Litophyton carnatum sp. nov.

(Figs. 56e, 60a, 61a, 62-65)

Material examined. Holotype NTM C4100, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 1-5 m, 6 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C3947, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 10-15 m, 9 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.

Description. The NTM C4100 holotype is 6.5 cm high and 14 cm wide (Fig. 56e). The stalk is 1.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.9 mm wide and 1.1 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.

Polyps. With a relatively regular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 61a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, largest spindles present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 62a), laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 62b). In the adaxial points there are small rods and curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 62 c-d). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles, and spines, more numerous at one end; spindles not projecting beyond the polyp (Fig. 62e).

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.5 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 62f).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 63 ab). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.6 mm long. All sclerites with simple and complex tubercles.

Interior stalk. Robust spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with pointed or blunt ends (Fig. 63c) and simple tubercles (Fig. 63e). The smaller ones are often branched (Fig. 63d).

Etymology. The Latin carnatum, fat, corpulent, fleshy, refers to the very fat interior stalk spindles.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef.

Remarks. Paratype NTM C3947 (Fig. 60a) has even longer internal stalk spindles (Fig. 65a), up to 2 mm long. Also several polyps have the supporting bundle projecting beyond the polyp body for a distance up to 0.30 mm.