Stn D159, 11 col., NZOI, 4 col., USNM 
87541; Stn D169, 1 col., NZOI; Stn D176, 7 col., 
NZOI, 3 col, USNM 87542; Stn D216, 4 branches, 
NZOI; Stn E305, 4 branches, NZOI; Stn E337, 1 
branch, NZOI; Stn E731,1 col., NZOI; Stn E800,2 
col., NZOI; Stn E821, 2 col., NZOI; Stn E822, 15 
col., NZOI, 2 col., USNM 87543; Stn E846, 1 col., 
NZOI, 1 col., USNM 87544; Stn E850,1 col., NZOI; 
Stn F81,1 col., NZOI; Stn F928, 1 branch, NZOI; 
Stn G937,6 col., NZOI; Stn G941,4 col., NZOI; Stn 
196, 1 col., NZOI, 1 col., USNM 87545; Stn 197, 2 
col., NZOI; Stn J55, 1 col., NZOI; Stn P9, 4 col., 
NZOI; Stn P57,1 col., NZOI; Stn P552,4 col., NZOI; 
Stn P947,5 col., NZOI; Stn P948,1 col., NZOI; Stn 
S27,1 col., NZOI; Stn S28,1 col., NZOI; Stn S571,2 
col., NZOI; Stn S572, 10 col., NZOI; Stn T243, 3 
col., NZOI; Stylaster erubescens of Moseley (1881), 
Challenger Stn 170, BM(NH) 1880.11.25.178; Stylaster 
laevis of Moseley (1881), Challenger Stn 171, BM(NH) 
1880.11.25.177; specimens reported by Cairns 
(1983a); holotype of S. verrucosus. 
DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in the New Zealand 
region from the Kermadec Ridge to Macquarie 
Island; also known from the Subantarctic and parts 
of Antarctica (see Cairns 1983a); 198-2355 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies primarily uniplanar, robust, 
and relatively large, the largest colonies having 
frequently anastomosing branches that form a 
reticulate fan. Largest colony (Eltanin Stn 1414) 
12 cm tall and 5.5 cm broad, with a massive basal 
branch diameter of 1.5 cm. Holotype only 15.6 mm 
tall and 18.8 mm broad. All colonies live in 
association with commensal polychaetes, which 
induce the coral to produce large, flattened tubes 
that parallel the major branches. Polychaete gall- 
tubes occur on both anterior and posterior faces. 
Branching dichotomous and unequal. Cross section 
of terminal branches rectangular, the greater width 
in plane of colony; intermediate-sized branches 
square in cross section; large-diameter branches 
again rectangular in cross section, but with their 
greater width perpendicular to plane of colony. 
Coenosteum white and linear-imbricate in texture. 
Coenosteal strips 70-130 um wide, separated by 
narrow slits about 7 um wide. Platelets usually 
continuous across a strip; polarity of platelets 
changes frequently. Nematopores common on all 
specimens, occurring abundantly on branch 
coenosteum, pseudosepta, and polychaete tube 
coenosteum. Nematopore mounds circular to irreg- 
72 
ular in outline, 40-55 um in diameter and up to 
25 urn tall. 
Cyclosystems exclusively sympodial in arrange- 
ment, slightly exsert on distal branches, but flush to 
slightly recessed into branch coenosteum on larger- 
diameter branches, resulting in two rows of closely 
spaced cyclosystems, one on each branch edge. 
Cyclosystems circular to slightly irregular in shape 
and 0.8-2.0 mm in diameter. Broch (1951) reported 
a range of 3-1.1 dactylopores per cyclosystem for 
the type of C. pausiseptata, an average of 6.59, and a 
mode of 8. Based on 192 cyclosystems, Boschma 
(1966) reported a range of 2-11 dactylopores per 
cyclosystem and averages of 7.07 and 7.13 for two 
populations (mode = 8). Cairns (1983a), based on 
29 nondiastemate cyclosystems, reported a range 
of 8-15 dactylopores per cyclosystem, an average 
of 10.41 (cr = 1.50), and modes of 10 and 11. The 
higher range of Cairns' counts were undoubtedly 
caused by his restriction of counting only those 
cyclosystems in the terminal and penultimate 
position on branches, before diastemas had 
reduced the number originally present. 
Gastropores circular, about 0.4 mm in diameter. 
Gastropore tubes divided into three sections. 
Upper section cylindrical, 0.9-1.0 mm deep, and 
bordered by dactylotomes and inner pseudoseptal 
edges. Directly beneath dactylotomes is a roughly 
hemispherical upper chamber about 0.55-0.60 mm 
in diameter. Upper chamber contiguous with the 
slightly compressed lower chamber (about same 
diameter but slightly less deep) through a 
constricted aperture ? the gastropore ring con- 
striction ? which is variable in size. Total depth of 
gastropores 1.5- 2.0 mm. Texture of gastropore 
tube walls of upper section and upper chamber is 
that of coenosteum; texture of lower chamber 
smooth. Dactylotomes about 80 um wide and extend 
deeply into gastropore tube; pseudosepta wide 
and coarse, 1-3 times dactylotome width. Diastemas 
common, becoming progressively wider (at the 
expense of dactylopores) with increased distance 
from branch tip. 
Female ampullae internal ellipsoidal cavities 
0.6-0.75 mm in greater diameter, usually two 
occurring distal to each cyclosystem (Plate 58, c). 
