Hydroides cf. recta Straughan, 1967

(Fig. 8)

Hydroides novaepommeraniae (not Augener, 1925).— Kupriyanova et al. 2008: 428–430 [Lizard Island, Qld; DNA data]. Hydroides cf. recta .— Sun et al. 2015: 71–74, fig. 23 [Lizard Island, Qld, Australia].

Material examined. AM W.44229, MI QLD 2367; AM W.45071, MI QLD 2417; SAM E3599, stn. G238, east lagoon near Bird Islet, 14°46'59"S, 145°05'23"E, coral rubble, 10 m, coll. G. Rouse & E. Kupriyanova, 31 Oct 2005; MAGNT W025508, Yonge Reef, 14°34'28"S, 145°36'19"E, coll. C. Glasby, 20 Apr 2008.

Diagnosis. Opercular verticil small, with 7–11 straight spines, ending in pointed tips (Fig. 8). AM W.44229 and AM W.45071 with all verticil spines smooth, similar in size and shape, spinules absent. SAM E3599 with one dorsal verticil spine slightly larger than others with subterminal inner spinule, a tiny inner basal spinule present on each spine. Funnel hardly chitinized, with 14–21 radii ending with pointed to swollen tips. Grooves separating radii extending 1/3 of length of wide part of funnel; funnel extending down to constriction for a length equalling 1/2 of that of the peduncle.

Remarks. Although Sun et al. (2015) re-examined a paratype of H. longistylaris (MBMCAS MBM40) and the holotype and paratypes of H. recta, they could not attribute the specimens from Lizard Island to either of these two nominal taxa. A similar specimen has been recorded from the Solomon Islands under the name Hydroides (aff.) recta (BMNH 1970: 829, identifications by H. Zibrowius 1972, H. ten Hove 1986). Because we do not have any additional data on these forms other than the slightly ambiguous data in Sun et al. (2015), we refrain from describing this material as a new species.

Distribution. Lizard Island, Qld, Solomon Islands.