Checklist of Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) From Egypt.

 

Presented by Dr. Fayez F. A. Shoukr, Professor of Invertebrates, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527,Egypt.

 

Shoukr, F. A., Mona, M.H. and Badawy, B.E. (2000) : Taxonomy Of Some Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) From Egypt. Proc. 1st . Inter . Confer. Biol . Sci. (Zool.), (ICBS), Fac. of Sci., Tanta Univ., Egypt, 1 (2): 1-18.

 

ABSTRACT:The taxonomic description of the fouling anemone Aiptasia diaphana (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) is firstly given in Egypt. It has defensive threads filled with stinging nematocysts called acontia which are emitted from cinclides. Number of the mesenteries ranged between 28-46 pairs with hexamerous, heptamerous or octamerous arrangement. It has a mesogleal sphincter, circumscript diffuse retractors and simple basilar muscles as well as weak parietobasilar muscles. An ectodermal nerve net consists of bipolar and multipolar nerve cells, with a similar nerve net in the endoderm. Conjugated proteins are detected in the nematocysts as a component of their stinging material. A swimming anemone was reported for the first time from Lake- Manzalah near Port Said . A taxonomic list for the described anemones of Egypt is provided. Besides, a suggested identification key for their separation is constructed and their habitats are indicated.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Sea anemones are marine invertebrates which belong to Order Actiniaria, Sub-Class Zoantharia, Class Anthozoa and Phylum Cnidaria (Coelenterata). They are mainly sessile with some swimming forms. They have unique cellular weapons called nematocysts. The anemones occupy a wide range of habitats among marine fouling communities, coral reefs and rocky shores especially at the intertidal zones.

Indeed, the early studies on anemone taxonomy of Egypt were brief and fragmentary. These studies dealt primarily with recording species without detailed taxonomic description that help in their identification e.g. Carlgren, 1927 and 1949). The taxonomy of anemones mainly depends on morph-anatomical and histological characters. These characters include the presence of acontia, marginal spherules (acrorhagi), verrucae as well as the type of sphincter, retractor & basilar muscles, cnidae (nematocysts, spirocysts, ptychocysts) and number of the mesenteries.

The local anemones have attracted the attention of many workers in Egypt for their beautiful colours, ecological relationships with other marine organisms (fishes & dinoflagellate protists) as well as their venomous nematocysts which are painful to humans (e.g. Gohar, 1948, Ghobashy et al. 1979, Badawy, 1988, Shoukr, 1996 & 1997 and El-Ghor, 1998). On the other hand, anemones are considered as a component of fouling community, which has great ecological importance (Ghobashy et al. 1980 and Mona, 1982).

The present study is an attempt to furnish some information about the taxonomic description of a fouling anemone common in the Suez Canal. Furthermore, a swimming anemone is recorded from Lake-Manzalah . A taxonomic checklist of the Egyptian sea anemones as well as a key for their identification is given.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS

 

Fouling anemones were collected from the shores of Port-Said, Lake-Timsah and Suez. The samples were scraped off from ships hulls and other submerged objects. The collected individuals were narcotized in magnesium chloride and fixed in either 4% formalin or Bouin’s solution. For histological studies, the specimens were dehydrated in ethy1 alcohol, cleared in terpineol, embedded in paraffin wax at 605C and serially sectioned at 5 m. Staining in Ehrlich’s acid haematoxylin with 1% eosin and Mallory’s triple stains was quite satisfactory. For demonstrating the nervous elements, silver impregnation presented a good picture. Cnidae were histologically stained in 1% acid fuchsin and 1% methylene blue. The histochemical investigations were carried out using Periodic Acid Schiff’s (PAS), alcian blue (pH 2.5) and mercuric bromophenol blue stains (Humason, 1972).

Collection of swimming anemones took place from Lake-Manzalah near Port-Said. They were reared in salt water aquaria at Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University. Identification of anemones was achieved by help of the guides and keys of Carlgren (1949), Schmidt (1972), Dunn (1981), England (1987) and Coleman (1991).

 

RESULTS

A. A Fouling Anemone :

This fouling anemone belongs to the Family Aiptasiidae, acontiarian group of anemones and was identified as Aiptasia diaphane (Rapp, 1829).