Female efferent pores located in diastema region, 
or on a pseudoseptum, or within a dactylotome in 
upper distal gastropore chamber; efferent pores 
0.10-0.18 mm in diameter. Male ampullae also 
internal ellipsoidal cavities 0.50-0.55 mm in greater 
diameter, often 3 or 4 occurring distal to a cyclo- 
system. Male efferent pores located in same 
position as female but usually smaller in size ? 
50-80 Jim in diameter.   Ampullae never found in 
polychaete tube coenosteum. 
TYPES: The holotype of Stylaster verrucosus is deposited 
at the ZMB (#1764, illustrated in Plate 57, e). 
The location of the holotype of Conopora pauci- 
septata, collected at Discovery Stn 2493, is unknown. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Gazelle Stn 60/44 (see Zibrowius 
1981),35?2"S,175?40'E, off northeast North Island; 
1092 m. 
REMARKS: Based on the description and illustrations 
of Conopora major Hickson and England, 1905 
(Indonesia, 204-1901 m), it is likely to be a junior 
synonym of C. verrucosa. Points of similarity 
include primarily internal ampullae that have 
efferent pore openings into the upper gastropore 
chamber, abundant coenosteal nematopores, 
polychaete commensals, and robust growth form. 
Comparisons of C. verrucosa to the morpho- 
logically similar C. laevis are made in the account 
of the latter species and in Table 6. 
Conopora laevis (Studer, 1878) 
(Plates 58, e-g, 59, a-g) 
Stylaster laevis Studer, 1878 :635, pi. 2, fig. 5a-b; non 
Moseley 1881 : 81 (= C. verrucosa);   Boschma 
1953 :166; 1957 : 12. 
Stylaster obliquus Studer, 1878 : 635-636, pi. 2, fig. 
7a-d; Moseley 1881 : 88; Boschma 1953 : 166. 
Conopora tenuis Moseley, 1879 : 503;  1881 : 82, 88, 
pi. 12, figs 5-6;  non Hickson & England 1905 : 
25; 1909 : 351; [?] Broch 1936 : 88-89, pi. 13, fig. 
37, text-fig. 29a-c;  Boschma 1953 : 167;   1957 : 
39; 1966:115-116. 
Stylaster sp.? Moseley 1881 : 81 (in part: BM(NH) 
1880.11.25.179b, other specimen  is  Crypthelia 
sp.). 
Stenohelia obliqua: Boschma 1957 : 32. 
Conopora laevis: Zibrowius 1981 :274-277, pi. 3, figs 
8-11, pi. 4, figs 1-5; Cairns 1983b : 49CM92, figs 
21A-D. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: NZOI Stn A910,10 col., NZOI, 7 
col. and SEM stub 629B-C, USNM 60254 ; Stn 
C814,1 col., NZOI, 1 col., USNM 87546; Stn D90,1 
col., NZOI; Stn E305,1 branch, NZOI; Stn E306,1 
branch, NZOI; Stn E720,1 col., NZOI; Stn E731,1 
col., NZOI, 2 col. USNM 87547; Stn E840, 2 col., 
NZOI; Stn E845, 1 col., NZOI; Stn E861, 4 col., 
NZOI, SEM stub 629A (USNM); Stn E862, 1 col., 
NZOI; Stn E875,4 col., NZOI, 3 col., USNM 87548; 
Stn E885, 2 col., NZOI;  Stn G941, 2 col., NZOI, 1 
73 
col., USNM 87549; Stn J59,1 col., NZOI; StnJ657, 
1 col., NZOI; StnJ659,1 col., NZOI; StnJ691,1 col., 
NZOI; Stn J711, 1 col., NZOI; Stn K828, 5 col., 
NZOI; Stn K860,1 col., USNM 87550; Stn P8,1 col., 
NZOI; Stn P15,1 col., NZOI; Stn P35,2 col., NZOI; 
Stn S53,1 col., NZOI; Stn T226,3 col., NZOI, 2 col., 
USNM 87551; Stn T235, 2 col., NZOI; Stn T243, 3 
col., NZOI; Stylaster sp. of Moseley (1881), Chal- 
lenger Stn 214, BM(NH) 1880.11.25.179b; Conopora 
tenuis of Hickson and England (1909), Stn D7, 1 
col., BM(NH) 1923.2.15.207A; Terra Nova Stn 90, 2 
col., BM(NH) 1950.1.11.7; holotypes of Stylaster 
laevis, 5. obliquus, and G tenuis. Reference Specimens: 
Conopora tenuis of Hickson and England (1905), 
Siboga Stn 156,1 col.,ZMA. 
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand region: Norfolk Ridge, 
north of North Island, Kermadec Ridge, Chatham 
Rise, and one record on Campbell Plateau south- 
east of Campbell Island; also reported from 
throughout the Indo-West Pacific (see Zibrowius 
1981); 7110-130- 1035 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar, delicate, and 
relatively small. Largest colony examined (Terra 
Nova Stn 90) 8.5 cm tall and 9.0 cm broad, with a 
basal branch diameter of 1 cm, but most colonies 
examined rarely exceed 3 cm in height. Colonies 
firmly attached by a broad base to small pebbles 
and other corals. Colony shape strongly influenced 
by commensal polychaetes, which begin their 
association with the stylasterid early in the coral's 
ontogeny. The colony is essentially one vertical, 
thick-walled polychaete tube, from which few, 
relatively straight branchlets diverge, although 
larger colonies (e.g., Terra Nova Stn 90) may have 
several main branches and host several polychaetes. 
Branchlets circular in cross section and usually not 
secondarily thickened, as in C. verrucosa. Coeno- 
steum white and linear-imbricate in texture. 
