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
Polysyncraton magnetae
Hastings, 1931
(
Figure 7A
)
Polysyncraton magnetae
Hastings 1931
, p 100
;
Kott 2001
, p 109 and synonymy; 2004a, p 741.
Distribution
Previously
recorded (see
Kott 2004a
):
Queensland
(Great Barrier Reef).
New
record:
Queensland
(Great Barrier Reef:
18.615
°
S
,
146.645
°
E
,
30 m
,
QM
G308818
)
.
Description
The newly recorded colony consists of large vertical lamellae with two sorts of spicules crowded throughout. Spicules, to
0.05 mm
diameter, are both stellate (with 13–15 conical pointed rays) and globular (with rod-like, flat-tipped rays).
Zooids each have a large yellow egg at the posterior end of the abdomen and two loose coils of the vas deferens around seven or eight male follicles.
Remarks
Larger spicules (to
0.05 mm
) are present than the
0.035 mm
diameter previously recorded for this species. Also, the number of spicule rays in optical transverse section (15–17) that
Kott (2001
, Figure 162I) recorded appears to be too high. Other characteristics, including the yellow egg at the posterior end of the zooid, are reported previously for this species.