The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia Author Van Ofwegen, Leen P. text Zootaxa 2020 2020-04-16 4764 1 1 131 journal article 22824 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1 55f6b110-0a37-45fe-be1c-34e9a035fe0e 1175-5334 3764923 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53C5289A-156C-4AF1-B84A-73099A332C05 Litophyton brewerensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 41a , 42a , 43-44 ) Material examined . Holotype NTM C4050 , Queensland , Great Barrier Reef , John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m , 7 February 1981 , coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes : NTM C02236-NTM C2238, Queensland , Briggs reef, Bommie, surface, March 1978 , coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2248, Queensland , Briggs-Sudbury reef, March 1978 , coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2260-NTM C2261, Queensland , Masthead reef, 31 August 1974 , coll. P. Alderslade;? NTM C2939, Queensland , Orpheus island, Pioneer Bay, depth 10-15 m , coll. J. Coll; NTM C10003, cf. alba ; Queensland , Orpheus island, Pioneer Bay, coll. P. Alino. Description. The holotype NTM C4050 is 8 cm high and wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm high ( Fig. 41a ). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm wide and 0.90 mm high, and grouped in long catkins. Polyps . Without clear arrangement of sclerites ( Fig. 42a ). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles, up to 0.40 mm long ( Fig. 43a ), laterally and adaxially scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk ( Fig. 43b ). Supporting bundle without projecting spindles or one projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm . Spindles of the supporting bundle up to 1.40 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 43c ). Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core. FIGURE 41 . Litophyton specimens: a-b, L . brewerensis n. sp. , a, holotype NTM C4050, b, paratype NTM C2248; c-d, L . legiopolypum ( Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982 ) , c, NTM C713, d, NTM C714; e, L . oxleyensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C4669; all natural size. FIGURE 42 . Lateral views polyp armature of Litophyton species: a, L . brewerensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C4050; b, L . legiopolypum ( Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982 ) holotype AMG 14806; c, L . oxleyensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C4669; d, L . simplex n. sp. , holotype NTM C3949; e, L. snakeensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C10439; f, L. squamatum n. sp. , holotype NTM C 4136; g-h, L. compactum ( Verseveldt, 1966 ) holotype RMNH 2236 (after Verseveldt; magnification was not indicated by him). FIGURE 43 . Litophyton brewerensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C4050; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral, adaxial and tentacle scales; c, supporting bundle spindle; d, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; e, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; f-g, spindles of interior base of stalk; h, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to c-e, g. FIGURE 44 . Litophyton brewerensis n. sp. , paratype NTM C2939; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral, adaxial and tentacle scales; c, polyp stalk rods; d, supporting bundle spindle; e-f, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; g, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; h-i, spindles of interior base of stalk; j, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to d, f, g, i; scale at b also applies to e. Surface layer top stalk . Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.60 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 43d ). Surface layer base stalk . Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.15 mm long. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.70 mm long ( Fig. 43e ). The smaller sclerites have simple tubercles, the larger ones also complex tubercles. Interior stalk . Spindles, up to 1.20 mm long, with pointed ends ( Fig. 43 f-g) and simple tubercles ( Fig. 43h ). Etymology. Named after the type locality. Distribution . Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef, Briggs-Sudbury reef,? Orpheus island. Remarks. NTM C2248 differs from the other material in colony shape ( Fig. 41b ), probably the colony was dried out at some stage. The species mostly resembles L . snakeensis sp. nov. , but differs in having more slender interior stalk spindles and many capstans and derivatives of capstans in the surface layer of the stalk. NTM C2236-NTM C2238 were examined using temporary slides. NTM C2939 and NTM C10003 are included in this species, but with some doubts. They differ from the other specimens in having numerous rods in polyp stalk ( Fig. 44c ) instead of scales. In this aspect these specimens resemble L . legiopolypum (see below). However, they lack the short branched spindles with rough tubercles in the base of the stalk of the colony ( Fig. 44h ).