Symplegma rubra Monniot, 1972

Monniot, Françoise, 2012, Some ascidians from the southern coast of Madagascar collected during the “ AtimoVatae ” survey, Zootaxa 3197, pp. 1-42 : 35

Symplegma rubra Monniot, 1972

( Figure 28 B)

Symplegma rubra Monniot C, 1972: 622 figs 2E–F,3, Bermuda. Monniot F. & Monniot C. 1997 (1999): 26 fig. 15 pl.3B–C and synonymy, western Atlantic, Tanzania, Mozambique. Monniot C. 2002: 68 , Mozambique. Kott 2004: 72 figs 25G–H, Timor Sea. Rocha & Costa 2005: 61 Brazil.

Stations. TA 22 (MNHN S1 SYM 87). TA 34 (MNHN S1 SYM 88). TA 60 (MNHN S1 SYM 89).

The colonies incrust diverse substrates: stones, shells, sponges. The colour is cream and a red ring circles the siphons a characteristic of the species ( Fig. 28 B). The zooids are easily extracted from the tunic. The branchial sac has 10 to 11 rows of stigmata. The stomach has a coma-like caecum. The male and female gonads are not simultaneously developed.

S. rubra is very common worldwide in tropical waters; its colour in life is characteristic but disappears after fixation.

Figures

FIGURE 28. A, Polycarpa gradata. Scale bar = 1 cm. B, Symplegma rubra, part of in situ colony (photo P. Laboute).