 

Description of the species

 

Tentacles: are non-retractile and perforated either on the sides or on tips. The individuals showed variation in number of tentacles, and ranged between 29 and 114, with the size (diameter) of base, 2-20 mm, (Table. 1). A highly pronounced longitudinal muscle layer called the tentacular retractor muscle is found beneath the nerve net of the ectoderm (Fig.1). The endodermal epithelial cells of tentacles are provided with numerous endosymbiotic algae ( zooxanthellae). These algae are stained moderately positive with PAS, but strongly positive with both alcian blue (pH 2.5) and mercuric bromophenol blue (Table. 2). This indicates their high content of acid mucopolysaccharides and proteins.

 

Column: is trumpet-shaped ( 5-40 mm in length ), smooth and lacking marginal spherules and verrucae. It has small endocoelic apertures called cinclides, some of which protruding acontia. Cinclides varied in number (7 - 38) according to the animal size (Table. 1). They are formed of invaginations from the body wall as soft spots (Fig. 2).

The outer part of the column ectoderm comprises the supporting cells, scattered cnidae, sensory cells and gland cells while the inner part contains longitudinal muscle fibers, interstitial cells and nerve net (Fig. 3). The longitudinal muscle fibers are restricted to the upper part of the column ectoderm. The mesoglea has granular and agranular cells as well as fibers. The sphincter muscle is very weak and incorporated completely in the mesoglea, thus, termed mesogleal sphincter (Fig.4) The endodermal epithelial cells bear endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae). The ectodermal nerve net of the column (Plate 1 A) consists of a network of nerve fibers and associated bipolar and multipolar nerve cells (neurons). The bipolar nerve cells are relatively small, not exceeding 2.5m in diameter, and their neurites are connected with those of the sensory cells. On the other hand, multipolar nerve cells are relatively large (4.3-4.8 m in diameter) with irregular shapes. Each neuron has up to ten processes, some of which splits once or twice. The neuritis of these cells radiate in all directions. The endodermal nerve net (Plate 1 B) is similar to the ectodermal one. The stellate nerve cells extend between the circular muscle layer and the endodermal epithelium. They are scattered throughout the column and interconnected with the bipolar nerve cells.

 

Base: The endoderm of the pedal disc carries a sheet of concentrically arranged circular muscle fibers which are continuous with the circular muscle layer of the column. Zooxanthellae are rarely found and the basilar muscles are present ( Fig.5).

 

Mesenteries: are arranged in four cycles. Their number reached 46 pairs including 2 or 3 pairs of directives. They grow from the pedal disc as in most actinians (Table 1). Their arrangement is often hexamerous (6+6+12+22 = 46 pairs) and sometimes heptamerous or octamerous (Fig. 9). The non – hexamerous arrangement of mesenteries is found among anemones as a result to the asexual reproduction of individuals. The perfect mesentery consists of a muscular band, a genital process (gonad) and a mesenteric filament. The retractor muscle has a circumscript-diffuse form (Fig. 6). Parietobasilar muscle extends as a narrow strip in the angle between the base and column wall. The mesenteric filament is a triple cord, usually with a median cnidoglandular tract and two lateral ciliated tracts. An intermediate tract is found between these tracts and consists of endodermal epithelium containing zooxanthellae, thus, called zooxanthellae tract. In addition, a reticular or alveolar tract is found between the ciliated tracts and the lamellar part of mesentery (Fig. 7).

 

Gonads: The sexes are separate. Gonad develops as a thickened band near the edge of the mesentery and contains the sex cells. Primary, secondary and some tertiary mesenteries are gametogenic except the directive ones. Oocytes (60 – 158 mm) of female mesenteries lack a tubular structure with endodermal cells called trophonema (Plate 1 C). The germinal vesicles of oocytes are regularly arranged and exhibit the same position in the same mesentery. On the other hand, mature sperm follicles (105-250 mm) resemble that of seminiferous tubules of a vertebrate animal. Sperms are oriented radially with their tails directed to the center of the lumen, or approach one side of the follicle for discharge(Plate 1 D).

 

Acontia: The acontia as well as the mesenteric filaments appear on all cycles of mesenteries up to the fourth cycle especially in large specimens. The acontium is composed of an axis of mesoglea surrounded by endodermal epithelium, gland cells and large-sized nematocysts (Fig. 8).

