Observations on non-didemnid ascidians from Australian waters (1)
Author
Kott, Patricia
text
Journal of Natural History
2006
2006-04-26
40
3 - 4
169
234
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930600621601
journal article
10.1080/00222930600621601
1464-5262
5232431
Polycarpa olitoria
(
Sluiter, 1890
)
Styela olitoria
Sluiter 1890
, p 341
.
Polycarpa olitoria
Kott 1985
, p 180
and synonymy.
Distribution
Previously recorded (see
Kott 1985
):
Western Australia
(
Kendrew I.
,
Shark Bay
, Cape Jaubert); Victoria (Bass Strait); Queensland (Capricorn Group, Abbot Point, Twonsville,
Cleveland Bay
,
Lloyd Bay
, Cape Melville, Murdoch Point);
Indonesia, Madagascar
,
Sri Lanka
. New records: Queensland (15.495
°
S, 145.385
°
E,
25.6 m
; 17.445
°
S, 146.205
°
E,
26 m
; 17.605
°
S, 146.355
°
E,
39 m
; 17.655
°
S, 146.225
°
E,
26.5 m
; 18.035
°
S, 146.205
°
E,
18 m
; 18.615
°
S, 146.645
°
E,
30.5 m
)
.
Description
Flabby translucent whitish test covered in shell fragments and adherent and semiembedded sand. Apertures close on anterior surface, often obscured by rough test although the siphons often are naked. Row of eight relatively long polycarps down middle of each side of the body. Tall, rather leaf-like endocarps in gut loop and long, finger-like anal lobes, the usual pointed spines are around and in the siphon linings. Newly preserved material is bright yellow, the colour especially conspicuous on the naked siphons.
Remarks
Only a single specimen was taken from each newly recorded location.
Kott (1985)
reported red-coloured specimens of this species, although relatively freshly preserved newly recorded specimens are bright yellow.