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 legiopolypum ( Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982 ) ( Figs. 41 c-d, 42b, 45-46) Nephthea legiopolypa Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982: 633 , Fig. 8 , pl. 7B. Material examined . Holotype AM G14806 , Great Barrier Reef , west tip of Palfrey Island , on reef slope, depth 4.5-6 m , rubble, sand and corals, 3 November 1975 , coll. H.K. Larson no. DFH 75-254; RMNH 12438 , part of holotype , 6 microscope slides; RMNH 14722 , Australia , Lizard Island , 30-40 feet , 7 microscope slides; NTM C200 , Queensland , Great Barrier Reef , off Cairns , December 1976 , coll. P. Alderslade ; NTM C566-567 , March 1978 , coll. D. Schubot ; NTM C713-714, March 1978 , coll. D. Schubot; NTM C11054 , Queensland , Great Barrier Reef , Elford reef, depth 6 m , 10 November 1989 , coll. B. Bowden . Remarks . For a description see Verseveldt & Alderslade (1982) . Although these authors depicted a polyp with projecting supporting bundle, the current study indicates that this is not the case for all the polyps. Here I present SEM images of the sclerites of NTM C11054 ( Fig. 45 ) and the polyp armature of the holotype as given by Verseveldt & Alderslade ( Fig. 42b ). Apparently the base of the holotype was missing, therefore other material shows different sclerites in this part of the colony; shorter spindles in the interior which may have side branches ( Fig. 45k ). NTM C713 and NTM C714 ( Figs. 41 c-d, 46) are somewhat different from the other material, the polyps have more spindles instead of scales ( Fig. 46b ). The depicted stalk sclerites of NTM C713 are sampled somewhat above the base of the colony, the presented interior stalk sclerites are less branched and somewhat longer ( Fig. 46j ). The sclerites of these specimens resemble NTM C2939 and NTM C10003 of L . brewerensis ( Fig. 44h ), but differ in the tuberculation of the interior stalk spindles, being much coarser in L . legiopolypum . The species should not be confused with L . mollis as that species has not so many internal stalk spindles with side branches, no projecting supporting bundles, and more spindles in the polyp body than L . legiopolypum .