 

Cnidae: Cnidoblasts are distributed elsewhere in the ectoderm except for pedal disc (Fig. 10). Spirocysts (8.3-30 x 2.3-5 mm) are restricted only in the tentacles and oral disc and characterized by a spiral thread before evagination. They showed strong reaction with mercuric bromophenol blue and weak reaction with PAS and alcian blue (pH 2.5) indicating the presence of proteins. On the other hand, nematocysts are moderately stained with PAS and mercuric bromophenol blue but negatively stained with alcian blue, demonstrating its conjugated protein contents (Table 2). The largest nematocysts are found in acontia (20-63.3 x 2.7-9 mm) followed by those of the mesenteric filaments (13.3-60 x 2.7-6.3 mm).

 

B. A Swimming Anemone :

The collected anemone from LakeManzalah was identified as Telmatactis forskalii (Ehrenberg, 1837). The behavior of this anemone is interesting. From aquarium observations, the anemone individuals change their life style from a benthic form to a swimming (floating) form (Plate 2 A & B). They often move from the bottom by releasing their pedal disc from the substratum. After moving actively they attach their basal disc to floating seaweeds, which have green or brown colors, in the surface water.

 

Tentacles: are short, reaching 10 mm. in length and 48 in number. The inner tentacles are longer than the outer ones. They are pale brown in color with usually a longitudinal dark brown line. They can retract inside with the column margin during anemone contraction.

 

Oral disc: has brownish color with pale brown striations. Its diameter reaches 15 mm. The mouth is slit–shaped.

 

Column: is smooth and devoid of any outgrowths like verrucae or marginal spherules. Minute holes called cinclides are lacking. Column is elongated, more or less cylindrical, or balloon–shaped. Expanded column has pale brown color with longitudinal striations as insertions of mesenteries. Column may reach 120 mm. in length and the animal appears vermiform.

 

Base: In non-swimming forms, the pedal disc is weakly adherent to the substratum. In some swimming forms, the base can retract inside the column and a crystalline air bubble appears near the base. The pedal disc reaches 15 mm. in diameter.

 

C. A Checklist of Egyptian Sea Anemones :

(Plates II, III&IV)

Family: Aiptasiidae (Carlgren, 1924).

Genus: Aiptasia Gosse, 1858.

Species: Aiptasia diaphana (Rapp, 1829).

 

Family: Isophelliidae Stephenson, 1935.

Genus: Telmatactis Gravier, 1918.

Species: Telmatactis forskalii (Ehrenberg, 1837).

 

Family: Actiniidae (Rafinesque, 1815).

Genus: Anemonia Risso, 1826.

Species: Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777).

Genus: Anthopleura Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860.

Species: Anthopleura stellula (Ehrenberg, 1834).

Genus: Bunodactis verrill, 1899.

Species: Bunodactis rubripunctata (Grube, 1840).

Species: Bunodactis verrucosa (Pennant, 1777).

 

Family: Stichodactylidae Andres, 1883.

Genus: Entacmaea Ehrenberg, 1834.

Species: Entacmaea quadricolor (Rueppell & Leuckart, 1828).

Genus: Antheopsis Carlgren, 1900.

Species: Antheopsis crispus (Ehrenberg, 1834).

 

D. A Suggested Identification Key Of Sea Anemones From Egypt :

 

1. Nematocyst-laden threads (acontia) present, sphincter muscle is

mesogleal …………………………………………………….………..

- Nematocyst- laden threads (acontia) absent, sphincter muscle is

endodermal ……………..…………………………..………………....

 

2.        Cinclides (minute holes) usually arrange in two rows around middle

 

region of body, column trumpet-shaped, common among marine

fouling of Suez Canal …………..……… Aiptasia diaphana (Rapp).

 

-         Cinclides absent, column elongated or balloon- shaped, common as a

 

swimming (floating) anemone as well as a usual benthic form in Lake-

 

Manzalah (Mediterranean sea) ……………………….………………..

 

……………………………………….. Telmatactis forskalii (Ehrenberg ).

3. Body column smooth, devoid of verrucae (warts) ……..……….……..….

 

- Body column has outgrowths called verrucae (warts) ……………….…...

