Cnemidocarpa radicosa ( Herdman, 1882 )

Kott, Patricia, 2008, Ascidiacea (Tunicata) from deep waters of the continental shelf of Western Australia, Journal of Natural History 42 (15 - 16), pp. 1103-1217 : 1198-1199

Cnemidocarpa radicosa ( Herdman, 1882)

Styela radicosa Herdman 1882, p. 163 .

Cnemidocarpa radicosa: Kott 1985, p. 36 and synonymy.

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 1985): Western Australia (Cockburn Sound); South Australia (Great Australian Bight, St. Vincent Gulf, Spencer Gulf); Tasmania (Bruny I., Port Davey, d’Entrecasteaux Channel): Victoria (Bass Strait, Phillip I., Cape Grant, Lake Entrance, Port Nelson, Portland, Port Phillip Bay); New South Wales (Port Jackson, Solitary Is.); Queensland (Tallebudgera). New record: Western Australia CSIRO SS10/05 (Bald I., Stn 39, 110 m, 24.11.05, QM G328011).

The new record confirms the range of this species from Cockburn Sound and south across the temperate southern Australian coast to the NSW/ Queensland border. It is a common component of shallow water communities. Previously its greatest recorded depth was 50 m.

Description

The specimen has the usual flaccid appearance characteristic of this species, with its tough leathery but smooth and flexible test with some deep longitudinal creases in the preserved specimen. It is mostly naked without sand or epibionts. The body wall is thickened posteriorly and the gut and gonads (two on the left and three on the right) are embedded deeply in it.