Polysyncraton otuetue

Kott, Patricia, 2007, New and little-known species of Didemnidae (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) from Australia (part 4), Journal of Natural History 41 (17 - 20), pp. 1163-1211 : 1173

Polysyncraton otuetue C. and F. Monniot, 1987

( Figure 7C )

Polysyncraton otuetue C. and F. Monniot 1987, p 45; Kott 2001, p 118.

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 2001): Queensland (Swain Reefs); French Polynesia. New records: Queensland (Great Barrier Reef: 18.815 ° S, 146.955 ° E, 35 m; 16.985 ° S, 146.065 ° E, 32 m, QM G308851 ) .

Description

The two specimens are thin, more or less rectangular sheets. Thoraces are large. The wide, open atrial aperture with an anterior lip exposes a large part of the branchial sac to the common cloacal cavity. A fine retractor muscle projects from the posterior end of the thorax. The large branchial sac has about 10 stigmata per half row. The oesophagus is very short and the abdomen is bent up at right angles to it. One of the newly recorded species (QM G308851) has about eight male follicles although a vas deferens was not detected. Four coils of the vas deferens can be seen in the other specimen. Spicules are characteristic, to 0.08 mm diameter, stellate, with 13–15 rays in optical transverse section.

Figures

Figure 7. Scanning electron micrographs. (A) Polysyncraton magnetae (QM G308818); (B) Polysyncraton meandratum (QM G308849); (C) Polysyncraton otuetue (QM G308851); (D) Polysyncraton reticulum (QM G323330); (E) Polysyncraton scorteum (QM G323343); (F) Didemnum abradatum (QM G308870); (G) Didemnum astrum (QM G308857); (H) Didemnum candidum (QM G308765).