Polysyncraton purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987

Fig. 10

Polysyncraton purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987: 49, fig. 16d–h, pl. 3i.

Polysyncraton purou – F. Monniot 1993: 11. — Kott 2001: 126, figs 60, 162C, pl. 6F; 2002: 33, fig. 12A–D; 2005: 2436, fig. 19D.

Material examined

TANZANIA • 3 slides; MNHN A2-843, MNHN A2-846, MNHN A2-847.

Remarks

This species was described from French Polynesia by C. Monniot & F. Monniot (1987). All the characteristics of the specimens from Tanzania correspond to those in the original description (Fig. 10), thus enlarging the known distribution of this species.

Monniot & Monniot (2001) described P. vestiens from Palau as a different species from P. purou based on the smaller spicules, a wider atrial aperture and the absence of the muscular process in P. vestiens . However, in the specimens from Tanzania there is a variation in the size of the spicules and they are smaller (43 to 55 µm) than in specimens from Tahiti. The muscular process in P. purou is very small and not visible in some zooids (Fig. 10 a–b). Since the size of the atrial aperture is also a variable character that depends on the contraction of the zooid, there is doubt as to whether P. vestiens is a valid species.

Distribution

Type locality: French Polynesia (C. Monniot & F. Monniot 1987). Australia (Kott 2001), New Caledonia (F. Monniot 1993) and Tanzania (this study).