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 snakeensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 49b , 42e , 52-53 ) Material examined . Holotype NTM C10439 , Queensland , Great Barrier Reef , Snake reef, depth 10-12 m , 14 December 1990 , coll. J. Jan ; paratypes : NTM C3988, Queensland , Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 10-15 m , 26 May 1981 , coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4011, Queensland , Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m , 15 April 1981 , coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4340, Queensland , Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 0-5 m ; 7 January 1981 , coll. Z. Dinesen. FIGURE 49 . Litophyton type specimens: a, L . simplex n. sp. , holotype NTM C3949; b, L. snakeensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C10439; c, L. squamatum n. sp. , holotype NTM C 4136. Scale at c 1 cm, a-b, natural size. FIGURE 50 . Litophyton simplex n. sp. , holotype NTM C3949; a, abaxial point spindles; b-c, lateral, adaxial point, tentacle, and polyp stalk sclerites; d, supporting bundle spindle, partly; e-f, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; g-h, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; i-j, spindles of interior base of stalk; k, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to d, e, h, j; scale at i also applies to f; scale at b also applies to g. FIGURE 51 . Litophyton nigrescens ( Roxas, 1933 ) , holotype SMF 61; a, lateral views polyp armature; b-c, abaxial point spindles; d, tentacle scales; e, lateral, adaxial, and polyp stalk scales; f, supporting bundle spindles, partly; g, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; h, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; i-j, spindles of interior base of stalk. Scale at h also applies to b-c, f-g, j; scale at d also applies to e. FIGURE 52 . Litophyton snakeensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C10439; a, abaxial and lateral point spindles; b-c, adaxial, tentacle, and polyp stalk sclerites; d, supporting bundle spindles; e, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk. Scale at a also applies to d-e. FIGURE 53 . Litophyton snakeensis n. sp. , holotype NTM C10439; a-b, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; c-d, spindles of interior base of stalk; e, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at b also applies to d. Description. The holotype NTM C10439 is 12 cm high and 12.5 cm wide, the stalk is 3.5 cm high ( Fig. 49b ). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm high and 0.50 mm wide, and grouped in conical catkins. Polyps . Without clear arrangement of sclerites ( Fig. 42e ). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles, up to 0.40 mm long ( Fig. 52a ), adaxial scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles ( Fig. 52 b-c). Several of these scales and rods have a crystalline texture. Supporting bundle with spindles, up to 1.40 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 52d ), and not projecting beyond the polyp head. Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core. Surface layer top stalk . Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 52e ). Surface layer base stalk . Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, the smaller sclerites with simple tubercles, the larger ones also with complex tubercles ( Fig. 53 a-b). The capstans and derivatives of capstans are 0.05-0.15 mm long, the spindles are up to 0.60 mm long. Interior stalk . Spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 53e ), and pointed ends; several branched ( Fig. 53 c-d). Etymology . Named after the type locality. Distribution . Great Barrier Reef: Snake reef, Rib reef, Davies reef, Myrmidon reef. Remarks. The big interior spindles and many unilateral spinose spindles in the surface of the base of the stalk are characteristic for the species.