Anthothela pacifica

Biology. According to Kozloff (1987), a shallow subtidal form. Lamb and Hanby (2005) state it as " subtidal, below 40 m (133 ft). "

Description. Colony (Figure 1 A) of thin, flattened branches, crooked, tortuous, somewhat anastomosed; no large main stem development. Rather low-lying, prostrate form; height 0.5 mm- 7.0 mm; " stolon " thin, membranous; arrangement of medulla and " cortex " as described for family. Calyces (Figure 1 B) prominent, projecting cylinders up to 2.5 - 3.0 mm tall; polyps stout, with highly retractile portion up to 2.5 mm in length; total calyx / polyp size 5.0 mm tall by 2.0 mm wide. Calyces monomorphic, with eight deep, longitudinal grooves, delineating eight ridges or ribs with sharp edges. Distal part of polyp usually exsert, bearing eight double-rows of spindles. Polyps large, rather widely spaced. Color of living colony described as light yellow or straw-colored to grayish white; in alcohol, creamy white. Sclerites (Figure 2) of coenenchyme large, elongate, thin, pointed spindles, often with prominent projections on edges; generally, fusiform (0.25 - 0.3 mm long), not capstans; often appearing bent. Older descriptions indicate that sometimes these are strongly clavate at terminal end, appearing as clubbed spindles; this condition not seen in material examined. Anthocodial armature strong spindles, often clavate or bent, only rarely as radiate bodies and capstans. Spindles at base of tentacles (collaret), 0.18 mm long, those of calyx 0.22 mm long, none of these club-shaped. Sclerites widely spaced, showing transverse disposition at base of tentacles; sclerites of medulla strong thorny spindles. Colony surface rough to the touch due to projecting sclerites.

Distribution. Not definitively known at this time for coastal western United States; potentially from southern California: USA, California, San Diego, Point Loma, 200 m (Nutting 1909) and China Point, (?) San Clemente Island, SW tip, 91 m, to at least northern California, Monterey Bay, 900 m (Nutting 1909); possibly as far north as southern British Columbia, Canada (Lamb and Hanby 2005).

Etymology. Presumably named for type locality, northern Pacific Ocean.

Material examined. One specimen in SBMNH collection was identified as this species (see Appendix 1: List of material examined).