Sycozoa murrayi ( Herdman, 1886 )

Kott, Patricia, 2006, Observations on non-didemnid ascidians from Australian waters (1), Journal of Natural History 40 (3 - 4), pp. 169-234 : 188

Sycozoa murrayi ( Herdman, 1886)

Colella murrayi Herdman 1886, p 115 .

Sycozoa murrayi: Kott 1990a, p 146 and synonymy.

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 1990a): South Australia (Great Australian Bight, Gulf St Vincent); Tasmania (MidwayPoint,NETasman);NSW(Bermagui). Newrecords: Tasmanian Canyons ( King I. Canyon , 248–249 m; Banks Strait , 168.4 m; Big Horseshoe—west band , 159.6 m; Ling Hole , 163 m; Pieman Canyon , 173.8–176 m; 40.77531 ° E, 144.22719 ° S, 94.6 m) .

Description

The species has relatively firm spatulate to fan-shaped heads on short fleshy stalks which contain the long posterior abdominal stolons characteristic of this genus. Colonies are yellow in deck photographs, however its living colour is not known. The zooids are immature in these specimens which were collected in April.

Remarks

The species previously has been recorded from depths similar to those newly recorded (e.g. Herdman 1886 off Bermagui and in Bass Strait at 200–250 m). The fan-shaped head sometimes observed in the present species resembles that of S. brevicauda Kott, 1990 , although the latter species had a longer, narrower and less fleshy stalk.