Laeta waheedae

Description. The colony consists of ~ 50 polyps, which are connected through ribbon-like stolons (0.5 - 0.6 mm width). Polyps are spaced apart quite regularly (~ 3 mm). Anthocodiae retract fully into low oval to cylindrical calyces (~ 1 mm in width, ~ 0.5 mm in height), which do not retract into the stolon. Expanded polyps 3.5 - 4.0 mm in diameter. Oral membrane with eight shallow furrows running from intertentacular margin to mouth of polyp, dividing the membrane into eight shallow lobes. Distal two-thirds of tentacles extend from fused margins of the oral membrane. Tentacles with 6 - 8 pairs of widely spaced pinnules are arranged in a single row on either side of rachis. Sclerites of anthocodiae are small smooth rods, 0.035 - 0.1 mm in length, with little ornamentation (Figure 5 c). Sclerites of calyx are table-radiates, 0.06 - 0.10 mm (Figure 5 d, e, g) and three types of rods: (1) rods branched with high tuberculate processes, 0.08 - 0.09 mm long (Figure 5 f), (2) rods with tubercles at one distal end of the rod, giving it a club-like appearance, 0.1 - 0.14 mm long (Figure 5 a), and (3) rods with table-shaped tubercles, 0.08 - 0.12 mm long (Figure 5 b). Oral membrane has a blue colour in life (yellowish white when preserved in ethanol). The tentacles are brown in colour, partially with a greenish shimmer. Zooxanthellate.

Distribution. Udar Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Gaya Island, TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Etymology. Named after Dr. Zarinah Waheed, for her dedication to coral reef research and her guidance during fieldwork in Sabah.

Material examined. All specimens are from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia and collected by YW Lau. Holotype: NSMT-Co 1680, Udar, east of Udar Island (06 ° 4 ' 49.81 " N, 116 ° 5 ' 13.16 " E), 10 m depth. Paratypes: IPMB-C 01.00018, Mid Reef, east of Manukan Island, TARP (05 ° 58 ' 46.1 " N, 116 ° 00 ' 10.6 " E), 8 m depth. IPMB-C 01.00019, Gaya, Gaya Island, TARP (06 ° 01 ' 24.26 " N, 116 ° 00 ' 13.55 " E), 11 m depth.