Coenosteal strips 62-115 um wide, bordered by 
narrow slits about 7 |im wide. Platelets continu- 
ous across a strip; change of polarity rare. 
Nematopores usually absent, which results in a 
relatively smooth coenosteal surface, but nemato- 
pores occur on worm-tube coenosteum of some 
specimens. 
Cyclosystems exclusively sympodially arranged, 
remaining exsert from the coenosteum even on 
large-diameter branches. Cyclosystems circular to 
slightly elliptical, 0.8-1.2 mm in diameter, and 
slightly flared. Based on 50 cyclosystems from 
NZOI Stn A910, the range of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem was 10 to 16, average 12,58 (a = 1.43), 
and mode 12. 
Gastropores circular, 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter. 
Gastropore tube shape as described for C. verrucosa. 
Dactylotomes about 0.1 mm wide; pseudosepta 
thin, ranging from about 0.75 to 1.5 times dactylo- 
tome width. Upper edges of pseudosepta some- 
times concave. Diastemas rare; when present, 
about 2 times dactylotome width. 
Female ampullae superficial hemispheres up to 
0.8 mm in diameter on distal branches, gradually 
becoming immersed in coenosteum with age until 
they are largely internal or even concave on worm- 
tube coenosteum. Female efferent pores lateral, 
about 0.2 mm in diameter. Male ampullae low 
superficial mounds 0.60-0.65 mm in diameter, with 
lateral efferent pores 75-80 urn in diameter. Both 
male and female ampullae occur on branches 
and are especially common within the thick 
coenosteum forming the exterior of worm tubes, 
where they are commonly seen in cross section if 
part of the tube is broken. Occasionally efferent 
pores appear to exist on the inner side (coenosteum 
facing polychaete) of worm tube. 
TYPES: The holotypes of Stylaster laevis (Plate 58, g) 
and S. obliquus (Plate 58, e) are deposited at the 
ZMB (#1776, 1778, respectively). Both were 
collected at Gazelle Stn 58/42. 
The syntypes of Conopora tenuis are deposited at 
the BM(NH) (1880.11.25.184, see Plate 59, c, e). A 
small SEM preparation of one is at the USNM (SEM 
stub 135B). 
TYPE LOCALITIES: The type locality of S. laevis and S. 
obliquus is Gazelle Stn 58/42, 34?09.9'S, 17235.8'E, 
east of Three Kings Islands; 165 m. The type locality 
of C. tenuis is Challenger 5m 170, 2935'S, 178'14'W, 
north of McCauley Island; 95 m. 
REMARKS: Conopora laevis and C. verrucosa are similar 
in morphology and overlap in geographic and 
bathymetric ranges, although they were rarely 
collected at the same station. Conopora laevis is most 
easily differentiated by having scattered ampullae 
with external efferent pores, C. verrucosa having 
ampullae adjacent to gastropores and efferent pores 
opening into the gastropore tube. However, if 
colonies are sexually immature, other characters 
must be used to distinguish them. For instance, C. 
laevis usually lacks nematopores and thus has 
smooth coenosteum; C. verrucosa invariably has 
large, prominent nematopores and a warty 
coenosteum. Both species were named for this 
characteristic of their coenosteal texture; however, 
occasionally C. laevis does have some nematopores. 
Other differences are that C. laevis : 1) has a smaller, 
74 
more delicate colony with circular, nonreinforced 
branches, 2) rarely has diastemas, 3) has thinner, 
occasionally concave pseudosepta, 4) has thick, 
ampulla-bearing worm-tube coenosteum, and 5) 
has a greater average number of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem, even though its cyclosystems are 
generally smaller. 
Conopora candelabrum n. sp.   (Plates 60, a-f, 61, a-e) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED:  Types, q.v.. 
DISTRIBUTION: Norfolk Ridge, Three Kings Ridge, 
and Campbell Plateau; 403-1170 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies uniplanar, fragile (branch tips 
invariably broken when collected), and of moderate 
size, the largest specimen (holotype) 4.0 cm tall 
and 7.8 cm broad, with a basal branch diameter of 
4.1 mm. Branching pattern characteristically pinnate, 
the presumed idealised development represented 
by the holotype and described thusly. Basal branch 
vertical, 5.0-6.5 mm in diameter, and 12-15 mm 
tall, whereupon it splits equally into two secondary 
branches, the axil between then usually 90-120?. 
In one specimen, however, (NZOI Stn P8) the 
secondary branches are parallel and almost vertical, 
with an axil of 0?. The two secondary branches 
each generate a series of long, straight, relatively 
closely spaced branchlets that alternate in 
position on lower and upper secondary branch 
edges. Branchlets on lower edge usually short 
(presumably limited by contact with substrate), 
whereas branchlets on upper edge often quite 
long and unbranched for as much as the length 
of 22-25 cyclosystems. Branchlets grow in parallel 
fashion but occasionally a branchlet will bifurcate, 
the resultant branchlets soon fusing with closely 
adjacent branchlets, and contributing to a loose 
reticulum. No commensal polychaetes known. 
Coenosteum white and linear-imbricate in texture, 
the coenosteal strips 40-45 mm wide and bordered 
by thin, elongate slits about 3 mm wide. Platelets 
thick, continuous across a strip, and minutely 
longitudinally ridged. In some specimens (e.g., 
NZOI Stn S572) secondary calcification obscures 
platelet structure, resulting in a very smooth, dense, 
porcellanous texture. Nematopores common, 17- 
20 mm in pore diameter, but variable in expression: 
in some colonies (e.g., the holotype) they are almost 
flush with coenosteum and thus inconspicuous, 
whereas in other specimens (e.g., NZOI Stn U599) 
they are elevated and quite conspicuous. 
