Litophyton projectum sp. nov.

(Figs. 1g, 13d, 18-19)

Material examined. Holotype NTM C4203, Queensland, South Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, depth 30-35 m, 21 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; two paratypes NTM C4197, Queensland, South Great Barrier Reef; Flinders reef, depth 5-10 m, 26 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.

Description. The holotype NTM C4203 is 4 cm high and 5 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high (Fig. 1g). The polyps are up to 1 mm wide and 0.45 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.

Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13d). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.60 mm long (Fig. 18a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 18b). Several of the point sclerites project beyond the polyp head (Fig. 13d). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 18c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 18 d-e). These rods have a crystalline texture. Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.40 mm (Fig. 18 f-g). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 18 h-i).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles (Figs. 18 j-k, 19a-c). The spindles are up to 0.80 mm long.

Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 1.00 mm long (Fig. 19 d-e), the smaller ones with simple tubercles, the larger ones with more complex tubercles (Fig. 19f).

Etymology. The Latin projectum, projection, refers to the projecting point spindles of this species.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Flinders reef.

Remarks. This is the only Litophyton species with projecting supporting bundle also having projecting point spindles.

NTM C4197 has different stalk sclerites than the holotype as its interior stalk spindles are longer and wider (Fig. 19g) and more capstans and derivatives of capstans are present in the surface layer of the base stalk (Fig. 19 h-i). As the other characters are similar to the holotype I consider this to be infraspecific variation.