Litophyton darleyensis, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 100

Litophyton darleyensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 70g , 80c , 83-84 )

Material examined. Holotype NTM C1155 , Queensland, Darley reef, December 1979, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratype NTM C1154, same data as holotype.

Description. The holotype is 10.5 cm high and 9 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm long ( Fig. 80c ). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.

Polyps. With a relatively good arrangement of sclerites in eight points ( Fig. 70g ).Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles; abaxially up to 0.35 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 83a ); laterally up to 0.20 mm long. Adaxially there are small, curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles ( Fig. 83b ). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.08 mm long ( Fig. 83c ). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles up to 1.5 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 83d ).

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles up to 1 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 83 e-f).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, a few derivatives of capstans, and spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 83h , 84a ). Capstans 0.05-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with pointed ends and simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 84d ); many with one or more side branches ( Fig. 83g , 84 b-c).

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Darley reef.

Remarks. The species is similar to L. folium sp. nov. (see below) but has longer internal stalk spindles with coarser tubercles, less developed point sclerites and very few spinose derivatives of capstans.

Figures

FIGURE 70. Lateral views polyp armature of Litophyton species: a-c, L. brachiatum n. sp., a, holotype NTM C4154, b, paratype NTM C1473, c, paratype NTM C4139; d, L. bayeri (Verseveldt, 1966), syntypes RMNH 2239; e-f, L. burfordensis n. sp., e, holotype NTM C3171; f, paratype NTM C3174; g, L. darleyensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1155,

FIGURE 80. Litophyton type specimens: a, L. crassum (Kükenthal, 1903), NHMW C2370; b, L. capnelliformis (Thomson & Dean, 1931), two parts of holotype ZMA COEL. 2925; c, L. darleyensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1155; d-e, L. folium n. sp., d, holotype NTM C4128; e, paratype NTM C10456. All natural size.

FIGURE 83. Litophyton darleyensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1155; a, abaxial point spindles; b, adaxial and tentacle sclerites; c, polyp stalk rods; d, supporting bundle spindles, partly; e-f, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; g, spindles interior top of stalk; h, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk. Scale at a also applies to d-e; scale at f also applies to g; scale at b also applies to c, h.

FIGURE 84. Litophyton darleyensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1155; a, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; b-c, spindles of interior base of stalk; d, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to c.