Symplectoscyphus subdichotomus (Kirchenpauer, 1884)

Figure 6G–H

Sertularella subdichotoma Kirchenpauer, 1884: 46, pl. 16, figs 1, 1b.— Jäderholm, 1926: 6.— Totton, 1930: 188. Sertularella divaricata Bale, 1914a: 20, pl.2, figs 1–9.

Symplectoscyphus subdichotomus . — Stechow, 1922: 149.— Ralph, 1961: 813, fig 20a, b.— Ralph, 1966: 159.— Watson, 1973: 175.— Gravier-Bonnet, 1979: 52.— Staples & Watson, 1987: 18.— Vervoort, 1993: 241.— Watson, 1994: 67.— Bouillon et al., 1995: 74.— Vervoort & Watson 2003: 233, figs 55 F–H, 56 A–F.— Bouillon et al, 2006: 393.

Material examined. SAM H2344, preserved colony; one microslide (SAM H2586). PIRSA Stn IBMP 5c.

Remarks. Fertile male colony, branched, to 15 mm high; conforms to previous descriptions of Symplectoscyphus subdichotomus . Bale (1914a) figured male and female gonothecae (as Sertularella divaricata) from several localities in the Great Australian Bight. S. subdichotomus is a common southern Australian species favouring habitats in strong tidal currents (Watson, pers.obs.).

Distribution. Southern Australia, Tasman Sea, New Zealand.