384 
S.D. Caims 
columella, not projecting outward. Septa adjacent 
to SI (either S4 or S5) almost as exsert as the Sl-2 
but less wide and porous. Multiple paliform lobes 
often present on all septa; columella trabecular. 
Remarks 
Heterocyathus aequicostatus is the most commonly 
collected and reported of the four congeners, which 
is also true for the Western Australian region. 
According to Hoeksema and Best (1991), it has 15 
junior synonyms. All four species co-occur and are 
sometimes difficult to distinguish, but H. aequicostatus 
differs by having closely packed septa, a white 
corallum, and relatively porous higher cycle septa. 
Distribution 
Western Australia: continental shelf of western 
coast from Beagle Bay to Shark Bay (Veron 1986); 
0-20 m. Elsewhere: Indo-West Pacific; depth range 
not known. 
Heterocyathus altematus Verrill, 1865 
Figure 3 d-e 
Heterocyathus altemata Verrill, 1865: 149. 
Heterocyathus alternatus - Folkeson, 1919: 10-11, pi. 
1, figs. 10-11.—Hoeksema and Best, 1991: 230- 
231, figs. 12-18 (synonymy, diagnosis, key). 
New Records 
Rosemary Island, Dampier Archipelago (Norbill 
Bay and Lady Nora Flats), 0-5 m, 13: 11 (WAM 
435-96 and 480-96), 2 (USNM 97002); Mermaid 
Sound, Dampier Archipelago, Conzinc Island, 7-9 
m, 1, WAM 340-88. 
Remarks 
Heterocyathus alternatus is most similar to H. 
aequicostatus, but can be distinguished by having: 
less crowded septa, the S4 of which are angled 
toward their adjacent S3 giving the septa of the 
calice a stellate aspect; and having more solid and 
taller S4, appearing as small lobes fused to the 
sides of the Sl-2. Hoeksema and Best (1991) 
provided a key to the species of this genus. 
Distribution 
Western Australia: known only from Dampier 
Archipelago; 0-9 m. Elsewhere: Indo-West Pacific; 
depth range not known (Hoeksema and Best 1991). 
Heterocyathus sulcatus (Verrill, 1866) 
Figure 3 c, f 
Stephanoseris sulcata Verrill, 1866: 48. 
Heterocyathus pulchellus Rehberg, 1892: 8-9, pi. 1, 
figs. 7a-b. 
Heterocyathus aequicostatus - Folkeson, 1919: 8-10 
(in part: pi. 1, figs. 4-7).—Hoeksema and Best, 
1991: 231-233, figs. 19-23 (synonymy, key, and 
diagnosis). 
New Records 
Soela: 05/82/unknown station number, off Port 
Hedland, depth unknown, 2, USNM 97003. 
Dorothea: 65 mi (=104 km) NE of Adele Island, 73 
m, 1, WAM 143-83; 20 mi (=32 km) north of Adele 
Island, 73 m, 3, WAM 327-89. 
Kunmunyah: stn BG47, 1, NTM C8014. 
Lady Basten: stn LBlb(s), 2, WAM 8-96; stn 
LB5(s), 1, WAM 33-96. 
Other records: Gulf of Carpenteria, "Gulf" stn 18, 
3, USNM 93201. 
Remarks 
Heterocyathus sulcatus is one of three species in 
this genus recognized by Hoeksema and Best 
(1991), differentiated from the other two by having 
a relatively smaller corallum, only 48 septa, and a 
darkly pigmented (black or black-brown) fossa 
(septa, pali and columella). Alternating costae are 
also commonly pigmented. 
Distribution 
Western Australia: continental shelf of 
northwestern coast from Adele Island to Dampier 
Archipelago; 11-150 m. Elsewhere: northeastern 
Australia from Peron Islands, Northern Territory 
(reported herein) to Princess Charlotte Bay, Qd.; 
off Sri Lanka; Indonesia (Hoeksema and Best 1991); 
17-36 m. 
Heterocyathus hemisphaericus Gray, 1849 
Figure 3 g-j 
Heterocyathus hemisphserica Gray, 1849: 77, pi. 2, 
figs. 3-4. 
Psammoseris hemispherica - Milne Edwards and 
Haime, 1851: 127.—Wells, 1956: F436.—Veron, 
1986: 610, black and white fig. 
Spongiocyathus typicus Folkeson, 1919: 11-12, pi. 1, 
figs. 12-15. 
New Records 
Soela: stn 1/66, 1, WAM 355-90; stn 05/82/22, 1, 
WAM 52-83. 
Other records: stn SB3, 24°54'S, 113°17.7'E, 23 m, 
l, WAM 698-81; stn SB70, 25°31.8 , S, 113°32.8'E, 11 
m, 1, WAM 1012-81; stn eWm, Withnell Bay, 
Dampier Archipelago, depth unknown, 1, WAM 
380-88; stn B5, 28°46.6'S, 114°04'E, 46 m, 1, WAM 
880- 89; stn H7, 28°49.5 , S, 113°56.3'E, 37 m, 1, WAM 
881- 89; stn T8, 20°58'S, 115°55'E, 12 m, 1, WAM 
354-90; stn E5, Mermaid Shoal, Dampier 
Archipelago, depth unknown, 1, WAM 29-85; stn 
