“40. Dasystenella Versluys, 1906
FIGURE 18I–P
Stenella.—Wright and Studer, 1889:59 [in part: S. acanthina].
Stenella (Dasystenella) Versluys, 1906:39, 48.
Thouarella.—Kükenthal, 1915:151 [in part]; 1919:441 [in part]; 1924:302 [in part].
Dasystenella Bayer, 1981b:934, 937, 946 [key to genus].—Bayer and Stefani, 1989:454 [key to genus].—Cairns, 2006:188–189.
Diagnosis. Branching of colonies in a bottlebrush arrangement. Calyces arranged in whorls of up to five, the calyces inclined upward (Figure18i). Well developed operculum present, the operculars prominently keeled (Figure 18n) on their inner surface. Five marginal scales (Figure 18j) present, all bearing apical spines, but abaxial and two lateral marginals bear extremely long spines. Marginal spines bear longitudinal serrate ridges. Polyps completely covered by five longitudinal rows of body wall scales (one abaxial row, two lateral rows, and two adaxial rows, the adaxial scales much smaller than the others). Inner surface of body wall scales tuberculate (Figure 18m), outer surface finely granular (Figure 18l). Coenenchymal scales elliptical, arranged in one layer.
Discussion. Originally considered by Versluys (1906) to be one of four subgenera of Stenella sensu Gray, 1870, Dasystenella was raised to generic rank by Bayer (1981b), who distinguished it as having only five marginal scales and bottlebrush-branched colonies. It is a monotypic genus restricted to the subantarctic region.
Distribution. Argentina, Scotia Ridge to South Shetland Islands, abyssal plain west of Tierra del Fuego, 300–5,087 m.
Type Species. Stenella acanthina Wright and Studer, 1889, by monotypy. Syntypes are deposited at the BM (1889.05.27.48), and uncataloged syntype SEM stubs B276 and C1185-1186 are deposited at the NMNH. The type species was recently redescribed and figured by Cairns (2006).”
(Bayer & Cairns, 2009)
(Wright and Studer, 1889)
(Versluys, 1906)
(Kükenthal, 1915)
(Bayer, 1981b)
(Bayer and Stefani, 1989)
(Cairns, 2006)
