Litophyton pandoraensis, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 73-74

Litophyton pandoraensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 60 c-d, 61c, 67-68)

Material examined. Holotype NTM C4053 , Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 1-5 m, 28 May

1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; paratypes: NTM C3945, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 5-9 m, 28 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C3970, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 1-4 m, 28 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4070, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 15-21 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.

Description. The NTM C4053 holotype is 8 cm high and 7.5 cm wide ( Fig. 60c ). The stalk is 2.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and 0.5 mm high, grouped in long catkins.

Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points ( Fig. 61c ). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, largest spindles up to 0.50 mm long ( Fig. 67a ). Laterally and adaxially the polyp sclerites are rods, up to 0.30 mm long, with small prickles on their surface ( Fig. 67b ). The tentacles have scales and rods up to 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 67c ). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 0.75 mm long, with simple tubercles and spines, more numerous at one end; spindles not projecting beyond the polyp ( Fig. 67d ).

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.5 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 67e ).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles ( Fig. 67f ). Capstans 0.10-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.35 mm long. Sclerites with simple and complex tubercles.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends ( Fig. 67g ) and complex tubercles ( Fig. 67i ). The smaller ones are often branched (fig. 67h).

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Pandora reef, Davies reef.

Remarks. NTM C3945 ( Fig. 60d ) does not show the point spindles lacking tuberculation. It also lacks the radiates and derivatives of radiates of the surface layer of the base of the stalk ( Fig. 68 ). Probably the very base of the colony is missing.

The species mostly resembles specimens of L. oxleyensis sp. nov. lacking scales (see remarks after key) but differs in lacking interior spindles with blunt ends.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Litophyton type specimens: a, L. carnatum n. sp., paratype NTM C3947; b, L. grandis n. sp., holotype NTM C5419, c-d. L. pandoraensis n. sp., c, holotype NTM C4053, d, paratype NTM C3945.

FIGURE 61. Lateral views polyp armature of Litophyton species: a, L. carnatum n. sp., holotype NTM C4100; b, L. grandis n. sp., holotype NTM C5419, c, L. pandoraensis n. sp., holotype NTM C4053.

FIGURE 67. Litophyton pandoraensis n. sp., holotype NTM C4053; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral point spindles; c, tentacle rods and scales; d, supporting bundle spindles; e, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; f, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; g-h, spindles of interior base of stalk; i, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to b, d-f, h.

FIGURE 68. Litophyton pandoraensis n. sp., paratype NTM C3945; a, abaxial point spindles; b, lateral point spindles; c, tentacle rods and scales; d, supporting bundle spindle; e, sclerites of surface layer top of stalk; f, sclerites of surface layer base of stalk; g-h, spindles of interior base of stalk; i, tuberculation of interior base stalk spindle. Scale at a also applies to d-f, h.