Kirchenpaueria curvata (Jäderholm, 1904)

(fig. 8I)

Kirchenpaueria curvata — Galea et al., 2009: 15 (synonymy).

Material examined. Stn. RHO — 01.xi.2009, DS264 (15 m): numerous stems epizoic on Plumularia setacea, Thuiaria polycarpa, Sertularella sp., and a bryozoan (MHNG-INVE-79644).

Remarks. The gonotheca of this species has been described first by Fraser (1938) from material originating from Galápagos, but his account is rather brief and no morphometrical data are provided. The gonotheca illustrated (pl. 20 fig. 9) by Stepanjants (1979) may not belong to K. curvata (S. Stepanjants, pers. comm.)13.

The present material contains two fertile stems, each bearing a single gonotheca. Gonothecae borne on apophyses of basalmost stem internodes; bottle-shaped, 545 and 565 µm long, 285 and 275 µm wide, respectively; lateral walls parallel, merging basally into an indistinct pedicel; apically flattened, carrying a large (95 and 100 µm wide, respectively), centrally-placed, rounded aperture; perisarc moderately thin, smooth to slightly undulated. Gonophore a residual, unidentifiable mass of tissue near the aperture, but sex possibly female, given the size of the aperture.

Further collecting at the same station is expected to provide additional fertile material, allowing the description of the gonophores.