Pyura irregularis ( Herdman, 1882 )

Kott, Patricia, 2006, Observations on non-didemnid ascidians from Australian waters (1), Journal of Natural History 40 (3 - 4), pp. 169-234 : 222-223

Pyura irregularis ( Herdman, 1882)

Cynthia irregularis Herdman 1882, p 141 .

Pyura irregularis: Kott 1985, p 305 and synonymy.

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 1985): Tasmania (Hobart, d’Entrecasteaux Channel , Port Davey ), Victoria ( Bass Strait , Port Phillip Bay , Westernport ), New South Wales ( Port Jackson ). New records: Tasmania ( Port Davey , SAM E2876 , E2878 , E2888 ; Tasmanian Canyons (Big Horseshoe—Broken Reef, 115 m )) .

Description

These specimens resemble other material assigned to this species, which is indigenous and confined to a limited geographic range in southeastern Australia from south of Tasmania to the mid-eastern coast of the continent. The test is dark brown in preservative and is sandy and brittle, ridged and wrinkled. Anteriorly the body narrows to the terminal branchial aperture and the atrial opening on a conspicuous siphon about halfway down where the body suddenly increases in diameter. The siphons usually are turned away from each other. The peritubercular-V is characteristically long and narrow (about half the length of the dorsal lamina). The U-shaped slit on the dorsal tubercle (deep in the V) has both horns turned in. There are seven or eight branchial folds with up to 20 tough internal longitudinal vessels on the folds and three or four between. The gut forms a simple open D-shaped loop. The anal border is divided into pronounced rounded lobes. Gonads (one on each side of the body) are separated into double rows of hermaphrodite sacs each side of the gonoducts and endocarps are on gonads and the descending limb of the gut loops .

Remarks

The species is readily identified by its tough wrinkled test, long siphons turned away from each other, the dorsal tubercle deep in the long peritubercular V and the open D-shaped gut loop with endocarps on it.