 

4.     Upper edge of the column has marginal spherules or acrorhagi (18-132

 

in number), common in the intertidal region of rocky shores in

 

Alexandria and Marsa-Matrouh (Mediterranean sea) ……………………..

………………………………………………. Anemonia sulcata (Pennant).

 

-         Upper edge of the column lacking marginal spherules or acrorhagi,

 

common in coral reefs of Al-Ghardaqa (Red sea)……………………….

 

…………………….……Entacmaea quadricolor (Rueppell & Leuckart )

5. Verrucae are conspicuous on the upper region of the body

column ……………………………………..………………………..……. 6

 

-         Verrucae are conspicuous on the whole or most of the body

column ………..……………………………..............................................7

6. Siphonoglyphs have red spots, verrucae are not adhesive to any

 

fragments of small stones or shells debris, common in the intertidal

 

region of sandy substrates at Alexandria coast (Mediterranean

 

sea) ………………………..…………….Bunodactis verrucosa (Pennant)

 

-         Siphonoglyphs lacking red spots, verrucae are adhesive to fragments of

 

small stones and shells debris, common in the coral reefs at AL-

 

Ghardaqa (Red sea)……………………………………………………….

 

…… …………….………………… ..Antheopsis crispus (Ehrenberg)

7.     Marginal spherules (4-18 in number) are present on the upper

 

column, verrucae (12-24 longitudinal rows) are imperforate , without

 

red spots and non adhesive to any fragments of gravel, common in

 

fringing reefs of AL- Ghardaqa, Sharm el-Naga & Koseir (Red

 

Sea) …………………………………………………………………….

 

…………………….…………...…Anthopleura stellula (Ehrenberg)

- Marginal spherules are absent on the upper column, verrucae (24-48

 

longitudinal rows) are usually perforate, with red or violet spots and

 

adhesive to fragments of gravel , common in crevices on rocky shores

of Alexandria (Mediterranean sea)………………………………………..

 

….……………………………………Bunodactis rubripunctata (Grube)

 

DISCUSSION

 

Sea anemones have been reported from the marine fouling communities in various parts of the world seas including the English water (Orton, 1930); Coasts of America (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1952); subtropical water of Hong Kong (Lee and Trott, 1973) ; Menai Strait, U.K (Fry, 1975) and Egyptian water (Ghobashy et al., 1980; Mona,1982 and Shoukr, 1982). The recorded fouling anemones usually belong­ to the families: Diadumeniidae, Aiptasiidae, Metridiidae and Sagartiidae. These families are acontiarians and characterized by the presence of thread­ like structures called acontia with plenty of nematocysts for offence and defence. These acontia are shot forth through the mouth, cinclides and tenta­cular pores especially during contraction. These perforations seem to act as safety valves to prevent the rupture of body during sudden contraction, especially among fouling communities, by allowing water jets to be squirted.

 

In the Suez Canal, the anemone Diadumene luciae (Verrill) was previously recorded on fouled ships (Stephenson, 1935) but not encountered in the present collection. The appearance and disappearance of anemones in many localities is a behaviour characteristic to species distributed via ships. The acontiarian anemone Aiptasia diaphana was reported in Suez Canal by Carlgren (1927). According to the present study, this species was reported to occur in huge quantities and forms considerable portion of marine fouling on wrack and stationary vessels of some localities in the Suez Canal, e.g. Port-Said and Lake-Timsah. These anemones usually seek calm clean water and dim shelters among fouling community. Aiptasia diaphana is considered as a relatively primitive actinian, since its ectodermal muscles of the column are restricted to the upper part (Stephenson, 1928). This species may be confused with the closely related species Aiptasia mutabilis found in the Mediterranean Sea (Schmidt, 1972). However, the herein species can be clearly distinguished by the presence of trumpet-shaped column and occurrence of acontia and mesenteric filaments in the fourth cycle of mesenteries as well as the absence of adherent structures.

 

The nervous system of sea anemones, in addition to synapses with cnidae have been studied in several species e.g. Metridium senile, Calliactis parasitica, Stomphia coccinea and Aiptasia pallida (Batham & Robson, 1960; Robson, 1961& 1963; Saripalli & Westfall, 1996; Westfall & Sayyar, 1997 and Westfall et al., 1998 and 1999). It is obvious that the nervous system of Aiptasia diaphana resembles that of its allied species namely Aiptasia pallida and Stomphia coccinea in possessing large multipolar nerve cells in the column. Moreover, few numbers of bipolar nerve cells have been observed among the multipolar type. Westfall et al. (1998) demonstrated synapses between the nerve cells and nematocysts of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida and suggested a neural control of nematocyst discharge.

