WoRMS source details
Utinomi, H. (1956). On the so-called "Umi-utiwa", a peculiar flabellate gorgonacean, with notes on a syllidean polychaete commensal. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. 5(2): 243-250.
52040
Utinomi, H.
1956
On the so-called "Umi-utiwa", a peculiar flabellate gorgonacean, with notes on a syllidean polychaete commensal
Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory
5(2): 243-250
Publication
World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb)
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[None. Introduction as follows:]
Along the Pacific coast of southern Japan, a large gorgonacean colony of flabellate branching, which is usually known as "Umi-utiwa ", is occasionally found, as stranded on the beach or caught by fishermen's nets. The stranded colony is usually almost denuded without bark while being cleaned ashore, so that anyone who happened to see it cannot decide to which kind of the Gorgonacea it should be referred.
The axis of the colony is very firm in texture, dark brown to black in color and flabellate with dense anastomoses in outline. A similar, possibly the same, gorgonacean coral is listed or figured under the name "Rhipidogorgia" in many representative textbooks of zoology published in Japan. This is evidently an erroneous identification due to the superficial resemblance in the flabellate growth form, since the gorgonacean named as such (exactly Gorgonia flabellum Linnaeus, syn. Rhipidogorgia flabellum) is a separate species living only on the Atlantic coast of North America and in the West Indies (Bayer, 1951).
While examining the gorgonacean materials, a number of living and dead colonies referable to this so-called "Umi-utiwa" from various localities came to my hand. On examination on the spiculation and other structures, I came to a conclusion that they should be referred to a Muriceid holaxonian, Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius (1931), originally recorded from the Bonin Islands.
Moreover, I found that the living colonies of this species are frequently infested with a polychaete commensal belonging to the syllid genus Haplosyllis.
Along the Pacific coast of southern Japan, a large gorgonacean colony of flabellate branching, which is usually known as "Umi-utiwa ", is occasionally found, as stranded on the beach or caught by fishermen's nets. The stranded colony is usually almost denuded without bark while being cleaned ashore, so that anyone who happened to see it cannot decide to which kind of the Gorgonacea it should be referred.
The axis of the colony is very firm in texture, dark brown to black in color and flabellate with dense anastomoses in outline. A similar, possibly the same, gorgonacean coral is listed or figured under the name "Rhipidogorgia" in many representative textbooks of zoology published in Japan. This is evidently an erroneous identification due to the superficial resemblance in the flabellate growth form, since the gorgonacean named as such (exactly Gorgonia flabellum Linnaeus, syn. Rhipidogorgia flabellum) is a separate species living only on the Atlantic coast of North America and in the West Indies (Bayer, 1951).
While examining the gorgonacean materials, a number of living and dead colonies referable to this so-called "Umi-utiwa" from various localities came to my hand. On examination on the spiculation and other structures, I came to a conclusion that they should be referred to a Muriceid holaxonian, Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius (1931), originally recorded from the Bonin Islands.
Moreover, I found that the living colonies of this species are frequently infested with a polychaete commensal belonging to the syllid genus Haplosyllis.
Japan
Associations, Symbiosis, Commensalism (parasitism see *PAR)
Systematics, Taxonomy
Systematics, Taxonomy
Date
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2013-01-12 18:30:12Z
created
db_admin
Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius, 1931 (additional source)
Haplosyllis anthogorgicola Utinomi, 1956 (original description)
Haplosyllis anthogorgicola Utinomi, 1956 (original description)
Syntype SMBL Type 161, geounit Japan, identified as Haplosyllis anthogorgicola Utinomi, 1956
Association
Lives associated with the flabellate gorgonacean Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius, 1931. [details]
Distribution
Known only from the type locality. [details]
Etymology
Named after the association with the flabellate gorgonacean Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius, 1931, followed by the ... [details]
Habitat
On a branch of the flabellate gorgonacean Anthogorgia bocki Aurivillius, 1931. [details]
Type locality
Pacific Ocean, Japan, Honshu Island, Wakayama Prefecture, Seto (geocoordinates not provided, but estimated with ... [details]
