Litophyton simplex, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 60

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
publication LSID	urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53C5289A-156C-4AF1-B84A-73099A332C05
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3803540
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717-231A-FFEB-FF35-8060FD70F849
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Litophyton simplex
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Litophyton simplex View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 42d View FIGURE 42 , 49a View FIGURE 49 , 50 View FIGURE 50 )

Material examined. Holotype NTM C3949 , Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C4023, same data as holotype.

Description. The holotype NTM C3949 is 6.5 cm high and 6 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high ( Fig. 49a View FIGURE 49 ). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm wide and 0.95 mm high, and grouped in long catkins.

Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites ( Fig. 42d View FIGURE 42 ). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles, up to 0.40 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 50a View FIGURE 50 ). Scales and rods, 0.03-0.12 mm long, are present laterally and adaxially, and they are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 b-c). Supporting bundle without projecting spindles or one projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm, composed of spindles, up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 51d View FIGURE 51 ). Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 e-f).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 g-h). The spindles are up to 0.50 mm long.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 50k View FIGURE 50 ), and pointed ends ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 i-j).

Etymology. The Latin simplex , simple, referring to the simple tuberculation of the sclerites of this species.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef.

Remarks. The species resembles L. nigrescens ( Roxas, 1933) ( Ternate) ( Figs. 51 View FIGURE 51 , 56a View FIGURE 56 ) but differs in having much coarser, sparse tuberculation in the stalk sclerites.