 

The swimming sea anemone Telmatactis forskalii was reported for the first time from Lake-Manzalah. This anemone was unusual among sessile anemones due to its ability of free swimming in surface water. Other anemones are known to exhibit the same behavior such as Boloceroides hermaphroditica, Bunodeopsis medusoides and Stomphia coccinea (Robson, 1963; Josephson and March, 1966 and Elliott et al. 1989). However, the description of swimming anemones from Egypt needs further study.

It is worthy to mention that the anemones are widely distributed throughout the Egyptian marine water in Suez canal , Red sea and Mediterranean sea ( Carlgren , 1927 & 1949 and Schmidt , 1972). In spite of this, the taxonomic revision revealed the presence of eight species belonging to seven genera and four families. The morphoanatomical characteristics and locations of these species are represented in table (3). It seems that the species of sea anemones prefer certain type of habitats and substrates in different locations in Egypt. The anemones Entacmaea quadricolor, Antheopsis crispus and Anthopleura stellula were most obvious in the coral reefs of the Red Sea at AL-Ghardaqa. The anemone Aiptasia diaphana was widely spread among marine fouling in Suez Canal. The pelagic anemone Telmatactis forskalii displayed both sessile and mobile positions over sand-muddy substrates among sea algae in Lake-Manzalah. The anemones Anemonia sulcata, Bunodactis rubripunctata and B. verrucosa inhabited the intertidal region of rocky shores at Alexandria (Ghobashy et al., 1979). Among the list of anemones in the present study, Anemonia sulcata can evoke painful stings to humans due to the presence of venomous nematocysts (Shoukr, 1996).

 

REFRENCES

 

Badawy, B.E. (1988): Taxonomical, histological and histochemical studies on sea anemones of the marine coasts of Egypt. M. Sc. thesis, Fac. of Sci, Tanta University, Egypt, 132 PP.

 

Batham, E.J. and Robson, E.A. (1960): The nerve net of the sea anemone Metridium senile: The mesenteries and the column. Quart. J. micr. Sci, 101: 487-510.

 

Carlgren, O. (1927): Report of the Actiniaria and Ceriantharia. The Cambridge Expedition to the Suez Canal. Trans. Zool. Soc, London,4: 443-445.

 

Carlgren, O. (1949): A survey of the Ptychodactiaria, Corallimorpharia and Actiniaria. Kungl. Svenska. Veten-skapsakademiens Handlingar, (3)1(1): 1-121.

 

Coleman,N. (1991) :Encyclopedia of marine animals. Blandford,U.K., 324 PP.

 

Dunn, D. F.(1981) : The clownfish sea anemones : Stichodactylidae (Coelenterata, Actiniaria) and other sea anemones symbiotic with pomacentrid fishes. Transactions of the American Philosphical Society, 71 (1): 1-115.

 

EL-Ghor, A.A. (1998): Induction of chromosomal aberrations, changes in mitotic activity and micronuclei in mice treated with the aqueous extract of the sea anemone Parasicyonis actinostoloides. Egypt. J. Zool, 31:121-131.

 

Elliott, J.K.; Ross, D.M.; Pathirana,C. ; Miao, S.; Andersen, R.J., Singer, p.; Kokke, W. and Ayer, W. (1989 ) : Induction of swimming in Stomphia (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) by imbricatine, a metabolite of the asteroid Dermasterias imbricata. Biol. Bull. 176: 73-78.

 

England, K. W. (1987): Certain Actiniaria (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist.(Zool.), 53 (4): 205-292.

 

Fry, G. W. (1975): Raft fouling in the Menai Strait, 1963-1971. Hydrobioligia,7

(3-4): 527- 558.

Ghobashy, A.F; Abdel-Hamid, M.E. and Shoukr, F.A. (1979): Sea anemones in Alexandria waters. Bull. Fac Sci . Assiut. Univ., 8 (2): 77-98.

