Epizoanthus Gray 1867

Azooxanthellate. As Epizoanthus illoricatus above, obligate epibiont on eunicid worms. Polyps of this putative species are at least twice as big in diameter as Epizoanthus illoricatus (average 2.1 mm, compared with a maximum of 2 mm for Epizoanthus illoricatus), and many times bigger in terms of volume. Additionally, both specimens have brown coenenchyme and scapus, different from the light gray coenenchyme and brownish oral disk reported for Epizoanthus illoricatus (Figure 20B). In situ images show colonies with cream, brown, red-brown, orange-brown or tan coenenchyme and scapus, often with white tentacles that are comparatively shorter and thicker than in Epizoanthus illoricatus. The coenenchyme of this putative species is much more developed than Epizoanthus illoricatus, with polyps arising from not only bends of the zig-zag shaped eunicid tube, but also from other locations. The result is a colony that has a higher density of polyps than Epizoanthus illoricatus. In Epizoanthus illoricatus, often the zig-zag shape of the eunicid tube is visible between polyps, but this is rarely the case in Epizoanthus aff. illoricatus (Figure 20B).

Regions recorded in this study (Figure 21): East Bali (5), northeast Sumba (6), Spermonde Archipelago (9), Moluccas (14), Lembeh Strait (17), Bunaken (18). Past records. NA.