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On the northeast coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands), colonies of a previously unknown tube coral were discovered in 2020 and 2021 during dives at depths between 40 and 45 meters.
The colonies of this azooxanthellate tube coral were discovered on vertical reef walls, a habitat that benefits from rising, nutrient-rich deeper water zones.
The largest colony had reached the following dimensions: 50 cm wide and 50 cm high.
The holotype MMC-T-96, found near Radazul on February 15, 2024, is a large colony with a stolonal base, with several branches emerging from a common stolon.
The colony has some anastomoses, is colonized by filamentous algae, and grows in the upper part of a vertical wall, but is attached to a lost rope.
The anthocodia are bright white, and the stems and calyxes are pale white to pale pink in color.
Paratype MMC-T-97, found near Radazul, 01.09.2021, is a large colony without stolon and base, colonized by filamentous algae and some sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope, large calyxes,
anthocodiae with the same color data as the holotype.
Paratype MMC-T-98, Radazul, 01.09.2021, two medium to small colonies, some fragments, with reduced base and some growing stolons,
anastomoses present, colonized by filamentous algae and some sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but also attached to a lost rope
The polyps have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as the holotype.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN-195, found in Radazul, 01.09.2021, is a large colony with a base and two small fragments, colonized by sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope,
anthocodiae bright white, stem and calyxes pale white to pale pink in color.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN 196, found in Radazul, September 1, 2021, is a medium and a large colony with reduced bases, as well as two fragments, colonized by sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope.
These colonies have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as paratype TFMC-BM/CN 195.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN 197; Found in Radazul, July 1, 2020, it consists of two medium-sized colonies without bases, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall but attached to a lost rope.
The polyps also have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as the paratype TFMC-BM/CN 195.
Diagnosis: Large population with a width of up to one meter and a height of 50 cm, branches growing upward from short runners and forming tufts (s Anastomoses were observed in two fragments, which occurred in two ways:
a) Connection of adjacent branches by a thick, short, or broad bridge of coenenchyme running along the branch (see Fig. 3, D of the original description).
b) Connection of branches and polyps by a small dot (see Fig. 3 of the original description).
The large calyxes (5–6 mm long), some of which are up to 1 cm long, have inconspicuous or faintly visible sclerite grooves.
There are areas with a high calyx density (5–12/cm) or low density (4–5/cm).
The cross-section shows a typical arrangement of 8 channels around the center and small channels of varying sizes in low density, distributed along the coenenchyme (see Fig. 3, F).
Anthocodia have a bright white color in the stem.
Ecology:
Very little is known about the ecological habitats of this species. The large tree-like colony was found at a depth of 40–45 meters, connected by a rope that forms a remarkably branched structure with the help of water movement.
This is the only habitat in which the species has been found on Tenerife so far.
It is expected that the species originates from tropical areas and inhabits various habitats.
Most of the branches were colonized by filamentous algae and sponges living on the enlarged stem of Macrocarijoa humboldti.
Larger polyps with tentacles that move with the water currents can improve the feeding efficiency of the colony.
Remarks:
The species undoubtedly belongs to this subfamily due to the size of the anthocodial rods, but due to the large calyxes (5–10 mm) connected to the small decorated rods (0.5–0.15 mm), it belongs to a separate genus.
The characteristic solenia of Carijoa spp. examined in our article are also a strong argument for placing the species in a separate genus.
The species differs significantly from the other species examined in this article, mainly due to the smaller ornamented stigmas in the calyx, a feature that is not found in other examined materials and in searched articles with corresponding descriptions from the Caribbean (see Bayer, 1961; Laackmann, 1909) and also other geographical areas (see Bayer, 1961; Müller, 1867; Laackmann, 1909; Vargas & Breedy, 2022; McFadden & van Ofwegen, 2012).
The rather transparent tentacular anthocodial neck and the disc, which protrudes slightly into the mouth area of the tentacles, the very small calyx-shaped rods, and the larger polyps are characteristic features of this species worldwide.
Etymology:
The species name “humboldti” is dedicated to the scientist and biologist Alexander von Humboldt.
Scientific reference:
Ocaña Vicente, O; Correa Bethencourt, D.; Monterroso Hoyos, O.; Rosales Ruíz, A.; Congil Ross, A.; Herrera Pérez, R.; Moro Abad, L.; García Díaz, M.; Cozzi Febles, S.; Tovar Berrera, C. J.; Brito Hernández, A. (2024).
One ancient endemic species and five new exotic crypto-species of Carijoidae family (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from Canary Islands sea-bottoms, caused by global shipping.
Rev. Acad. Canar. Cienc. XXXV, 87-130.
