Cladiella germaini Encrusting

Cladiella germaini (Tixier-Durivault, 1943) (Figs. 15C, 20 & 21) Lobularia Germaini Tixier-Durivault 1943b: 123–128, Figs. 1–5. Lobularia Germaini Tixier-Durivault 1944a: 184–185; 1948: 75–79, Figs. 67–70 (re-description). NOT Alcyonium digitulatum Klunzinger, 1877; (partly) Stiasny 1937: 392. Material examined. Syntypes. MNHN-IK-2000-381, Red Sea, 1850, coll. H. Michelin; MNHN-IK-2000-489, same details as MNHN-IK-2000-381; MNHN-IK-2000-490 (4 fragments), 1850, coll. A. B. Clot Bey. Description. Syntype MNHN-IK-2000-381 is a fragment of an encrusting colony with a maximum cross-section of 104 x 73 mm featuring irregular laterally flattened lobes and lobules arranged in distinct groups (Fig. 15C). The locations of the retractile polyps are indicated by small pits on the lobe surface. The sclerome of the polyps comprises platelets, including some figure-eights, 0.05–0.06 mm long (Fig. 20A). Their surface features both tuberculate and cristate-like textures. The sclerites of the surface of the lobes comprise poorly developed dumbbells, 0.07–0.08 mm long, with low pointed conical or blunt-ended conical tubercles (Fig. 20B). The dumbbells from the interior of the lobes are 0.08– 0.09 mm long, with pointed conical or blunt-ended conical tubercles at either end, separated by a bare waist, 0.02–0.03 mm wide and 0.01–0.03 mm long (Fig. 20C). The poorly developed dumbbells of the surface of the base are 0.05–0.09 mm long and ornamented with rounded tubercles (Fig. 21A). The dumbbells from the interior of the base feature the same tubercles as those from the interior of the lobes and are 0.08–0.10 mm long (Fig. 21B). Their bare waist is 0.02–0.03 mm wide and up to 0.02 mm long. Color. The dry syntype MNHN-IK-2000-381 is brown-beige. Remarks. The original description of syntype MNHN-IK-2000-381 (Tixier-Durivault 1943b: 123–128, Figs. 1–5) was repeated with some slight differences in the subsequent revision of the genus (Tixier-Durivault 1948: 75–79, Figs. 67–70). In general, the current examination of syntype MNHN-IK-2000-381 corresponds to the amended description of L. germaini by Tixier-Durivault (1948). It should be noted that the latter description did not differentiate between the polyp sclerites and those of the lobe surface and these two sclerite groups are combined in the same figure (Tixier-Durivault 1948: Fig. 70). The dumbbells of this species are of intermediate maximal length (up to 0.09 mm) compared to the other congeners, and also feature tubercles of various shapes (Fig. 21B). This species seems to be diagnosed by having some figure-eight sclerites in the polyps and distinct elongated, mostly blunt-ended tubercles. The morphological characters of syntypes MNHN-IK-2000-489 and MNHN-IK-2000-490 (both not shown) resemble syntype MNHN-IK-2000-381, except for their size. Tixier-Durivault (1948:79) noted seven colonies of that species, but in the current study at the MNHN only six were found. It should be noted that the precise type locality of this species in the Red Sea was not provided in that study. Distribution. Red Sea.