Arnold's Stony Coral

Caryophyllia (C.) arnoldi Vaughan, 1900

Caryophyllia arnoldi Vaughan, 1900:199–200, pl. 16: figs. 1, 2; 1903:86, pl. 3: figs, 4, 4a.—Durham, 1947:33–34, pl. 2: figs. 3, 7, 16, 17.—Durham and Barnard, 1952:81–82, pl. 9: fig, 42a,b.—Keller, 1981:19, fig. 4, table 4.—Austin, 1985:81.—Bythell, 1986:13–14.—Cairns et al., 1991:47.

Caryophyllia alaskensis: Durham, 1947:33 [in part: specimens from California, including pl. 2: figs. 4, 8, 9, 12, 13); 1949:152–153, pl. 4: fig. 9.—Durham and Barnard, 1952:81, pl. 9: fig. 4la,b.—Talmadge, 1972:81 [in part: California specimens].—Keller, 1981:21 [in part: Vityaz-4139, 4179].—Bythell, 1986:14 [in part: pl. 4: figs. C-F].

Caryophyllia ambrosia.—Keller, 1981a:15 [in part: Vityaz-6127].

DESCRIPTION.—Corallum robust, ceratoid to trochoid, always attached through a relatively thick pedicel up to 65% of GCD. Calice circular to slightly elliptical; calicular edge serrate, each septum producing an acute triangular apex. Largest specimen known (Alb-4463) 16.0 × 14.5 mm in calicular diameter and 17.0 mm in height, with a pedicel diameter of 8.8 mm. Theca thick; costae usually have rounded edges, especially near calicular edge, and are separated by narrow and shallow intercostal striae. Costae usually bear very small, rounded granules: 4 or 5 occurring across the width of a costa. Occasionally the theca is smooth, lacking granulation. Corallum white.

Above a calicular diameter of 8 mm septa are hexamerally arranged in 4 complete cycles (48 septa) according to the formula: S1–2>S3≥S4. S1–2 moderately exsert (1.4–2.3 mm) and have straight inner edges that extend about three-quarters distance to columella. S3 about three-quarters with of S1–2, 0.9–1.3 mm exsert, and have slightly sinuous inner edges. S4 80%-100% width of S3 (the wider S3 occurring in larger coralla), have straight inner edges, and are equally exsert as S3. Twelve broad, extremely sinuous P3 form a discrete circular to slightly elliptical palar crown. Pali bear tall granules, sometimes fused into oblique carinae. Viewed from above, the sinuous pali give the appearance of being thicker than the septa, but both septa and pali are equally thick. Fossa relatively shallow, containing a robust, fascicular columella composed of a circular to slightly elliptical field of 5–25 twisted laths, occasionally fused together into a massive structure.

azooxanthellate

40-656 m