Cyclosystems closely spaced and exclusively sym- 
podially arranged primarily on branchlet edges; no 
cyclosystems occur on basal branch and very few 
occur on secondary branches. Cyclosystems slightly 
exsert and inclined slightly anteriorly, not perpen- 
dicular to branch edge. Cyclosystems circular, 0.8- 
0.9 mm in diameter on holotype, 0.55-0.72 mm in 
diameter on other typical paratypes. Because 
number of dactylopores per cyclosystem is related 
to cyclosystem diameter and the cyclosystems of 
the holotype are consistently larger than those 
from other specimens, two counts were made, and 
a third for the variety (see Remarks). Based on 32 
cyclosystems of the holotype, there was a narrow 
range of 9 to 12 dactylopores per cyclosystem, an 
average of 10.50 (s = 0.98), and mode of 11. Based 
on 50 cyclosystems, the typical smaller-diameter 
paratypes had a range of 3 to 11 dactylopores per 
cyclosystem, average 7.86 (s = 1.54) and mode of 8. 
Upper dactylotome-enclosed portion of gastro- 
pore tubes cylindrical and about 0.5 mm deep. 
Beneath this section is a roughly spherical upper 
chamber about 0.5 mm in diameter. A gastropore 
ring constriction of about 0.3 mm diameter separates 
upper chamber from lower, the latter shaped like 
an inverted hemisphere, about 0.35 mm in diameter 
and 0.20 mm deep. Inner surfaces of upper section 
and upper chamber textured as branch coenosteum; 
surface of lower chamber smooth. Dactylotomes 
65--8S mm wide; pseudosepta robust and thick, 1-2 
times dactylotome width, with blunt inner edges. 
Diastemas not present on cyclosystems of holo- 
type, but narrow diastemas about 3 times dactylo- 
tome width sometimes present on cyclosystems of 
paratypes, especially the variety. 
Female ampullae primarily internal but also 
apparent as massive superficial swellings up to 
1.7 mm in diameter, occurring infrequently on 
branch faces adjacent to cyclosystems. Female 
efferent pores (about 0.12 mm in diameter) open 
into upper distal gastropore chamber and are 
not visible in an intact cyclosystem. Even in a 
longitudinal section (Plate 60, f) the female efferent 
pore is obscured by small finger-like projections. 
Male ampullae also primarily internal but often 
accompanied by low superficial swellings. Male 
ampullae ellipsoidal cavities 0.5 x 0.3 mm in 
internal diameter, 1 or 2 occurring distal to each 
mature cyclosystem. Male efferent pores about 
25-40 mm in diameter and also open into upper 
distal gastropore tube, either through a 
pseudoseptum or a dactylotome. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn E859,1 female col., NZOI 
H-580, SEM stubs 623, 691A (USNM). Paratypes: 
NZOI Stn G3,11 branches, NZOI P-887; Stn G937,1 
75 
branch, P-888; Stn P8,1 col., NZOIP-889; Stn P552, 
1 branch, NZOI P-890; Stn S571,2 branches, NZOI 
P-891, SEM stub 691A (USNM); Stn S572, 9 col., 
NZOI P-892, 3 col. (variety) and SEM stub 693, 
USNM 87553,2 col. and SEM stubs 622,692 (typical), 
USNM 87552; Stn S573, 4 col., NZOI P-893, 2 col., 
USNM 87554; Stn U567, 2 col., P-935; Stn U581, 2 
col., P-931; Stn U591, 12 col., P-936; Stn U594, 27 
col., NZOI P-894; Stn U599, 10 branches, NZOI P- 
895, 7 branches, USNM 87555; Stn U600, 2 col., 
NZOI P-928. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn E859, 32WS, 168?03'W, 
southern Norfolk Ridge; 500 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name candelabrum (from the 
Latin candelabrum, branched candlestick) refers to 
the characteristic candelabrum-like growth form of 
the species. 
REMARKS: Eight of the 14 colonies from NZOI Stn 
S572 and two specimens from NZOI Stn U594 differ 
from typical C. candelabrum in several consistent 
characters and are distinguished as a variety herein. 
The variety is similar in colony shape, coenosteal 
texture, and gastropore tube shape but diminutive 
in colony size (Plate 60, b), having correspondingly 
smaller cyclosystems (Plate 61, e), gastropore 
chambers, and a lesser number of dactylopores per 
cyclosystem. Cyclosystems range from 0.45 to 
0.55 mm in diameter, and, based on 50 cyclosystems 
from NZOI Stn S572, have only 4-7 dactylopores 
per cyclosystem, an average of 5.58 (o = 0.86), and a 
mode of 6. The cyclosystems are not exsert, being 
almost flush with the branch coenosteum, and 
orientated perpendicular to branch edges. Further- 
more, broad diastemas are not uncommon, some- 
times as wide as half the cyclosystem perimeter. 
Conopora candelabrum is distinguished from the 
other species of Conopora by its characteristic growth 
form (pinnate branching) and its very small 
cyclosystems (see Table 6). 
Conopora tetrastichopora n. sp. 
(Plates 61, f-h, 62, a-f) 
[?] Conopora pauciseptata Broch, 1951a : 41-44, pi. 4, 
figs 1-2, text-figs 8-11. 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Three Kings Ridge; 282-710 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Colonies primarily uniplanar or slightly 
bushy, the latter caused by branching in two planes. 
