Leptoclinides albamaculatus Kott, 2001

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 : 1167

Leptoclinides albamaculatus Kott, 2001

( Figure 6B )

Leptoclinides albamaculatus Kott 2001, p 38 .

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 2001): Queensland (Heron I., Capricorn Group). New record: Queensland (Great Barrier Reef: 15.615 ° S, 145.375 ° E, 21 m, QM G308876 ) .

Description

The newly recorded colony forms a large sheet marbled or flecked with black pigment. The zooids have a long branchial siphon and a posteriorly orientated atrial siphon opens into a posterior abdominal common cloacal cavity. The abdomen is long and narrow and several testis follicles are surrounded by five coils of the vas deferens. The spicules are stellate, occasionally to 0.1 mm diameter, with 11–13 chisel-tipped or conical rays in optical transverse section. Most of the spicules are about 0.06 mm diameter.

Remarks

The newly recorded colony has similar zooids, testis, and vas deferens to those previously described. Spicules are of similar form, although the largest in the previously recorded material ( Kott 2001) are only to 0.06 mm diameter. As the largest spicules occur only occasionally it is possible that they were overlooked in the original material. The colour pattern formerly described is created by the black pigment in the surface which sometimes is completely or partially absent thus exposing the underlying white spicules.

Figures

Figure 6. Scanning electron micrographs. (A) Atriolum irregulare (QM G323245); (B) Leptoclinides albamaculatus (QM G308876); (C) Leptoclinides dubius (QM G308892); (D) Leptoclinides durus (QM G308894); (E) Leptoclinides fluxus (QM G308817); (F) Leptoclinides placidus (QM G308766); (G) Polysyncraton cuculliferum (QM G3088458); (H) Polysyncraton gratum (QM G308891).