Clathrina tetrapodifera, Klautau & Valentine, 2003
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1046/j.0024-4082.2003.00063.x |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D5484C-D42C-C36F-FCC3-FAEBFDD5FD32 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Clathrina tetrapodifera |
| status |
sp. nov. |
CLATHRINA TETRAPODIFERA View in CoL SP. NOV.
Original identification: Leucosolenia cerebrum ( Haeckel, 1872)
Etymology: Derived from the presence of tetrapods.
Type locality: New Zealand .
Type: BMNH 1938.8 .24.53. (Holotype /dry) New Zealand. Miss L. B. Moore Collection (N.Z. 17) .
Colour: Dried, fragmented holotype is white.
Description: The largest fragment (1.0 ¥ 0.6 ¥ 0.9 cm) is attached to algae. The cormus is formed of thin, regular and tightly anastomosed tubes ( Fig. 43A View Figure 43 ). It is attached to the substrate by a few tubes, which are not true stalks. There are no water-collecting tubes, but vents on the surface. We could not search for cells with granules because of the state of preservation of the specimen.
The skeleton comprises equiangular and equiradiate triactines and tetractines on the tubes’ interior, and tripods and tetrapods on the exterior ( Fig. 43B View Figure 43 ), delimiting the cormus. The actines of the triactines and tetractines are conical, with sharp tips. The apical actine ( Fig. 43C View Figure 43 ) of the tetractines is shorter than the facial ones, conical, sharp and straight. The spines are located at the tip. Tripods and tetrapods are very abundant. The tripods are true tripods. Tetrapods are similar to tripods in that they also possess stout actines and a raised centre. However, they have developed a fourth, apical, actine, which is shorter than the facial ones; it is conical and differs from the apical actine of the tetractines in that it is smooth.
Remarks: The most important characteristic of this species is the presence of the tetrapods. C. tetrapodifera sp. nov. is the only clathrina described with this type of spicule, which means that it can be easily separated from all other known species using this morphological character alone.
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