Colonies robust and firmly attached by a broad 
base; largest corallum (holotype) 8.5 cm tall and 
5.6 cm broad, with a basal branch diameter of 
10.4 mm. No polychaete commensals observed. 
Branching sparse, dichotomous, and equal; 
branches anastomose occasionally. Branches cir- 
cular to square in cross section, the latter shape 
characteristic of some small-diameter branches, 
which have rows of cyclosystems at each comer of 
the square branch perimeter. Branches blunt, 
gradually tapering to tips about 3 mm in diameter. 
Coenosteum white; presumed tissue is brown. 
Coenosteal texture linear-granular, sometimes 
reticulate-granular around cyclosystems and within 
upper gastropore tubes. Linear strips narrow 
(20-40 um wide), often bifurcating and rejoining 
one another or simply terminating after a short 
distance. Coenosteal slits very narrow: about 1 um 
wide. Strips covered with very low, rounded granules 
3-4 um in diameter, which produce a relatively 
smooth texture. 
Cyclosystems closely spaced and arranged in 4 
(sometimes 5) discrete rows on small-diameter, 
terminal branches, but often arranged in only 3 
rows on large-diameter branches, the fourth 
("posterior") row missing. Cyclosystems flush to 
only slightly exsert and orientated perpendicular 
to branch surface. Cyclosystems circular to slightly 
irregular in shape, the latter shape caused by a 
large diastema; cyclosystems 0.9-1.25 mm in 
diameter. Based on 50 cyclosystems from speci- 
mens from NZOI Stn E846, the range of dactylo- 
pores per cyclosystem was only 2-6, average 4.44 (o 
= 0.86), and mode 5. Cyclosystems with relatively 
few dactylopores are common on large-diameter 
branches, whereas cyclosystems on terminal 
branches invariably have 4-6 dactylopores. 
Upper section of gastropore tube cylindrical, 
about 0.7-0.8 mm deep, and bordered for its entire 
length by dactylotomes and inner pseudoseptal 
edges. There is no upper chamber as found in C. 
verrucosa and C. laevis; instead, the upper section 
leads directly to a larger (about 0.7 mm in diameter) 
spherical lower chamber via an aperture (gastro- 
pore ring constriction) about 0.4 mm in diameter. 
Interior of upper gastropore textured as coeno- 
steum, whereas lower chamber is smooth. Dactylo- 
tomes broad, about 0.14 mm wide; pseudosepta 
robust, with concave upper edges, 1-2 times 
dactylotome width. Diastemas always present, even 
on newly formed cyclosystems, often constituting 
half of cyclosystem perimeter. 
Female ampullae internal ellipsoidal cavities up 
to 0.9 mm in greater diameter and 0.7 mm in lesser 
diameter, opening into upper distal gastropore 
76 
chamber (usually just beneath the diastema) via an 
efferent pore 0.15-0.20 mm in diameter. In sexually 
mature female colonies, 1 or 2 ampullae are associ- 
ated with each cyclosystem. Male ampullae also 
internal ellipsoidal cavities up to 0.7 mm in greater 
diameter and 0.5 mm in lesser diameter, and also 
opening into gastropore tube in same position as 
female efferent pores. Up to 3 male ampullae may 
occur adjacent to a male cyclosystem, each efferent 
pore about O.'l mm in diameter. Efferent pores of 
both sexes easily seen in undamaged, mature cyclo- 
systems. There is no superficial relief of either male 
or female ampullae. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn E846,1 female col., NZOI 
H-581. Paratypes: NZOI Stn E305,1 female branch, 
NZOI P-896; Stn E846,5 col., and branches, NZOI 
P-897,3 col. and SEM stubs 624-625, USNM 87556; 
Stn P-543, 2 male branches, NZOI P-898,1 branch, 
USNM 87557; Stn S572, 1 male col., NZOI P-899; 
Stn U599,1 branch, NZOI P-900. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn E846,34'07.5'S, 17137.5'E, 
west of Three Kings Island; 343-417 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name tetrastichopora (from 
the Greek terra, four + stichos, row + poros, orifice) 
refers to the tetraserial rows of cyclosystems com- 
mon to most branches. 
REMARKS: Conopora tetrastichopora is easily distin- 
guished from all other species of Conopora by its 
tetraserial arrangement of cyclosystems and its 
linear-granular coenosteal texture (Table 6). It also 
has a very low range and average number of dactylo- 
pores per cyclosystem (average 4.44) and the 
consistent presence of a broad diastema. It is, 
however, remarkably similar to the description of 
Conopora pauciseptata Broch, 1951. The description 
of C. pauciseptata, collected at Discovery Seamount 
(42'03.9'S, 0?03.5'E, 472 m), was based on a single 
worn basal fragment, which unfortunately can- 
not now be located. Intriguing points of similarity 
include its apparent three rows of cyclosystems 
on its larger diameter branches, broad cyclosystem 
diastemas, internal ampullae, "finger-print" coeno- 
steal texture, and lack of polychaete commensals. 
It differs in having a higher average number of 
dactylopores jper cyclosystem (range, 3-11; average, 
6.59), unequal branching, and a rectangular branch 
cross section. However, if the type or topotypic 
specimens are discovered, they should be compared 
to C. tetrastichopora. 
Conopora unifacialis n. sp.   (Plates 63, a-f, 64, a, b) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from type locality: Colville 
Ridge; 547-646 m. 
