New and little-known species of Didemnidae (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) from Australia (part 4)
Author
Kott, Patricia
text
Journal of Natural History
2007
2010-07-29
41
17 - 20
1163
1211
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930701359218
journal article
10.1080/00222930701359218
1464-5262
4669578
Didemnum membranaceum
Sluiter, 1909
(
Figure 9A
)
Didemnum membranaceum
Sluiter 1909
, p 58
;
Kott 2001
, p 205 and synonymy; 2002, p 36
and synonymy including
Diplosomoides
[
sic
]
membranaceum
:
Kott 2002
;
2004c
, p 56 and
synonymy.
Distribution
Previously
recorded (see
Kott 2004c
):
Western Australia
(
Montebello Is
,
Houtman’s Abrolhos
,
Dongara
,
Shark Bay
,
Cockburn Sound
);
Queensland
(
Moreton Bay
,
Caloundra
,
Great Barrier Reef
);
Western Pacific
(
Timor Sea
,
Andaman Is
,
Indonesia, Micronesia, French Polynesia
,
Hong Kong
).
New
records:
Queensland
(
Northern Great Barrier Reef
:
17.855
°
S
,
146.585
°
E
,
43 m
,
QM
G308868
;
14.685
°
S
,
145.535
°
E
,
27.3 m
,
QM
G308854
)
.
Description
Sheet-like encrusting colonies have characteristic spicules crowded throughout, only about six stigmata per row in the small thoraces, a short retractor muscle, a short branchial siphon and a wide, open atrial aperture.