Anthopleura kohli (Sea Anemones of New Zealand)

Anthopleura kohli

Description ¹

Locally numerous.
Habitat
.

Pedal disc
Pedal disc broad, 0.8cm.

Column
Column in contracted state conical, in upper part with distinct Urticina-verrucae.
Height 0.7 cm. Colour in alcohol reddish or white.

Oral disc
.

Tentacles
Tentacles from 38-54. 2 distinct gonidial tubercules and siphonoglyphes

Distribution
Stewart Island, Paterson Inlet, Port Pegasus; littoral, under stones.

Endoderm with Zooxanthellae.

Description extracted from Scientific Announcements, Danish Natural History Association in Copenhagen Volume 77, 1924, pp211-212
Anthopleura sp.?
By Dr. Th. Mortensen. :

Diagnosis. Pedal disc broad. Column in contracted state conical, in upper part with distinct Urticina-verrucae corresponding to the endocoels. Fossa distinct. Sphincter as in aureo-radiata. Tentacles from 38-54. 2 distinct gonidial tubercules and siphonoglyphes. Mesenteries about 24 pairs one half perfect. Pennons of the mesenteries strong with high and ramificated folds (stronger than in aureo-radiata). Parietobasilar muscles strong, forming a distinct fold. Nematocysts of the column 12-17 x (1)1,5-2u, those of the tentacles 17-22x1.5u, those of the marginal sphaerules partly 29-37x3,5-4,5(5)u, partly 25-31x(2)2,5-3,5u (probably transition stages between the two kinds present). those of the actinopharynx 22-24x2u. Spirocysts of the tentacles 10x1-23x2,5 u. Endoderm with Zooxanthellae.

Colour in alcohol reddish or white.

Dimensions. Largest specimen from Paterson Inlet: breadth of the pedal disc 0,8 cm, height 0,7 cm.

Occurrence. Stewart Island, Paterson Inlet; littoral, under stones 18.11.1914 numerous specimens. Stewart Island, Port Pegasus; littoral, under stones 22.11.1914. 2 specimens.

I have not given a name to this species, because the specimens were not sexually ripe and it is possible that it is a young form of Anthopleura inconspicua (Phymactis inconspicua Hutton, Bunose inconspicua Stuckey) or of A. rosea (Bunodes rosea Stuckey and Walton). The Urticina-verrucae were mostly distinct, in some specimens they had stones attached to them. The tentacles were 38, 38, 48, 54 in 4 examined specimens, in the last specimen (from Port Pegasus) the tentacles were 24 on one side, 30 on the other. In the largest sectioned specimen from Paterson Inlet the mesenteries were 48, or which one half perfect. Also in hand-section through the under part of the largest specimen from Port Pegasus I counted 48 stronger mesenteries, but it is probable that some very small mesenteries were besides present (compare the number of tentacles).

References ¹

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/88784#page/461/mode/1up (as Anthopleura sp.?)