Pyura Molina, 1782

Monniot, Françoise & Monniot, Claude, 2001, Ascidians from the tropical western Pacific, Zoosystema 23 (2), pp. 201-383 : 344-345

Genus Pyura Molina, 1782

Pyura gangelion ( Savigny, 1816) ( Figs 106 ; 108A ; 130B )

Cynthia gangelion Savigny, 1816: 90-147 . Type locality: Red Sea.

Halocynthia gangelion – Sluiter 1905: 102, Djibouti.

Pyura gangelion – Monniot C. 1973: 57, Red Sea.

Pyura (Halocynthia) sansibarica Michaelsen, 1908: 251 , Zanzibar.

Pyura sansibarica – Michaelsen 1918: 8, Red Sea. — Millar 1956: 929 Mozambique. — Vasseur 1969: 926, Madagascar.

Pyura obesa – Hartmeyer 1919: 14, Australia. — Kott 1985: 315, Australia.

Pyura robusta Hartmeyer, 1922: 319 . — Kott 1998: 185.

Pyura albanyensis Michaelsen, 1927: 193 , Albany. — Hartmeyer & Michaelsen 1928: 435. — Monniot C. 1989: 492, fig. 8, pl. IIA, B, New Caledonia. — Monniot C. & Monniot F. 1991: 411, fig. 27D, F, New Caledonia. — Monniot F. & Monniot C. 1996: 263, fig. 58, Papua New Guinea.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Federated States of Micronesia. Pohnpei, North lagoon, Yusan-maru, permanently moored ship, 6°98.91’N, 158°17.53’E, 1 m, 14.X.1996 ( MNHN S2 PYU 385).

Maldives. N Male Atoll, Feydhoo Findhu Island, 4°12.88’N, 73°29.27’E, 2 m, 15.IX.1997 ( MNHN S2 PYU 383).

Mozambique. Ibo Island 1995; Djibouti 1996, coll. Monniot ( MNHN S2 PYU 388).

REMARKS

All synonym specimens have the same anatomical characters ( Fig. 106 ) whatever the ocean in which they were collected. Their external aspect may be variable. The species is generally dark brown-red, but in the Maldives it is black ( Fig. 130B ), with yellow stripes on the siphons. The siphonal spinules ( Fig. 108A ) are regularly arranged but of different sizes, small and larger ones intercalated.

The specific name P. gangelion has priority even if the specimens are frequently cited with other names.

The distribution of the species is especially wide in the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans.

Figures

FIG. 106. — Pyura gangelion (Savigny, 1816); A, body shape; B, body ventrally opened. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 108. — Siphonal spinules; A, Pyura gangelion (Savigny, 1816); B, Pyura styeliformis n. sp.; C, Microcosmus bitunicatus n. sp.; D, Microcosmus pacificus n. sp. Scale bars: 100 µm.

FIG. 130. — A, Herdmania polyducta (Monniot C. & Monniot F., 1989); B, Pyura gangelion (Savigny, 1816); C, Pyura styeliformis n. sp.; D, Microcosmus bitunicatus n. sp.