Cnemidocarpa Huntsman, 1912

KOTT, PATRICIA, 2003, New syntheses and new species in the Australian Ascidiacea, Journal of Natural History 37 (13), pp. 1611-1653 : 1641-1642

Genus Cnemidocarpa Huntsman, 1912 (Styelinae, Styelidae ) Cnemidocarpa completa Kott, 1985 )

(figure 9A, B)

Cnemidocarpa completa Kott, 1985: 124 .

Distribution. New records: Tasmania (Port Davey, Bathurst Channel, SAM E2879-81). This is the most southerly record for this species, previously known from the northern NSW coast and Bass Strait.

Description. The test is thin and flexible, but firm, with sand embedded in the surface layer. Anteriorly the outer surface is wrinkled and has low wart-like prominences as a result of contraction. Individuals are up to 3.5 cm long. Four large branchial folds have up to 14 wide internal longitudinal vessels well separated from one another. One or two internal longitudinal vessels are between the folds. About 12 stigmata are in each mesh in the centre of the branchial sac between the folds. The long cylindrical stomach has 12 parallel internal folds. Four or five narrow, upright endocarps are in the pole of the gut loop and others are scattered on the body wall. The primary gut loop is narrow and straight and the rectum forms an open secondary loop with the descending limb of the primary loop. Both gut and gonads are only lightly attached to the body wall by thin, delicate ligaments. Although generally up to eight long gonads converge to the atrial aperture on the right and up to 11 on the left, one specimen (SAM E2880) has only three gonads on the left, the long anterior one branching into two for most of its length and curving ventrally over the pole of the gut loop. A shorter posterior gonad is similarly branched.

Remarks. The specimens confirm the morphology previously recorded, except for the fewer and wider folds in the more cylindrical and straighter stomach than in Kott’s (1985: figure 54) inaccurate figure. The newly recorded specimens also show more variation in the gonads present on the left side of the body. The new records are of specimens in aggregates with Pyura irregularis , P. tasmanensis and Molgula ficus .