DESCRIPTION: Of the 3 colonies examined, 2 were 
uniplanar and 1 had flabella orientated in 3 planes. 
Colonies relatively small ? largest colony 27.4 mm 
tall and 27.7 mm broad, with a basal branch diameter 
of 3.8 mm; holotype an incomplete colony 21.8 mm 
tall and 18.0 mm broad. Branching dichotomous 
and equal; branch anastomosis occurred once in the 
limited material at hand. Distal branches circular 
in cross section and relatively slender, the cyclo- 
systems often greater in diameter than the branches 
bearing them. No polychaete commensals 
observed. Coenosteum white and linear-imbricate 
in texture. Coenosteal strips large and coarse, 
0.13-0.28 mm wide, and convex to ridged. Strips 
sometimes swirl obliquely along branches, often 
interconnecting with adjacent strips through wide 
(0.16-0.20 mm thick) bridges. Strips bordered by 
shallow grooves up to 70 um wide, the bridging of 
which creates large, elliptical coenosteal pores up 
to 90 urn in greater diameter and about 70 urn in 
lesser diameter. Illustrated platelet structure 
(Plate 63, e) obscure due to worn condition of 
specimens. 
Cyclosystems occur exclusively on midline of 
anterior branch faces, with a very slight distal 
inclination. Cyclosystems large (up to 1.6x1.3 mm 
in diameter) and elliptical in shape, their greater 
axis transverse to branch axis. Based on 34 
cyclosystems (all that were available to count), the 
range of dactylopores per cyclosystem was 14-21, 
average 18.41 (a = 1.42), and mode 18. 
Gastropore tubes unique in structure. Upper 
section composed of a broad, shallow, infundi- 
buliform chamber about 0.5 mm deep and encircled 
by dactylotomes and pseudosepta only for its 
upper half. This broad upper section leads to a 
circular intermediate tube 0.28-0.33 mm in diameter 
and about 0.25 mm long, which is an apparent 
homologue to the gastropore ring constriction. 
Intermediate tube opens into a flattened lower 
chamber about 0.15 mm tall and 055 mm in diameter, 
which is highly porous. Dactylotomes broad and 
0.09- 0.16 mm wide; pseudosepta quite slender 
(20?30 (lm wide), usually only one-fourth to one- 
third dactylotome width. Diastemas absent. 
Female and male ampullae occur as large internal 
continuous masses that create irregular swellings 
77 
on posterior branch faces. Individual ampullae not 
observed. Although the ampullar masses are on 
the posterior branch faces, the female efferent pores 
open to anterior face and are 0.19-0.20 mm in 
diameter. Male efferent pores apical and thus open 
onto posterior branch face, each efferent pore about 
0.14 mm in diameter. Male efferent pores differenti- 
ated from coenosteal pores by their slightly larger 
size and more regular, circular shape. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn P947,1 male col., NZOI 
H-582.   Paratypes: NZOI Stn P-947, 1 male col., 
NZOI P-901,1 female col. and SEM stub 621, USNM 
87558. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn P947,25'13.7'S, 179"04.1'W, 
Colville Ridge; 547-646 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name unifacialis (from the 
Latin unus, one + fades, face) refers to the unifacial 
arrangement of cyclosystems of this species. 
REMARKS: Conopora unifacialis differs from all other 
species of Conopora in having: unifacially arranged 
cyclosystems; a very high range and average number 
of dactylopores per cyclosystem (average, 18.4); a 
uniquely shaped gastropore tube; very slender 
pseudosepta; and large coenosteal pores (Table 6). 
Conopora gigantea n. sp.    (Plates 64, c-f, 65, a-d) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION:   Known   only  from   type  locality: 
southern Norfolk Ridge; 356 m. 
DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE: Colony uniplanar and 
robust, 7.1 cm tall and 6.5 cm broad, with a basal 
branch diameter of 9.2 mm and a broad, encrusting 
base. Branching dichotomous, equal, and sparse ? 
only 7 branch axils present on holotype. Branches 
circular in cross section and thick, tapering to blunt 
tips as much as 6-7 mm in diameter. No polychaete 
commensals present. Coenosteum white and linear- 
granular in texture. Coenosteal strips 80-100 urn 
wide and slightly convex, separated by shallow 
grooves 45-50 urn wide. Grooves periodically 
pierced by circular pores 35-45 Jim in diameter. 
Strips densely covered with small (up to 15 pm 
tall), triangular, pointed granules. No nematopores. 
Cyclosystems uniformly distributed on all branch 
faces, orientated perpendicular to branch face and 
only slightly exsert. Cyclosystems circular to slightly 
elliptical and large ? up to 2.6 mm in greater 
diameter. Based on 50 cyclosystems, the range of 
dactylopores per cyclosystem was 8-13, average 
9.66 (ci = 1.00), and mode 9. 
Gastropore tubes unique in structure. Upper 
0.60-0.65 mm of tube cylindrical and encircled by 
dactylotomes and inner pseudoseptal edges. Just 
beneath lower edges of dactylotomes the tube 
expands slightly in diameter (to about 1.5 mm) and 
continues as a cylinder to the rounded base, a 
distance of about 1.75 mm. No gastropore ring 
constriction present or any other differentiation of 
the tube shape (Plates 64, e, 65, a, d). Dactylotomes 
wide and 0.27- 0.38 mm across; pseudosepta wedge 
shaped, sometimes as wide as an adjacent dactylo- 
tome, but narrowing to a very slender, sharp inner 
edge approximately 20 um wide. Upper edges of 
pseudosepta loculated, composed of a network of 
large pores 0.13-0.15 mm mm in diameter. Diastemas 
absent. 
