Litophyton squamatum, Van, 2020

Van Ofwegen, Leen P., 2020, The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4764 (1), pp. 1-131 : 70

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
publication LSID	urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:53C5289A-156C-4AF1-B84A-73099A332C05
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3803594
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717-2364-FF95-FF35-87DBFABFFA72
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Litophyton squamatum
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Litophyton squamatum View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 49c View FIGURE 49 , 42f View FIGURE 42 , 54-55 View FIGURE 54 View FIGURE 55 )

Material examined. Holotype NTM C4136 , Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen .

Description. The holotype NTM C4136 is 10 cm high and 6.5 cm wide, the stalk is 3 cm high ( Fig. 49c View FIGURE 49 ). The polyps are up to 1.2 mm high and 0.8 mm wide, and grouped in long catkins.

Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites ( Fig. 42f View FIGURE 42 ). Abaxial and point sclerites are spindles up to 0.50 mm long, with dense simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 54a View FIGURE 54 ), laterally they are smaller and less tuberculate ( Fig. 54b View FIGURE 54 ). Adaxial scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk ( Fig. 54c View FIGURE 54 ). Supporting bundle composed of spindles, up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles ( Fig. 54d View FIGURE 54 ). The supporting bundles spindles have an optically black inner core (not shown in drawing of polyp).

Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.50 mm long, with dense simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 54e View FIGURE 54 ).

Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with dense simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 55 View FIGURE 55 a-b). The capstans and derivatives of capstans are 0.05-0.15 mm long, the spindles are up to 0.40 mm long.

Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.7 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles ( Fig. 55e View FIGURE 55 ), and pointed ends; several are branched ( Fig. 55 View FIGURE 55 c-d).

Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef.

Etymology. The Latin squamatum , scaly, referring to the many big scales in the polyps of this species.

Remarks. The species resembles L. oxleyensis sp. nov., but differs by its interior spindles having pointed ends.