Aplidium lineatum Monniot F. & Monniot C., 1996

Monniot, Françoise & Monniot, Claude, 2001, Ascidians from the tropical western Pacific, Zoosystema 23 (2), pp. 201-383 : 210-214

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5391440
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F57D87A3-FFD6-3136-E82B-FAF9FDEC13E0
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Aplidium lineatum Monniot F. & Monniot C., 1996
status

Treatment

Aplidium lineatum Monniot F. & Monniot C., 1996 View in CoL

Aplidium lineatum Monniot F. & Monniot C., 1996: 137 View in CoL , fig. 2, pl. 1B. Type locality: Indonesia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Papua New Guinea. Milne Bay Province, East Cape, Taodovu reef, 10°21.21’S, 150°56.27’E, 7 m, 6. VI.1998 ( MNHN A1 APL.B 411). — Louisiade Archipelago, Tagula Island, Yuma Pass, 11°22.14’S, 153°20.99’E, 12 m (Sample: CRRF).

Aplidium longithorax Monniot F., 1987 ( Figs 6 View FIG ; 112D View FIG )

Aplidium longithorax Monniot F., 1987: 525 View in CoL , fig. 11c-g, pl. 11F. Type locality: New Caledonia. — Monniot F. & Monniot C. 1996: 139, pl. 1C, Palau.

Aplidium protectans View in CoL – Kott 1963: 102; 1992a: 579, Australia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Papua New Guinea. Louisiade Archipelago, Calvados Island Chain, Brooker Channel, cave, 11°03.09’S, 152°28.62’E, 20 m, 1. VI.1998 ( MNHN A1 APL.B 417). — Milne Bay Province, East Cape, Boia Boia Waga Island, 10°12.26’S, 150°44.75’E, 22 m, 27. V.1998 (Sample: CRRF).

DESCRIPTION

The colonies are large, yellow or pink cushions or spheres with circular systems; in the centre of each system opens a common cloacal aperture ( Fig. 112D View FIG ). All characters agree with the previous descriptions of the species. The oral siphon is short with six lobes. The cloacal aperture has a three-toothed languet on its anterior rim ( Fig. 6A, B View FIG ). The branchial sac comprises 20 to 22 rows of stigmata ( Fig. 6A View FIG ). The stomach is particularly elongated with five longitudinal folds ( Fig. 6A View FIG ). The larvae are large; their trunks reach 1 mm ( Fig. 6C, D View FIG ). The three adhesive papillae are held on long, thin peduncles. There are numerous circular vesicles dorsally and ventrally and four long digitiform ampullae between the adhesive papillae. In one larva there was an additional adhesive papilla ( Fig. 6D View FIG ).

REMARKS

This species is widely distributed in the western Pacific Ocean: New Caledonia, eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Palau.

Aplidium macrolobatum Kott, 1992 ( Figs 7 View FIG ; 112E View FIG )

Aplidium macrolobatum Kott, 1992a: 561 View in CoL , fig. 87. Type locality: Queensland.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Philippines. Bohol Sea, Balicasag Island SW of Bohol, 9°31.02’N, 123°40.83’E, 8 m, 15.IV.1997 ( MNHN A1 APL.B 391).

DESCRIPTION

The colonies make flat cushions of irregular outline with swellings on the top of which large common cloacal siphons open. The colour in life is red ( Fig. 112E View FIG ). The tunic is glassy with some fine sand embedded. The red zooids are arranged in double rows converging toward the common cloacal openings. Zooids have six oral lobes. The cloacal languet, deeply divided into three lobes ( Fig. 7A View FIG ), is inserted on the anterior rim of the cloacal aperture. The thorax is wide, with 10 rows of stigmata. The stomach has five deep folds, followed by an annular post-stomach ( Fig. 7A View FIG ). The rectum begins with caeca.

The short post-abdomen ( Fig. 7A View FIG ) contains either an anterior ovary against the gut loop or a cluster of male follicles that disappears when the ovary matures.

The larvae are incubated in the cloacal cavity ( Fig. 7A View FIG ). They are very characteristic, with three adhesive papillae, no median ampullae but rather on each side a crescent of numerous small ampullae grouped in small bushes on filiform short stems ( Fig. 7B View FIG ).

REMARKS

The characters of this species correspond in all points to Kott’s description (1992a) except that the post-abdomen, when its contains a mature ovary, is as short as the post-abdomen is in the male phase. All stages were found in a same colony.

The distribution of this species in Queensland is now extended to the Philippines.

Aplidium nadaense ( Nishikawa, 1980) View in CoL ( Figs 8 View FIG ; 112F View FIG )

Amaroucium nadaense Nishikawa, 1980: 104 View in CoL . Type locality: Japan.

Aplidium nadaense View in CoL – Monniot C. & Monniot F. 1987: 77, Polynesia. — Monniot F. 1987: 530, New Caledonia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Papua New Guinea. Louisiade Archipelago, Calvados Island Chain, Brooker Channel, 11°03.09’S, 152°28.62’E, 7 m, 1. VI.1998 ( MNHN A1 APL.B 407). — Louisiade Archipelago, N side Tagula Island, Ima Channel, 11°25.92’S, 153°26.78’E, 7 m, 1. VI.1998 ( MNHN A1 APL.B 408). — Louisiade Archipelago, Tagula Island, Yuma Pass, 11°22. 14’S, 153°20.99’E, 16 m, 3. VI.1998 (Sample: CRRF).

DESCRIPTION

The colonies are filled with sand. The oral openings draw a surface design of polygonal systems, each with a central common cloacal hole ( Fig. 112F View FIG ). The zooids have a red thorax, but the remainder of the body is colourless. The zooids are long and thin ( Fig. 8 View FIG A-D), the postabdomens crossing each other in all directions in a vitreous but densely sand-impregnated tunic. The cloacal languet is simple ( Fig. 8A, B View FIG ) or ends in two teeth, inserted clearly ahead of the cloacal aperture. The thorax is long and narrow with 16 rows of stigmata. The anus opens at the third stigmata row from the base of the branchial sac. The stomach has five folds. The post-abdomen is very long ( Fig. 8A View FIG ). The ovary lies far behind the gut ( Fig. 8C View FIG ), followed by the testis lobes ( Fig. 8D View FIG ), which do not reach the cardiac extremity. The larvae are poorly developed and only three adhesive papillae can be seen ( Fig. 8E View FIG ).

REMARKS

This species differs from Nishikawa’s descriptions only in a larger size and 16 rows of stigmata instead of 13 to 15. The others characters correspond well to his original description and also to the specimens from Polynesia and New Caledonia.