Female ampullae enormous internal tubes up to 
1.8 mm in internal diameter and of great length 
(often over 5 mm). Efferent pores common on 
holotype, consisting initially of small nonperforate 
mounds about 0.3 mm tall and 0.5-0.6 mm in 
diameter. Eventually coenosteum at top of mound 
becomes porous and finally is resorbed, revealing a 
large circular efferent pore about 0.45 mm in 
diameter. Male ampullae unknown. 
TYPE: Holotype: NZOI Stn 196, 1 female col., NZOI 
H-583, SEM stub 620 (USNM). 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn 196, 32?10.8"S, 167*21.2'E, 
southern Norfolk Ridge; 356 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name gigantea (from the 
Latin giganteus, giant) refers to the large colony size 
and robust branches of this species. 
REMARKS: Conopora gigantea belongs to Conopora 
(Group B), as defined by Cairns (1983b), consisting 
of only one other Recent species with uniformly 
distributed cyclosystems and granular coenosteum 
? C. dura Hickson and England, 1909, known only 
from two specimens collected off Providence 
Island, western Indian Ocean at 229 m. Although 
superficially similar, C. gigantea is distinguished by 
having considerably larger cyclosystems, a lower 
average number of dactylopores per cyclosystem, 
lacking nematopores, and having non-differentiated 
upper and lower gastropore chambers. 
78 
8 a. 
0) 
8 
XI 
(V 
S  ^ !!i 
i a. 
It I i 
0-, 
N   g 
> o 
^? 
"55 Jj 
01 
o n. 
a ?= 
u 
tu 
J 
CO 
e 
o 
u 
be 
C 
?c 
% 
o 
a, 
o 
bO 
II 
u 
bo 
U 
a, 
c 
c 
? 
3 
u 
U 
Q. 
C 
? 
3 
s 
u 
U Sii 
E9 
b "O 
U 52- 
(0 
U 
C  2 
3   CL, 
2 nj 3 3 
<T bD 
QJ      C 
a>  (0 o 
Sis 2 
^?   bO 
15-3 S 
u  &.? 
3 "?- 2 
&^ ? 
m   ?  5 
3
 ai *a xT 
?a?-a s 
?  ? u S 
G 
if ? 
? c a giSg 
oi" rt *j 
?   3 ?3 _ 
3 14= 
OI    in    _, ?a 3 s o JO j" 
2 2 "5 
T3 
? 
?   ai 
o ex 
-0,2 
c 
ai 
a 
OH 
u 
S c 01 
6 
E 
o 
01 
.3 
? 
3 
? (0 
o> "H 
.5 '5 j a. 
IS 
o 
3 
C 
es 
o> 
1 B ? 2 
g s 
OI 
"5 
S 
(0 
ai 
? 
I 
3 
g 
u 
-a 
CQ 
CL. 
^3 0 f= 
e a, (8 
c 
oi 
1 3 c 1 01 2 5 
o -a 
S   3 r^ 
r 
bb 
0 
c 
o 
D 
to 
D 
3   (0   3 
B 
3 15   3 
6 
[ft 
*1 15   3 
^ s 
u 
-I 
-a 
bp e  ?X S    R    3 s a o 
<u 
E 
o 
I 
IS. 
ot 
4 
\D 
(N 
b II 
b X 
IN 
3 
o 
^ >^ bo u 
m *s. 
> k 
a >-. 
OJu   E 
bo id   CD 
(S'S   ^ 
.s K 
a; ^j 
.3   m 
ai  2 
3 .5 f| 
&. a, 
3   bO 
% o 
TI B 
?3$ 
1 I 
U   in T   01 
SI 
(3    C 
Y ? 
3   ^ 
"8 I 
B~ 
(SI 
i! 
a 
o 
a. 
in 
<0 
6 
cu 
"S 
>, o 
_   *   <* 
_2   D   ? 
w; g-s: 
?ri 
c 
M <u m 
?> T id 
lA 
<N a 
O E 
"O   in 
J. E 
In &- 
m ^ 
IU c 
% 
10 <i> 
tJ 
^ x m 
7! 5 
a 
2 
in 
<a 
B 
w 
(1) 
C m ai 
'U 01 
ro a. 
1 d 01 
0 
CL, DH 
O 
a, 5 
"S   oi 
3 B 
* I ^'S o 5ofi 
o ^"2 Si 
<5 <o * -S 
? -a Ck-n 
at .y 
.5 n 
a. 
ai 
E 
M 
Ol 
S ? 
M" CL, 
oi o 
r: to 3 jo g bC 
oj O 
^J o (?  J3 C ? 
PL2 3   ? 
m
 01 
or g J5 
>   [X 3 
a. 
oi 
0) 
15 
?X a, 
? 15 
o a. 
?? 
01 
01           g 01 
s    2 ? 
<\> 
c JJ 
01 y 
a. 
o a 
a. 0 a- 
Ol 0 
J3 
s (8 bo 
01 o 
s 2 a, oi 5 ? 
a,^ 
01   O 
.. i 
g   13 
S   Q 
?   ? 
3 
a, ? 
B.2 
oi 3 
15P 
UH   01 
C   ? 
?<s 
oi   o 
?S S 
1 SLl 
?   C   oi ?c aS 
a, oi a, 
a 
oi 
S 
oi E 
a.3 
3 IS 
I* OS 
oi   o 
?   ? 
