Litophyton horseshoeensis, Van, 2020
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1 |
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publication LSID |
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53C5289A-156C-4AF1-B84A-73099A332C05 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3803580 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717-2348-FFB9-FF35-8173FD27F86F |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Litophyton horseshoeensis |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Litophyton horseshoeensis View in CoL sp. nov.
( Figs. 85d View FIGURE 85 , 89b View FIGURE 89 , 92-93 View FIGURE 92 View FIGURE 93 )
Material examined. Holotype NTM C2256 , Queensland, Horseshoe reef, Bommie Top , 11 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C 1366-68, 1370, 1379, Queensland, Swain reef, Sweet-lip reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C 1392-95, Queensland, Bills reef, 8 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C1396, Queensland; Central reef, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2255; Queensland, Horseshoe reef, Bommie Top, 11 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3992, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.
Description. The holotype is 7.5 cm high and 4.5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long ( Fig. 89b View FIGURE 89 ). The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and 0.5 high, grouped in spherical catkins.
Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points ( Fig. 85d View FIGURE 85 ). Abaxially and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines; abaxially up to 0.50 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long ( Fig. 92 View FIGURE 92 a-b). Adaxially there are small, curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles ( Fig. 92c View FIGURE 92 ). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 92d View FIGURE 92 ). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 1.80 mm long, with simple tubercles and one spiny end ( Fig. 92e View FIGURE 92 ).
Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 92 View FIGURE 92 f-g). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.60 mm long.
Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, thorny derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles ( Figs. 92h View FIGURE 92 , 93a View FIGURE 93 ). Capstans 0.05-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.
Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends ( Fig. 93c View FIGURE 93 ), and simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 93b View FIGURE 93 ). The smaller spindles often have side branches ( Fig. 93b View FIGURE 93 ).
Etymology. Named after the holotype locality.
Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Horseshoe reef, Sweet-lip reef, Bills reef, Central reef, Davies reef.
Remarks. NTM C1379 has somewhat longer internal stalk spindles, up to 1.20 mm long.
L. horseshoeensis resembles L. debilis ( Kükenthal, 1895) ( Ternate) ( Figs. 69e View FIGURE 69 , 77 View FIGURE 77 ), but has many thorny derivatives of capstans in the surface of the base of the stalk.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.