This sediment dwelling cnidarian was found within a benthic sediment grab at 170m depth north east of the Shetland Islands in the North Sea. Can anyone suggest a particular species?
Any help would be very much appreciated,
Ed Lavallin
The photos are in very poor quality. When photographing specimens that are going to be used in taxonomy, they must be of the best possible quality and show some aspect of taxonomic relevance (this is not the case). The photos are too general, they do not provide information. Could you update these photos ?. I recommend you to be possible despite the answers that you can give with those photos you get help from a specialist. If the photos are for a publication, you should improve them a lot, because they said they do not show relevant information so that another person with your same doubt can use it as an identification pattern.
If someone answers the species level, I would doubt it twice before taking it as a final word. The cnidarians are complex to identify with approximately more 16 363 species
I agree with Asiel that these photos prevent ID down to the species level, but maybe the following info offers a solution.
In the northern North Sea, a colonial Anthozoa like this may be Epizoanthus papillosus. It often grows on shells of hermit crabs but free-living colonies exist as well. The 'anchor' which is visible on the sieve puzzles me: is this a large polyp or is something inside this ball?
see Ryland, J. S. & H. Ward 2016. Carcinoecium-forming Epizoanthus [Hexacorallia: Zoantharia] and the biology of E. papillosus in the eastern Atlantic, with special reference to the cnidom. Zootaxa. 4088 (4) 489-514. Article Carcinoecium-forming Epizoanthus [Hexacorallia: Zoantharia] ...
I agree with Gert - likely a zoantharian of some kind. The anchor or peduncle seems odd - can you confirm it is part of the same organism and not a sponge or something else. Or, as Gert suggests, it there a rock or some hard substrate inside?
To confirm if this may be a zoantharian or not, you might want to examine the polyps and common tissue under a dissecting scope. Zoantharians should have sand/silica/debris embedded in their body wall.
Finally, as to ID of this specimen, it is likely to be some kind of Epizoanthidae, but there are many unique and likely undescribed species and even genera in the deep sea. If you have any more images or questions, feel free to post here or even send an email!
Thank you so much for your input. My sincerest apologies for the appalling photos they were hastily taken whilst van Veen sampling in poor weather conditions. The samples will be sent back to our benthic lab for further examination and accurate identification. My current thoughts are this is either some kind of sediment dwelling Zoantharian or Hexactinellid sponge parasitized by Parazoanthus anguicomus. The later would explain the 'holdfast'. Thanks again for all you help. Always a pleasure, Ed
Hi Edward Lavallin , did you get any information on the sample in the lab?
Hi Edward
Looks like Cavernularia pusilla (except for swelling in the proximal part of the rachis). Also compare your specimens with this species.
Regards
Melih
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology