Galea H.R., Di Camillo C.G., Maggioni D., Montano S. & Schuchert P. (2018). A reassessment of Halopteris polymorpha (Billard, 1913) (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa), with descriptions of three new species. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 125(1): 21-59.

298999

10.5281/zenodo.1196007 [view]

Galea H.R., Di Camillo C.G., Maggioni D., Montano S. & Schuchert P.

2018

125(1): 21-59

Publication

Available for editors   [request]

Several hydroids, corresponding to various morphotypes included earlier in the synonymy of Halopteris polymorpha (Billard, 1913), occur in materials obtained recently from Indonesia and the Maldives, or are housed in the collection of the Muséum d’histoire naturelle of Geneva, Switzerland. Among them, new specimens, indistinguishable morphologically from the lectotype, are fully redescribed, together with the so-called variety sibogae Billard, 1913. While the latter displays in life an original, not yet documented coloration (bright yellow cauline polyps contrasting with their pure white cladial counterparts), the former is uniformly yellow throughout. This feature, combined with a series of morphological differences, demonstrates that we are dealing with a well-characterized species, whose name should be H. sibogae (Billard, 1913). The so far unknown gonothecae of the latter are described for the fi rst time, together with the males of the nominal species. The taxonomy of H. polymorpha is analyzed in-depth and reassessed, where available also using 16S DNA sequences. Morphological traits can be used to split the species complex and allow the separation of three as yet undescribed species, H. australis from New Caledonia and French Polynesia, H. millardae from the Maldives and the Seychelles, and H. brasiliensis from Brazil. Additionally, new records of H. vervoorti Galea, 2008 extend its known geographical distribution to Madagascar, the Maldives and Indonesia, while some literature records suggest that it could spread as far as Australia, Japan and Fiji. All species are fully described and illustrated, and their morphology is compared to that of their related congeners.

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