Rhopalaea crassa ( Herdman, 1880 )

Kott, Patricia, 2008, Ascidiacea (Tunicata) from deep waters of the continental shelf of Western Australia, Journal of Natural History 42 (15 - 16), pp. 1103-1217 : 1112-1113

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930801935958
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E8619D71-2D4B-4226-FE1B-FBA8FB82FCAD
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Rhopalaea crassa ( Herdman, 1880 )
status

Treatment

Rhopalaea crassa ( Herdman, 1880) View in CoL

Ecteinascidia crassa Herdman 1880, p. 723 .

Rhopalaea crassa: Kott 1990a, p. 26 View in CoL and synonymy; 2003, p.1613.

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 1990, 2003): Western Australia ( Houtman’s Abrolhos , Cockburn Sound ); Queensland ( Mooloolaba , Great Barrier Reef to Lizard I.); West Pacific ( Solomon Is , Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, the South China Sea , Sri Lanka and Madagascar. New records: Western Australia CSIRO SS10 View Materials /05 (Point D’ Entrecasteaux, Stn 17, 378 m, 21.11.05, QM G328425 - seven specimens, Bald I., Stn 34, 408 m, 24.11.05, QM G328426 , Jurien Bay, Stn 83, 113 m, 02.12.05, QM G328423 ).

The new record from Bald I is the most southerly location yet recorded for this otherwise widespread tropical species. However, it should be noted that the species is recorded from temperate waters also north of the equator ( Japan and the South China Sea). The southern Australian records are from unusually deep water.

Description

The specimens from Point D’ Entrecasteaux are upright, translucent lobes of relatively firm test, Their upper terminal surface is rounded and smooth and the lower half of each lobe (where some foreign particles adhere) is slightly reduced in diameter. Basally some rootlike projections of the test have sand adhering. The long abdomina are firmly embedded in the test, but these specimens appear to have lost the upper (thoracic) part of the body and there is no trace of the usual fragile thoracic test. One of the individuals from Bald I. has delicate test enclosing a small, possibly regenerating, thorax on an abdomen of the usual form tightly enclosed in the characteristically firm translucent test of the lower half of the body. Diaphanous thoracic test is also present attached to the firmer abdominal test (in which an abdomen is embedded) in the specimen from Jurien Bay, although little detail can be observed as the specimen has been completely flattened.

Remarks

These specimens are mutilated, and generally the firm abdominal test is all that remains. However, in a few specimens the appearance and consistency of the test of this species is recognizable.

Family CLAVELINIDAE Forbes and Hanly, 1848