A new species of Hormathia (actiniaria, hormathiidae) from the Eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

A new species of sea anemaone in the genus Hormathia, is described and illustrated based on forty-two specimens collected during the Polarstern cruises ANT XV/3 and ANT XVII/3 in the Weddell Sea. The main features of the taxon are the crown of flattered and hooked turbercles at the distal end of the scapus, the regualr arrangement of pointed turbercles along the column and the cnidom. The new species shares the pointed turbercles, at least in the upper part of the scapus, with two other species of Hormathia in the southern hemisphere: Hormathia spinosa Hertwig 1882 and H. pectinata Hertwig 1882.