Litophyton projectum, 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.3803566 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717-2332-FFCC-FF35-838CFB80FC8A |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Litophyton projectum |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Litophyton projectum View in CoL sp. nov.
( Figs. 1g View FIGURE 1 , 13d View FIGURE 13 , 18-19 View FIGURE 18 View FIGURE 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 View FIGURE 1 ). 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 View FIGURE 13 ). 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 View FIGURE 18 ), towards the adaxial points they become smaller ( Fig. 18b View FIGURE 18 ). Several of the point sclerites project beyond the polyp head ( Fig. 13d View FIGURE 13 ). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 18c View FIGURE 18 ). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 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 View FIGURE 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 View FIGURE 18 h-i).
Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles ( Figs. 18 View FIGURE 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 View FIGURE 19 d-e), the smaller ones with simple tubercles, the larger ones with more complex tubercles ( Fig. 19f View FIGURE 19 ).
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 View FIGURE 19 ) and more capstans and derivatives of capstans are present in the surface layer of the base stalk ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 h-i). As the other characters are similar to the holotype I consider this to be infraspecific variation.
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.
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