79 
6. Euantipathes ulex (E. and S.). 
\Antipathes\ ulex E. & S. Brook, Antipatharia. Chall. Rep., p. 167, pi. XI, fig. 5. For synon. 
cf. Brook. 
Stat. 305. Solor-strait. 113 M. Stony bottom. 1 spec. 
This colony is 6 cm. in height; the stem is curved in part of a circle and bears a 
great number of branches in two rows, which are lying almost in the same plane, which is 
slightly curved. 1 he distance between the branches is upwards of 2 mm. but this value is somewhat 
variable. The base of the colony bears only stumps of broken branches. The complete branches 
are ± 0.5 cm. long; some ot them are longer (up to 2.5 cm.) and in the same manner bear 
secondary branches. — I he branches do not alternate regularly to the right and to the left; 
sometimes they are on both sides on the same level; they are slightly curved and pointed. They 
are inserted at an angle ot ± 6o°, or slightly over, with the stem or the branch of lower order. 
The branches have a distal direction and like the stem they have a propensity for curving 
towards the back of the colony, while the polyps are inserted on the front of the colony. 
Usually there are no tertiary branches and fusions do not occur. 
I he spines (fig. 62 ci), are large and smooth, with a somewhat concave distal side and 
a somewhat convex proximal side. The distal side is almost at 
right angles with the axis. Their length, sub-equal on all sides 
of the axis, is no 7; their mutual distance is very variable with 
an average of 300 y„. There are 4 longitudinal rows, sometimes 
alternating quincunxially, but soon shifted through the very variable 
distance of the spines. On the older parts of the colony the spines 
are farther apart and they are smaller (fig. 62 5 ). 
The polyps are badly preserved, and milkwhite. The 
tentacles are arranged in two parallel rows (fig. 62 c, d). The 
length of the tentacles is usually 0.375 mm. and is at its max. 
0.45 mm. The distance between two pairs of tentacles is 0.35 mm., 
while the distance between the lateral pairs of neighbouring polyps 
is somewhat larger, viz. ± 0.5 mm., so that it is clearly visible which pairs form a polyp. 
Many polyps show ova, visible through the bodywall and even through the tentacles. The 
oral cone is not very high and the mouth is small. The polyps are inserted in a single series, 
on one side of the colony. The shape of the colony is very much like Antipathies ulex, figured 
by Ellis and Solander. The character of the spines is the same as in Brook’s descriptions, 
d he polyps are absent in all former colonies; on account of the elongation of the polyps Brook 
doubtlessly would have placed this species among Antipathella or even among Parantipathes, but 
the elongation of the polyps on the thinner branches is so common that, since the polyps on the 
thicker parts are absent, in my opinion this species ought to be considered as an Euantipathes. 
As to the very great variability of [Antipathies] ulex I refer to the description by Brook. — 
I his Euantipathes is surely very nearly related to Euantipathes dichotoma , and it might be 
joined to this species. 
Fig. 62. Euantipathes ulex (E. and S.) 
a Spines on a branch; b spine on 
the stem of the colony; c, d polyps; 
a , b 52 X; 0 d ‘4 X- 