The colonies of this azooxanthellate tube coral were discovered on vertical reef walls, a habitat that benefits from rising, nutrient-rich deeper water zones.
The largest colony had reached the following dimensions: 50 cm wide and 50 cm high.
The holotype MMC-T-96, found near Radazul on February 15, 2024, is a large colony with a stolonal base, with several branches emerging from a common stolon.
The colony has some anastomoses, is colonized by filamentous algae, and grows in the upper part of a vertical wall, but is attached to a lost rope.
The anthocodia are bright white, and the stems and calyxes are pale white to pale pink in color.
Paratype MMC-T-97, found near Radazul, 01.09.2021, is a large colony without stolon and base, colonized by filamentous algae and some sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope, large calyxes,
anthocodiae with the same color data as the holotype.
Paratype MMC-T-98, Radazul, 01.09.2021, two medium to small colonies, some fragments, with reduced base and some growing stolons,
anastomoses present, colonized by filamentous algae and some sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but also attached to a lost rope
The polyps have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as the holotype.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN-195, found in Radazul, 01.09.2021, is a large colony with a base and two small fragments, colonized by sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope,
anthocodiae bright white, stem and calyxes pale white to pale pink in color.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN 196, found in Radazul, September 1, 2021, is a medium and a large colony with reduced bases, as well as two fragments, colonized by sponges, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall, but attached to a lost rope.
These colonies have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as paratype TFMC-BM/CN 195.
Paratype TFMC-BM/CN 197; Found in Radazul, July 1, 2020, it consists of two medium-sized colonies without bases, growing in the upper part of a vertical wall but attached to a lost rope.
The polyps also have large calyxes, anthocodiae with the same color data as the paratype TFMC-BM/CN 195.
Diagnosis: Large population with a width of up to one meter and a height of 50 cm, branches growing upward from short runners and forming tufts (s Anastomoses were observed in two fragments, which occurred in two ways:
a) Connection of adjacent branches by a thick, short, or broad bridge of coenenchyme running along the branch (see Fig. 3, D of the original description).
b) Connection of branches and polyps by a small dot (see Fig. 3 of the original description).
The large calyxes (5–6 mm long), some of which are up to 1 cm long, have inconspicuous or faintly visible sclerite grooves.
There are areas with a high calyx density (5–12/cm) or low density (4–5/cm).
The cross-section shows a typical arrangement of 8 channels around the center and small channels of varying sizes in low density, distributed along the coenenchyme (see Fig. 3, F).
Anthocodia have a bright white color in the stem.
Ecology:
Very little is known about the ecological habitats of this species. The large tree-like colony was found at a depth of 40–45 meters, connected by a rope that forms a remarkably branched structure with the help of water movement.
This is the only habitat in which the species has been found on Tenerife so far.
It is expected that the species originates from tropical areas and inhabits various habitats.
Most of the branches were colonized by filamentous algae and sponges living on the enlarged stem of Macrocarijoa humboldti.
Larger polyps with tentacles that move with the water currents can improve the feeding efficiency of the colony.
Remarks:
The species undoubtedly belongs to this subfamily due to the size of the anthocodial rods, but due to the large calyxes (5–10 mm) connected to the small decorated rods (0.5–0.15 mm), it belongs to a separate genus.
The characteristic solenia of Carijoa spp. examined in our article are also a strong argument for placing the species in a separate genus.
The species differs significantly from the other species examined in this article, mainly due to the smaller ornamented stigmas in the calyx, a feature that is not found in other examined materials and in searched articles with corresponding descriptions from the Caribbean (see Bayer, 1961; Laackmann, 1909) and also other geographical areas (see Bayer, 1961; Müller, 1867; Laackmann, 1909; Vargas & Breedy, 2022; McFadden & van Ofwegen, 2012).
The rather transparent tentacular anthocodial neck and the disc, which protrudes slightly into the mouth area of the tentacles, the very small calyx-shaped rods, and the larger polyps are characteristic features of this species worldwide.
Etymology:
The species name “humboldti” is dedicated to the scientist and biologist Alexander von Humboldt.
Scientific reference:
Ocaña Vicente, O; Correa Bethencourt, D.; Monterroso Hoyos, O.; Rosales Ruíz, A.; Congil Ross, A.; Herrera Pérez, R.; Moro Abad, L.; García Díaz, M.; Cozzi Febles, S.; Tovar Berrera, C. J.; Brito Hernández, A. (2024).
One ancient endemic species and five new exotic crypto-species of Carijoidae family (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from Canary Islands sea-bottoms, caused by global shipping.
Rev. Acad. Canar. Cienc. XXXV, 87-130.
