Four new species and a ribosomal phylogeny of Rhabdopleura (Hemichordata: Graptolithina) from New Zealand, with a review and key to all described extant taxa Author Gordon, Dennis P. National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand Author Randolph Quek, Z. B. 0000-0001-7998-7052 National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand & Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore randolphquek@u.nus.edu Author Huang, Danwei National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand & Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore & National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand & Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Singapore & National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand & Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore & National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bay 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand text Zootaxa 2024 2024-03-14 5424 3 323 357 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5424.3.3 journal article 291187 10.11646/zootaxa.5424.3.3 27034233-3add-4d32-8128-33e9f7d21630 1175-5326 10821361 524CF65D-F877-42E1-B983-EDC7D3ED1623 Dichotomous key to all described species of Rhabdopleura based on morphology 1. Mature colony tiny, compact, subcircular, not> 3 mm diameter, adherent tubes closely appressed laterally..... R. compacta - Mature colony ramifying, occupying> 4 mm of lateral spread................................................. 2 2. Relative to creeping tube, inception of ringed erect tubes indirect, terminal, each arising from short blind-ending side branches budded from sides of creeping tubes...................................................................... 3 - Relative to creeping tube, inception of ringed erect tubes direct, i.e. borne directly on and projecting from ramifying creeping tubes or stems....................................................................................... 7 3. Erect tubes large, up to 11‒12 mm tall and 1 mm diameter with aligned longitudinal striations and fusellar rings in 8‒10 annular panels....................................................................................... R. striata - Erect tubes much shorter and thinner, with no striations or panelling of fuselli..................................... 4 4. Dark pectocaulus typically transparent where it diverges and widens into an adherent short side branch; visible side walls of pectocaulus then appear as two thin lines converging towards base of ringed tube......................... R. grimaldii - Dark pectocaulus visibly continuous into short side branches, side walls not converging towards base of ringed tube...... 5 5. Short blind-ending side branches budded 1‒2 mm distant from one another....................... R. chathamica n. sp. - Short blind-ending side branches typically budded relatively close (< 1 mm ) to each other........................... 6 6. Erect ringed tubes 118‒131 μm diameter, fusellus height 11‒24 μm.................................. R. manubialis - Erect ringed tubes 143‒154 μm diameter, fusellus height 24‒41 μm..................................... R. normani 7. Colony occurring in/on mud, creeping tube lacking oblique sutures, erect tubes up to 6‒7 mm long........... R. mirabilis - Colony attached to hard substratum or growing freely into water column......................................... 8 8. Mature colony growing 3-dimensionally into water column, branching tubes lacking oblique fusellar sutures................................................................................................ R. emancipata n. sp. - Mature colony ramifying on/in hard substrata.............................................................. 9 9. Smooth creeping tubes adherent to interiors of bryozoan zooids, no septa separating individual zooids........ R. recondita - Smooth creeping tubes attached to hard exterior surfaces, zooids pertaining to erect ringed tubes separated by septa...... 10 10. Width (diameter) of erect ringed tube similar to creeping-tube convexity................................ R. annulata - Width (diameter) of erect ringed tube less than half that of creeping tube........................................ 11 11. Number of fusellar collars in 500 μm of erect-tube length 10‒12, mean fusellus height 40 μm, zigzag sequence ½ ‒ ¾ width of creeping-tube.......................................................................... R. francesca n. sp. - Number of fusellar collars in 500 μm of erect-tube length 12‒20, mean fusellus height 32 μm, zigzag sequence ⅓ ‒ ½ width of creeping tube.......................................................................... R. decipula n. sp.