Litophyton legiopolypum (Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982)

(Figs. 41 c-d, 42b, 45-46)

Nephthea legiopolypa Verseveldt & Alderslade, 1982: 633, Fig. 8, pl. 7B.

Material examined. Holotype AM G14806, Great Barrier Reef, west tip of Palfrey Island, on reef slope, depth 4.5-6 m, rubble, sand and corals, 3 November 1975, coll. H.K. Larson no. DFH 75-254; RMNH 12438, part of holotype, 6 microscope slides; RMNH 14722, Australia, Lizard Island, 30-40 feet, 7 microscope slides; NTM C200, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, off Cairns, December 1976, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C566-567, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C713-714, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C11054, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Elford reef, depth 6 m, 10 November 1989, coll. B. Bowden.

Remarks. For a description see Verseveldt & Alderslade (1982). Although these authors depicted a polyp with projecting supporting bundle, the current study indicates that this is not the case for all the polyps. Here I present SEM images of the sclerites of NTM C11054 (Fig. 45) and the polyp armature of the holotype as given by Verseveldt & Alderslade (Fig. 42b).

Apparently the base of the holotype was missing, therefore other material shows different sclerites in this part of the colony; shorter spindles in the interior which may have side branches (Fig. 45k).

NTM C713 and NTM C714 (Figs. 41 c-d, 46) are somewhat different from the other material, the polyps have more spindles instead of scales (Fig. 46b). The depicted stalk sclerites of NTM C713 are sampled somewhat above the base of the colony, the presented interior stalk sclerites are less branched and somewhat longer (Fig. 46j). The sclerites of these specimens resemble NTM C2939 and NTM C10003 of L. brewerensis (Fig. 44h), but differ in the tuberculation of the interior stalk spindles, being much coarser in L. legiopolypum .

The species should not be confused with L. mollis as that species has not so many internal stalk spindles with side branches, no projecting supporting bundles, and more spindles in the polyp body than L. legiopolypum .