Litophyton grandis, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 73

Litophyton grandis sp. nov.

( Figs. 60b , 61b , 66 )

Material examined. Holotype NTM C5419 , RH87-6, Western Australia, Cape Leveque , sandy beach, LWS, 18 March 1987, coll. R. Hanley .

Description. The NTM C5419 holotype is 11 cm high and 11.5 cm wide ( Fig. 60b ). The stalk is 3.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.6 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.

Polyps. With no arrangement of sclerites as points ( Fig. 61b ). Abaxial and lateral sclerites are spindles unilaterally ornamented with many big spines, largest spindles present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long ( Fig. 66a ); laterally there also are some simple spindles ( Fig. 66b ).The adaxial sclerites are small curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.15 mm long ( Fig. 66c ). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles, and not projecting beyond the polyp ( Fig. 66d ).

Surface layer top stalk. Mostly capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.20 mm long; a few spindles (not depicted) and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.3 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 66 e-f).

Surface layer base stalk. Mostly capstans and derivatives of capstans ( Fig. 66 g-h), a few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.4 mm long. All sclerites with simple tubercles.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.75 mm long, with pointed ends ( Fig. 66 i-j) and simple tubercles ( Fig. 66k ).

Etymology. The Latin grandis, great, large, grown, strong, refers to the strongly developed polyp sclerites.

Distribution. Western Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Litophyton type specimens: a, L. carnatum n. sp., paratype NTM C3947; b, L. grandis n. sp., holotype NTM C5419, c-d. L. pandoraensis n. sp., c, holotype NTM C4053, d, paratype NTM C3945.

FIGURE 61. Lateral views polyp armature of Litophyton species: a, L. carnatum n. sp., holotype NTM C4100; b, L. grandis n. sp., holotype NTM C5419, c, L. pandoraensis n. sp., holotype NTM C4053.

FIGURE 66. Litophyton grandis n. sp., holotype NTM C5419; a, abaxial and lateral point spindles; b, lateral point spindles; c, adaxial and tentacle scales; 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, f, h, j; scale at b also applies to c; e, g.