Citorclinum laboutei Monniot F. & Millar, 1988

Monniot, Françoise & Monniot, Claude, 2001, Ascidians from the tropical western Pacific, Zoosystema 23 (2), pp. 201-383 : 235

Citorclinum laboutei Monniot F. & Millar, 1988

( Fig. 116B )

Citorclinum laboutei Monniot F. & Millar, 1988: 321 , fig. 1, pl. 1. Type locality: New Caledonia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Papua New Guinea. Coral Sea, eastern Fields, 10°00.66’S, 145°39.90’E, 10 m, 14. VI.1998 ( MNHN A3 CIT 4).

DESCRIPTION

As in New Caledonia, the colonies of this polycitorid species form round heads, from 2 to 5 cm in diameter raised on peduncles. The tunic is white, vitreous, smooth and naked ( Fig. 116B ). Both siphons of the zooids are obvious at the colony surface, but they are not circled here with white rings. The zooids are well apart, perpendicular to the colony surface. The characters of the zooids are very consistent with six lobes at each siphon, about 16 longitudinal muscles on each side, three rows of numerous stigmata, a smooth stomach wall, and a long post-abdomen. The ovary lies in the intestinal loop, the testis in the posterior part of the post-abdomen. The heart lies to one side of the gut loop. A few embryos are being incubated in the cloacal cavity, but no tadpole is fully developed.

REMARKS

This monospecific genus is recorded again, and here for the first time. This extends its geographical distribution to the north.

Figures

FIG. 116. — A, Clavelina robusta Kott, 1990; B, Citorclinum laboutei Monniot F. & Millar, 1988; C, Cystodytes hapu Monniot C. & Monniot F., 1987; D, Eudistoma album Monniot F., 1988; E, Eudistoma fluorescens n. sp.; F, Eudistoma fucatum n. sp.