 

Ghobashy, A. F.; El-Komy, M. and Ramadan, Sh.(1980 ) : Fouling in the Suez Canal. Proc. 5th. Inter. Confer. Mar. Cor. Fouling : 75-92.

 

Gohar, H.A. (1948): Commensalism between fish and anemone. Publ. Mar. Biol. Station,

 

Ghardaqa, 6: 35-44.

 

Humason, G.L. (1972): Animal tissue techniques. 3rd ed. W.H. Francisco, 1-641.

 

Josephson, R.K. and March, S.C. (1966): The swimming performance of the sea anemone Boloceroides. J. Exp. Biol., 44:493-506.

 

Lee, S.W. and Trott, L .B. (1973): Marine succession of fouling organisms in Hong Kong, with a comparison of woody substrates and common locally available antifouling paints. Mar. Biol, 20 (2): 101-109.

 

Mona, M.H.(1982): Some studies on fouling inhabiting some Egyptian harbors. Ph. D. thesis, Fac. of Sci., Tanta University, Egypt. 251 PP.

 

Orton, J.H. (1930): Experiments in the sea on the growth-Inhibitive and
preservative value of poisonous paints and other substances. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K., 16:373-452.

 

Robson, E.A. (1961): A Comparison of the nervous system of two sea anemones, Callicatis parasitica and Metridium senile. Quart. J. Micr. Sci., 102 (3): 319-326.

 

Robson, E.A. (1963): The nerve net of a swimming anemone, Stomphia coccinea. Quart. J.Micr. Sci., 104 (4): 535-549.

 

Saripalli, L.D. and Westfall, J. A. (1996): Classification of nerve cells dissociated from tentacles of the sea anemone Calliactis parasitica. Biol. Bull, 190: 111-124.

 

Schmidt,H.(1972): Prodromus zu einer monographie der Mediterranean Aktinien.Zoologica, Wien 42 (Lieferung 2:Heft 121): 1-146.

 

Shoukr, F.A.M. (1982): Studies on some Coelenterates (Cnidarians) inhabiting marine Egyptian water. Ph.D. Thesis, Fac. of Sci., Tanta University, Egypt,

225 pp.

 

Shoukr, F. A. M. (1996): A transmission electron microscope study of cnidae and mucous cells in the tentacles of Anemonia sulcata. Arab Gulf J Scient. Res., 14 (1): 205 – 221.

 

Shoukr, F. A. M. (1997): Ultrastructure of the endosymbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum from a sea anemone. J. King Saud Univ., 9 (1): 25-34.

 

Stephenson, Y.A. (1928): The British sea anemones. Vol. I: Ray Society, London, 1-102.

 

Stephenson, T.A.(1935): The British sea anemones. Vol. II: Ray Society, London, 1-408

 

Westfall, J.A., and Sayyar, K.L. (1997): Ultrastructure of neurons and synapses in the tentacle epidermis of the sea anemone Calliactis parasitica. J. Morph., 232:207-216.

 

Westfall, J.A.; Landers, D.D. and McCallum, J.D. (1998): Different nematocytes have different synapses in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida (Cnidaria, Anthozoa). J. Morph., 238: 53-62.

 

Westfall, J.A., Landers, D.D. and McCallum, J.D. (1999): Ultrastracture of neuro-spirocyte synapses in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Zoantharia). J. Morph., 241: 165-173.

 

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1952): Marine fouling and its prevention. U.S. Naval Inst., Annapolis, 118-164.

 

Explanation of Figures and Plates

 

Fig. 1 : T.S. of a tentacle of Aiptasia diaphana showing perforation and

tentacular retractor muscle.

Fig. 2 : L.S. through a soft spot showing incipient cinclide.

Fig. 3 : T.S. of the column showing the general histological structure.

Fig. 4 : L.S. of the upper part of the column showing ectodermal longitudinal

muscles and mesogleal sphincter.

Fig. 5 : L.S. of the pedal disc showing the basilar muscle.

Fig. 6 : T.S. of a female mesentery showing a circumscript-diffuse retractor

muscle.

Fig. 7 : T.S. of a mesenteric filament showing the general histological structure.

Fig.8 : T.S. of an acontium showing large-sized nematocysts.

Fig.9 : Arrangement of mesenteries.

