Litophyton burfordensis sp. nov.

(Figs. 69f, 70 e-f, 78-79)

Material examined. Holotype NTM C3171, Northern Territory, Burford Is, PA4, dry reef edge exposed, 13 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C3172, NTM C3174, same data as holotype.

Description. The holotype is 7.5 cm high and 10.5 cm wide (Fig. 69f). The stalk is 3 cm long, and divides in three main stems. The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.

Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 70e). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with spines, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 78a), laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 78b). In the adaxial points there are curved rods and scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 78c). Straight rods and ovals are present on the adaxial side of the polyp stalk, these rods are up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 78 d-e). One or two supporting bundle spindles projecting beyond the polyp head for a distance up to 0.20 mm. The spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 78f); some with one smooth end.

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are present, up to 0.70 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 78 g-h).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles (not depicted), and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 78i). Capstans 0.10-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.70 mm long, all with simple and complex tubercles.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.10 mm long, with pointed and blunt ends (Fig. 78k) and complex tubercles (Fig. 78l); a few branched. Smaller spindles have less tubercles (Fig. 78j).

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Distribution. Northern Territory, Burford Island.

Variability. NTM C3174 has much more developed polyp sclerites, even some club-like (Figs. 70f, 79a, e) and the adaxial side of the polyp stalk has scales next to the rods and ovals (Fig. 79d).Although the large polyp sclerites suggest this specimen actually represents another species only one specimen with these characters was present and therefore I decided to include it in L. burfordensis till more material can be examined.

Remarks. The species resembles L. capnelliformis (Thomson & Dean, 1931), from Timor, Indonesia, regarding the internal stalk spindles with blunt ends (Fig. 82 g-h). However, L. capnelliformis lacks unilaterally spinose sclerites in the stalk (Fig. 82 e-f) and ovals in the polyp stalk (Fig. 82a). Noteworthy, the polyp sclerite arrangement of L. capnelliformis is not clear due to a large amount of detritus present in the polyps. Therefore, the one polyp drawn (Fig. 82a) could have rods in the adaxial side as other polyps do, the rods are possibly just hidden in between the detritus.

The species also resembles L. oxleyensis sp. nov., but that species has many scales in the polyp head or no rods in the polyp stalk. Moreover, L. oxleyensis has less developed point sclerites and more tuberculated surface stalk sclerites. However, I don’t exclude the possibility that these differences represent intraspecific variation. Pending examination of more material L. oxleyensis and L. burfordensis are maintained as different species.