?  60 
oi 
B"^ 
_oi Ja 
3 a. 
oi 
bO 
?a 
01 
bO 
?xs 
S B 
(J in 
01 
bO 
2 
2? 
a 
b(5di 
r? ^ o 
acZ IS 
11^ 
? -rv u 
?
n
 ,y TJ o 
s a tot 
Oi   nS   >H 
XI 15   ? ?? 
? 
O 
3 
79 
Incertae Sedis 
"Conopora" anthohelia n. sp. 
(Plates 65, e-g, 66, a, b) 
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Types, q.v. 
DISTRIBUTION: Colville Ridge and Three Kings Ridge; 
547-1170 m. 
DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE: Colony uniplanar, 203 mm 
tall and 18.6 mm broad, with a basal branch 
diameter of 3.4 x 4.2 mm. Branching dichotomous 
and equal, only two generations of branching 
present, resulting in 3 axils and 4 branch tips. 
Branches flattened in plane of colony; distal 
branches blunt, 2.9-35 mm in diameter. Coenosteum 
white, with a linear-granular, porcellanous texture. 
Strips 0.12-0.32 mm wide, but coenosteal slits 
obscure. Mid-line of coenosteal strips often carinate, 
each ridge as high as 60 urn; if strip not carinate, 
there is often a series of pointed granules of 
equivalent height along mid-line. Nematopores 
absent. 
Cyclosystems primarily unifacial, the holotype 
having 11 cyclosystems on its anterior face (Plate 
65, f) and 3 (1 near the ends of 3 of the 4 branches) 
on the posterior face. Anterior-facing cyclosystems 
closely spaced, often directly adjacent to one 
another, and occur from colony base to near branch 
tips; however, cyclosystems do not occur at branch 
tips, but always slightly subdistally. Cyclosystems 
circular to slightly elliptical and nonexsert, up to 
2.6 mm in greater cyclosystem diameter. Based on 
14 cyclosystems (all available for analysis) the 
range of dactylopores per cyclosystem was 17-20, 
average 18.42 (a = 0.77), and mode 18. Cyclosystems 
lack lids and lips but most have a short proximal 
diastema occupying 20?-30? of its circumference. 
Gastropore tubes unique in structure. Upper 
chamber broad and extremely shallow, the pseudo- 
septal inner edges extending far below dactylo- 
tomes. Nonetheless, a smooth, nonseptate portion 
of upper chamber exists just above gastropore ring 
constriction. Gastropore ring constriction circular 
and quite large: 0.7-0.8 mm in diameter. Short (up 
to 75 um), lamellar septa (Plate 66, b) project from 
the edge of the gastropore ring constriction and 
continue along the lateral and lower, outer edges of 
lower gastropore chamber. These lamellae occur in 
equal numbers to pseudosepta and are interpreted 
as disrupted continuations of the pseudosepta within 
the lower gastropore chamber. Lower chamber 
also relatively shallow (only 0.10-0.11 mm deep) 
and bears a large, low mound (Plate 66, a, b) centrally. 
The mound is analogous in position to a gastrostyle 
but is only about 0.05 mm high and 0.45 mm in 
basal diameter (H: W ratio = 0.11), appearing as 
little more than a slight, but distinct convexity in 
lower chamber. Mound sparsely covered with 
pointed granules up to 40 urn tall. 
No ampullae were apparent; however, it appeared 
as though large subcoenosteal cavities exist on much 
of the posterior face, similar to the internal ampullar 
masses of Conopora unifacialis. 
TYPES: Holotype: NZOI Stn P947, 1 col., NZOI H- 
584. Paratype: NZOI Stn U581,1 col., NZOI P-933. 
TYPE LOCALITY: NZOI Stn P947,25T3.7S, 179*04.1'W, 
Colville Ridge; 547-646 m. 
ETYMOLOGY: The species name anthohelia (from the 
Greek anthos, flower + helios, sun) the latter being a 
common suffix used in stylasterid names, in this 
case pertaining to the cyclosystems), alludes to the 
sunflower-like nature of the cyclosystems of this 
species. 
REMARKS: Among the stylasterid genera, "Conopora " 
anthohelia is most similar to Conopora, specifically C, 
unifacialis. Points of similarity include unifacial, 
nonexsert cyclosystems; broad, shallow gastropore 
upper chambers; an almost identical average 
number of dactylopores per cyclosystem; dichoto- 
mous, equal branching; and co-occurrence at the 
same station. However, there are striking differences 
that distinguish "Conopora" anthohelia from C. 
unifacialis as well as the other species in the genus 
? "C." anthohelia has a rudimentary gastrostyle; 
larger, subterminal, diastema te cyclosystems; thick, 
flattened branches; an enormous gastropore ring 
constriction with pseudosepta occurring in and below 
it; and a carinate, porcellanous coenosteal texture. 
"Conopora" anthohelia also resembles the genus 
Pseudocrypthelia in having double-chambered 
gastropore tubes, unifacial cyclosystems, and a 
rudimentary gastrostyle. It differs in lacking a cyclo- 
system lid, having linear-granular coenosteum (not 
linear-imbricate), lacking nematopores, and in having 
very shallow gastropore tubes with pseudoseptal 
ridges extending into the lower chamber. 
Because of the limited material available, a new 
genus is not suggested for this species. 
Astya Stechow, 1921 
Castro- and dactylopores arranged in cyclosystems, 
which occur exclusively on anterior branch faces; 
80