84 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
Remarks. — Sol Felty Light — the author of the first edition of what was later to become 
known as Light s Manual (Light 1941) — as a young professor at the University of the Philippines 
during the World War I period, published widely on the Octocorallia of the region in six papers 
(Light, 1913-1921). In one of these papers (Light 1921), he described four new species of the sea 
pen genus Lituaria, which appear to be more coiTectly placed in the genus Veretillum, due to the 
possession of numerous, minute, otolith-like sclerites in the peduncular interior (Williams, 
1995:98). 
Light’s type material, collected from Puerto Galera on the north coast of Mindoro, is cited as 
being housed in the “zoological collection, College of Liberal Arts, University of the Philippines.” 
Light (1921:253; in reference to Lituaria breve), states, “This species, like the others described in 
this paper, was described some time ago. Since then, unfortunately, the type specimens have been 
misplaced. In view of the very distinct characters of the species, however, I have considered it per¬ 
missible to publish the description, in spite of the loss, temporary it is to be hoped, of the type spec¬ 
imens.” 
Whether these specimens were ever located is not known, but a subsequent story possibly 
relates to the disappeai'ance of Light’s types. The first author and T. M. Gosliner visited the marine 
collections of the Marine Sc ience Institute of the University of the Philippines in March of 1994 to 
look for the types and were told by a collections staff member that they were possibly destroyed in 
a 1970’s student rebellion, when several alcohol-filled jars from the collections were taken from 
the collection shelves and used as Molotov cocktails in street demonstrations. 
Colonies of the genus are cylindrical and sausage-shaped, sometimes slightly club-shaped, up 
to 200 mm in length. Polyps are distributed all around the rachis and are retractile, not fomiing 
calyces. The sclerites of the rachis are either variably-shaped plates or absent altogether. Species 
of Veretillum in the region of the Verde Island Passage have been observed only during night dives. 
Species. — Eighteen species have been described, of which perhaps seven may be valid 
(Williams 1995:105). 
Distribution. — Indo-West Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Sea. 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Gosliner, Behrens, and Williams (1996:56-58); 
Williams (2011:3,6, 9). 
Genus Cavernulina Kiikenthal and Broch, 1911 
Cavernulina cf. cylindrica Kiikenthal and Broch, 1911 
Figures 36A, 40A 
Material Examined.— CASIZ 186569; Philippines, Luzon, Batangas Province, Maricaban 
Island, Sepok Point (13.69°N, 120.83°E); 25 May 2011; coll. Peri Paleracio; one entire specimen 
wet-preserved 95% ethanol. 
Remarks. — Colonies are cylindrical to somewhat club-shaped. Sclerites of the rachis are 
rods that commonly have branched or bilobed ends. The polyps do not contain sclerites. The one 
species of Cavernulina that is known in the Verde Island Passage region is diurnal — the polyps 
are brown due to the presence of zooxanthellae. 
Species. — Four species are considered valid (Williams 1995:103). 
Distribution. — Indo-West Pacific (southeastern Africa to the Ryukyu Islands and New Cale¬ 
donia) and the eastern Pacific (Baja California to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands). 
References. — Fabricius et al. (2007:91); Gosliner, Behrens, and Williams (1996:56); 
Williams (1993:59-60); Williams (2011:3, 6, 9). 
