Dendrophyllia johnsoni Cairns 1991

Dendrophyllia johnsoni

DESCRIPTION.—Corallum colonial; increase by regular sympodial extratentacular budding. Colony size and pedicel diameter unknown: largest branch (holotype) 8.1 cm long, with 14 corallites. Branches thin and delicate, about 5.8–6.0 mm in diameter; calices round to slightly elliptical, about 6.5 mm in greater calicular diameter and standing 3.0–4.5 mm from main branch. Costae unequal in width and height: primary costae about 0.54 mm in width, others about 0.32 mm wide. Eight primary costae ridged on corallites, the two opposing, transversely oriented primary costae usually more exsert than other six. All costae convex, separated by deep, thin intercostal striae. Costae covered with small pointed granules, giving the coenosteum a rough texture. Costae and intercostal areas of branches solid; however, costae of corallite walls vermiculate, and intercostal areas quite porous. Corallum white.

Septa octamerally arranged in three complete cycles (32 septa). Primary septa slightly exsert, complementing the ridged primary costae: thin in the upper half of the fossa (e.g., 0.6 mm wide) but gradually or abruptly widening to about 1.6 mm halfway down the fossa. Secondary septa not exsert and also very narrow in upper fossa (e.g., 0.4 mm) but also broadening in lower fossa. Inner edges of primary and secondary septa reach the columella. Inner edges of primary septa entire to finely dentate; secondaries coarsely dentate to laciniate; and tertiaries laciniate. Tertiary septa rudimentary in upper fossa, but broadening and joining in pairs to adjacent secondary septa through a porous connection lower in fossa. Fossa relatively deep. Columella rudimentary, composed of several crispate processes fused to the lower inner edges of the primary and secondary septa.

azooxanthellate

373-462 m