(A): Octamerous, with 8 perfect mesenteries including 3 directives.

(B): Heptamerous, with 7 perfect mesenteries including 3 directives.

(C): Hexamerous, with 6 perfect mesenteries including 2 directives. (Black rectangles = directive mesenteries)

Fig. l0: Nematocyst signature.

Tentacles (A, B, C); column (D, E); actinopharynx (F, G); mesenteric

filaments (H, I) and acontia (j).

 

Plate I

 

Fig. A: T.S. of the column ectoderm of Aiptasia diaphana showing the ectodermal nerve

net (silver impregnation, x 1000).

Fig. B: T.S. of the column endoderm showing the endodermal nerve net (silver

impregnation, x 1000).

Fig. C: T.S. of a mature ovum in a female anemone showing absence of trophonema

(Haematoxylin-eosin, x 1000).

Fig. D: T.S. of a sperm follicle in a male anemone showing spermatogenesis

(Haematoxylin-eosin, x 400).

 

a.t., alveolar tract; ac., acontium; agr.c., agranular cell; b.m., basilar muscle; bp.n.c., bipolar nerve cell; c.m.f., circular muscle fibers; ci.t., ciliated tract; cn., cinclide; cn.g.t., cnidoglandular tract, co.ep.c., columnar epithelial cells; ec., ectoderm; en., endoderm; ep.c., epithelial cells; g.c, gland cells ; gr.c., granular cells; in.c., interstitial cell; l.m.f., longitudinal muscle fibers; m., mesoglea; m.f. mesogleal fibers; m.sp., mesogleal sphincter; me., mesentery; me.f., ­mesenterial filaments; mp.n.c., multipolar nerve cell; n.nt., nerve net; nc., nematocysts; nl., nucleolus; nu., nucleus; ov., ovum; p.m., parietobasilar muscle; r.m., retractor muscle; s.c., sensory cell; sc., spirocysts; spc., spermatocyte; spg. spermatogonia; spz., spermatozoa; t.r.m., tentacular retractor muscle; y.g., yolk granules; z., zooxanthella; z.t. zooxanthella tract.

 

Plate II

Fig.1 : Aiptasia diaphana showing acontia &cinclides.

Fig.2 : Telmatactis forskalii showing :

A: swimming form, B&C: Benthic forms.

 

Plate III

Fig.1 : Anemonia sulcata. Fig.4: Bunodactis rubripuctata.

Fig.2 : Anthopleura stellula. Fig.5: Bunodactis verrucosa.

Fig.3: Entacmaea quadricolor. Fig.6: Antheopsis crispus.

 

Plate IV

Fig. A: The benthic forms of Telmatactis forskalii.

Fig. B: The swimming form of Telmatactis forskalii.

Fig. C: The green tentacled form of Anemonia sulcata.

Fig. D: The brown tentacled form of Anemonia sulcata.

 

a., acontia ; ac., acrorhagi ; c., cinclides ; co., column ; 1.s. longitudinal striations ; o. d., oral disc ; p. d., pedal disc (base) ; r., red spot ; s., siphonoglyph ; st., stomodaeum; s.f., symbiotic fish, t., tentacles ; v., verrucae.


Table (1): Relation between numbers of tentacles, cinclides,

mesenteries at base and disk with the anemone size

(base diameter) in eight specimens of Aiptasia diaphana.

 

 

base diameter

(mm)

No.

Tentacles

No.

Cinclides

No. of mesenteries (pairs)

at base

at disk

 

2

4

6

8

10

12

18

20

 

29

75

95

100

98

95

114

114

 

7

16

22

26

32

35

35

38

 

40

42

42

43

46

45

46

46

 

28

38

40

41

42

40

42

43

 

 

Table (2): Histochemical tests affinities to cnidae and

zooxanthellae of Aiptasia diaphana.

Histochemical

tests

Cnidae

Zooxanthellae

Spirocysts

Nematocysts

PAS

Alcian blue (pH.2.5)

Mercurice bromophenol blue

+

+

+ + +

+ +

-

+ +

+ +

+ + +

+ + +

 

+ + + strong reaction

+ + Moderate reaction

+ Weak reaction

- negative reaction

 

Table (3): Comparison between the sea anemone species identified from the Egyptian marine water.

