Cnemidocarpa Huntsman, 1912

Monniot, Françoise & Monniot, Claude, 2001, Ascidians from the tropical western Pacific, Zoosystema 23 (2), pp. 201-383 : 336-337

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5391440
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F57D87A3-FF58-31B3-EB89-FB5BFE471080
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Cnemidocarpa Huntsman, 1912
status

Treatment

Genus Cnemidocarpa Huntsman, 1912 View in CoL

Cnemidocarpa pedata ( Herdman, 1881) View in CoL ( Figs 99 View FIG ; 129D)

Polycarpa pedata Herdman, 1881: 71 View in CoL . Type locality: Philippines.

Synonymy and distribution: see Cnemidocarpa pedata View in CoL – Tokioka 1958: 322, figs 5; 6. — Kott 1985: 132, fig. 60; 1998: 205.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Philippines. Bohol Sea, Pamilacan Island, 9°30.01’N, 123°55.57’E, 30 m, 17.IV.1997 ( MNHN S1 CNE 176).

Papua New Guinea. Louisiade Archipelago, Calvados Island Chain, Brooker Channel, 11°03.09’S, 152°28.62’E, 3 m, 2. VI.1998 ( MNHN S1 CNE 181). DESCRIPTION

This species has a characteristic shape, with an enlarged postero-ventral side, the oral siphon terminal, and the cloacal siphon mid-way down the length of the body ( Fig. 99B View FIG ). The colour in life is peach, with a white rim to the siphons and a black colour internally (Fig. 129D). The posterior side of the body carries diverse, but not very dense epibionts. The tunic is hard with irregular low grooves in the surface.

The external appearance and the internal anatomy correspond well to Kott’s (1985) and Tokioka’s (1958) descriptions. No stalk is present in the two specimens in this collection. The largest specimen is 13 cm long.

The body wall is dark and thick. The dorsal tubercle is a large pad with numerous small holes ( Fig. 99 View FIG ). As in previous descriptions, the branchial sac has four folds and accessory folds between the first fold and the dorsal lamina. The folds are high and are themselves folded in secondary or tertiary folds.

The gut loop is very simple. The internal folds of the stomach can be seen in transparency ( Fig. 99B View FIG ). The intestinal limb of the gut is long. The anus has several lobes and opens at the base of the cloacal siphon.

The gonads ( Fig. 99 View FIG ) are included in the thick body wall and so are difficult to see. The ovaries are numerous on the right side, less numerous on the left side, and ramified and so expanded that their outline cannot be defined. All the gonoducts, ten on the right, and four on the left, open along a circle around the base of the cloacal siphon ( Fig. 99 View FIG ). This arrangement is very characteristic of the species. Numerous endocarps are scattered on the inner side of the body wall, and several occur inside the gut loop.