“19. Onogorgia, new genus
FIGURE 9H–M
Caligorgia.—Molander, 1929:60 [in part: C. nodosa].
Ascolepis.—Bayer, 1981b:934 [fi g. 66], 936 [key to genus].—Bayer and Stefani, 1989:454 [key to genus].
Fannyella.—Bayer, 1998:197–204 [in part: F. nodosa].
DIAGNOSIS. Colonies unbranched (flagelliform). Calyces arranged in whorls (Figure 9j) of up to 24, the appressed calyces facing upward; calyces within a whorl are slightly fused basally. Well-developed operculum present; inner face of operculars bear multiple longitudinal ridges but no single keel. Eight marginal scales fold over operculars, forming a circumoperculum; distal edges of marginals elongate and pointed but not spinose. Polyps protected by eight longitudinal rows of body wall scales, the two abaxial rows consisting of up to 14 scales; scales in lateral rows equal in number and size to the abaxials, but adaxial scales much smaller and somewhat randomly arranged (Figure 9i), nonetheless resulting in complete coverage of polyp. Body wall scales are ascus scales (Figure 9k), quite similar to those of Fannyella, having a smooth distal surface and tuberculate proximal surface, but unlike Fannyella, the perimeter of the cuplike structure is coarsely serrate (Figure 9l). Serrations on distal portion of body wall scales are on the inner side and correspond to radial ridges, whereas serrations on the proximal portion of the scales are on the outer side, such that inner distal ridges of one scale intercalate with proximal serrations of the more distal scale, providing stability and alignment in opening and closing of the calyx. Coenenchymal scales in two layers: outer layer composed of flat or ascus-type scales, inner layer composed of irregular tuberculate sclerites.
Discussion. Bayer (1998) placed the type species in the genus Fannyella s.l., noting the close resemblance of the ascus body wall scales between the two genera. Onogorgia differs from Fannyella (Table 3) in having a flagelliform colony, eight longitudinal rows of body wall scales and, thus, a completely covered polyp, and a coarse serration of the proximal outer edges and a corresponding coarse ridging of the distal inner edges of the body wall scales. The genus is monotypic.
DISTRIBUTION. Antarctic: Ross Sea, Scotia Sea, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula, 22–433 m.
ETYMOLOGY. Greek onos = wine cup or beaker + gorgia, in allusion to the cup-shaped body wall ascus scales. Gender: feminine.
TYPE SPECIES. Caligorgia nodosa Molander, 1929, here designated. Types reputedly deposited at the Stockholm Museum of Natural History.”
(Bayer and Cairns, 2009)
Onogorgia is een geslacht van neteldieren uit de klasse van de Anthozoa (bloemdieren).
Onogorgia is een geslacht van neteldieren uit de klasse van de Anthozoa (bloemdieren).