 

Anemone species

Locality of specimens

Base diameter range (mm)

Column length range (mm)

Number of tentacles range

Number of mesenteries range

Aiptasia diaphana

Port-Said, Lake-Timsah, Suez (Suez Canal) and Marsa-Matrouh

2-20

5-40

29-114

28-46

(pairs)

Telmatactis forskalii

Lake-Manzalah

(Mediterranean sea)

3-15

20-120

24-48

24-48

(pairs)

Anemonia sulcata

Alexandria (Abou kir, Rasel-tin, El-max) and Marsa-Matrouh

1-41

2-26

24-250

28-80

(unpaired)

Anthopleura stellula

Al-Ghardaqa, Koseir Sharmed-Naga (Red Sea)

3-20

5-30

22-48

18-30

(pairs)

Banodactis rubripunctata

Alexandria in Abou kir, Rasel-Tin & El-Dekhela

2-50

4-30

24-96

24-48

(pairs)

Banodactis verrucosa

Alexandria in Abou Kir (Mediterranean sea)

3-35

4-27

84-96

24-48

(pairs)

Entacmaea quadricolor

Al-Ghardaqa

(Red sea)

18-100

12-115

76-300

50-85

(pairs)

Antheopsis crispus

Al-Ghardaqa

(Red sea)

25-70

20-130

88-285

62-90

(pairs)

 

 

Correspondence To :

Prof. Dr. Fayez Shoukr, Professor of Invertebrates, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527,Egypt.

 

Shoukr, F.A., Mona, M.H. and Badawy, B.E. (2000) : Taxonomy Of Some Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) From Egypt. Proc. 1st . Inter . Confer. Biol . Sci. (Zool.), (ICBS), Fac. of Sci., Tanta Univ., Egypt, 1 (2): 1-18.

E-mail: fayez_shoukr@hotmail.com

 

Web site: http://www.fayezshoukr.5u.com

 

 


 

تصنيف بعض شقائق البحر ( اللاسعات : الزهريات )

في مصر

 

د. فايز عبد المقصود شكر ،د. محمد حسن منا ،د. بدوي السيد بدوي

قسم علم الحيوان ، كلية العلوم ، جامعة طنطا ، مصر

 

أظهرت هذه الدراسة انتشار شقائق البحر انتشاراً واسعاً على جوانب السفن الراسية في قناة السويس وخاصة في ميناء بورسعيد وبحيرة التمساح كأحد مكونات الحشف البحري. وقد أستدعى ذلك دراسة الوصف التصنيفي لأحد الأنواع الشائعة وهو ابتازيا ديافانا لأول مرة في مصر . وقد تبين من الدراسة التشريحية وجود الخيوط اللاسعة التي تنطلق من خلال فتحات دقيقة في جدار الجسم، وأن عدد المسا ريقا يتراوح بين 28-46 زوج تنوع ترتيبيها من النظام السداسي الشائع إلى السباعي أو الثماني نظراً لشيوع التكاثر اللاجنسى. وأوضحت الدراسة الهستولوجية أن العضلات العاصرة ضعيفة جداً ومندمجة في الميزوجليا وعضلات المسا ريقا تتميز إلى عضلات مرجعة طولية من النوع الممتد البسيط وأخرى جانبية قاعدية ضعيفة والعضلات القاعدية بسيطة. وتوجد شبكة عصبية على الجزء الداخلي من طبقة الاكتودرم تتكون من خلايا عصبية ثنائية وعديدة الأقطاب وألياف عصبية، وكذلك شبكة عصبية أندودرمية تشبه نظيرتها في طبقة الاكتودرم. و أوضحت الدراسة الهستوكيميائية أن الخلايا اللاسعة تحتوى على المواد البروتينية المرتبطة بالمواد عديدة السكاكر وهى المكون الأساسي للمادة اللاسعة داخلها.

وبالإضافة إلى ذلك فقد تم تسجيل أحد شقائق البحر السابحة لأول مرة في بحيرة المنزلة بالقرب من بورسعيد، وكذلك عرض قائمة تصنيفية بالأنواع التي تم وصفها حتى الآن واقتراح مفتاح تصنيفي للتفرقة بين الأنواع المختلفة من شقائق البحر وتوضيح أماكن معيشتها.