Litophyton verrucosum, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 126-127

Litophyton verrucosum sp. nov.

( Figs. 85h , 97 e-f, 104-106)

Material examined. Holotype NTM C4071 , Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 5-10 m, 9 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C346, February 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C436; Queensland, Moore reef, Bommie, depth 3-13 m, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C764, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C3978, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Cay, depth 20-25 m, 25 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4052, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4073, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4145, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4226, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Cay, depth 5-10 m, 25 September 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4258, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, Sth., depth 5-10 m, 21 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4282; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 1-5 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C5304, cf. cupressiformis, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, back reef zone, depth 3 m, 8 October 1985, coll. H. Lasker.

Description. The holotype is 4 cm high and 5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long ( Fig. 97e ). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and high, grouped in conical catkins.

Polyps. With virtually no arrangement of sclerites as points ( Fig. 85h ).Abaxially the polyp sclerites are unilaterally spinose spindles up to 0.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and spines ( Fig. 104a ). Laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long ( Fig. 104b ). Adaxially there are rods and small curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles ( Fig. 104c ). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 104d ). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple or complex tubercles and one spiny end ( Fig. 104e ).

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles and tall complex spines ( Fig. 104f ). A few capstans and derivatives of capstans are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.10-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.60 mm long.

Surface layer base stalk. Spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with complex tubercles and tall complex spines ( Fig. 105a ).A few capstans and derivatives of capstans are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.10-0.25 mm long; spindles up to about 0.70 mm long.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends ( Fig. 105 b-c) and simple and complex complex tubercles ( Fig. 105d )

Etymology. The Latin verrucosum , warty, rough, rugged, refers to the internal stalk spindles with well-spaced coarse tubercles.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Dip reef, Moore reef, Flinders Cay, Davies reef.

Remarks. The capstans and derivatives of capstans were present in small numbers and therefore not captured with the SEM images of the surface layer of the stalk.

The species resembles L. acutum sp. nov. with regards to the surface stalk sclerites. However, L. acutum has the adaxial side of polyps without sclerites, different tentacular sclerites and spiny capstan derivatives in the surface of the stalk base.

NTM C3978 ( Figs. 97f , 106 ) has unusual many polyp stalk rods resembling L. brachiatum sp. nov. but lacks the big interior stalk spindles with side branches of that species.

In group V also L. folium sp. nov and L. sanctuaryensis sp. nov. have sclerites with long spines. For the differences between the three species see L. folium .

Figures

FIGURE 85. Lateral views polyp armature of Litophyton species: a-b, L. folium n. sp., a, holotype NTM C4128, b, paratype NTM C10456; c, L. fusum n. sp., holotype NTM C4366; d; L. horseshoeensis, n. sp., holotype NTM C2256; e-f, L. sanctuaryensis n. sp., e, holotype NTM C1387; f, paratype NTM C4383; g. L. swainensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1371; h, L. verrucosum n. sp., holotype NTM C4071.

FIGURE 97. Litophyton type specimens: a, L. amboinensis (Burchardt, 1898), holotype MZS NS 158; b-c, L. sanctuaryensis n. sp., b, holotype NTM C1387; c, paratype NTM C4383; d, L. swainensis n. sp., holotype NTM C1371; e-f, L. verrucosum n. sp., e, holotype NTM C4071; f, paratype NTM C3978.

FIGURE 104. Litophyton verrucosum n. sp., holotype NTM C4071; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral point spindles; c, adaxial and tentacle sclerites; d, polyp stalk rods; e, supporting bundle spindles; f, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk. Scale at a also applies to e-f; scale at b also applies to c-d.

FIGURE 105. Litophyton verrucosum n. sp., holotype NTM C4071; a, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; b-c, spindles of interior base of stalk; d, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindles. Scale at a also applies to b.

FIGURE 106. Litophyton verrucosum n. sp., paratype NTM C3978; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral point spindles; c, adaxial and tentacle sclerites; d, polyp stalk rods; e, supporting bundle spindles; f, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; g, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; h-i, spindles of interior base of stalk; j, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindles. Scale at a also applies to e-h; scale at b also applies to c-d.