Litophyton graafae, Van, 2020
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1 |
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publication LSID |
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53C5289A-156C-4AF1-B84A-73099A332C05 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3803560 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717-232F-FFC3-FF35-8074FE02FE62 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Litophyton graafae |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Litophyton graafae View in CoL sp. nov.
( Figs. 13a View FIGURE 13 , 14-15 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 , 21f View FIGURE 21 )
Material examined. Holotype NTM C4095 , Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C4097, coll. Z. Dinesen (probably same data as holotype).
Description. The holotype NTM C4095 is 9.5 cm high and 8 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm high ( Fig. 21f View FIGURE 21 ). The polyps are up to 0.50 mm wide and 0.40 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.
Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points ( Fig. 13a View FIGURE 13 ). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and blunt terminal projections, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long ( Fig. 14a View FIGURE 14 ); towards the adaxial points they become smaller ( Fig. 14b View FIGURE 14 ). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 14c View FIGURE 14 ). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 d-e). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 1.60 mm long, with complex tubercles and a leafy projecting part projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm ( Fig. 14f View FIGURE 14 ). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core (not shown in polyp drawing).
Surface layer top stalk. A few capstans present but mostly spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 1.60 mm long, with complex tubercles ( Figs. 14g View FIGURE 14 , 15 View FIGURE 15 a-b).
Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with complex tubercles and long spines ( Fig. 15c View FIGURE 15 ). The spindles are up to 1.20 mm long.
Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 1.20 mm long ( Fig. 15d View FIGURE 15 ), with large complex tubercles ( Fig. 15f View FIGURE 15 ); the smaller spindles distinctly flattened ( Fig. 15e View FIGURE 15 ).
Etymology. Named after my girlfriend Jose de Graaf.
Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef.
Remarks. This is the only Australian species of Litophyton with projecting supporting bundle spindles with leafy distal end.Also the interior spindles with rather large simple tubercles and the large derivatives of capstans characterise this species.
The paratype NTM C4097 has not only supporting bundle spindles with leafy distal end but also its larger point spindles have a leafy appearance.
The unilaterally spinose sclerites with very long spines are very distinctive but in group I are also present in L. dipensis View in CoL sp. nov., L. elfordensis sp. nov., and L. myrmidonensis sp. nov. The differences between these species are discussed with L. dipensis .
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.