Distaplia australiensis Brewin, 1953

Kott, Patricia, 2006, Observations on non-didemnid ascidians from Australian waters (1), Journal of Natural History 40 (3 - 4), pp. 169-234 : 186

Distaplia australiensis Brewin, 1953

( Figure 8E, F )

Distaplia australiensis Brewin 1953, p 61 . Kott 2003, p 1619 and synonymy (part, not specimens from Queensland = Distaplia turboensis Kott 2004, p 45 ).

Distribution

Previously recorded (see Kott 2003 and D. turboensis Kott, 2004 ): South Australia (Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent, Bass Strait, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon Channel. New records: South Australia (Kangaroo I., 4–7 m, SAM E3294–5).

Description

Long cylindrical stalks each with a soft, rounded head surrounded by parallel double rows of zooids extending from the top of the stalk to a terminal common cloacal aperture. Zooids have the usual large atrial aperture opening directly into the vertical common cloacal canal between each row of zooids of the pair. The stomach wall has about 16 parallel longitudinal pleats. Gonads were not detected in the newly recorded colonies, although usually they are in a sac separated from the abdomen by a narrow constriction.

Remarks

Although the arrangement of the zooids in long vertical rows and the presence of the gonads in a posterior abdomen is similar to the tropical Distaplia turboensis , the present species is distinguished by its long cylindrical stalks and fewer stomach folds.

Figures

Figure 8. In situ images of: (A) Pseudodiazona claviformis (SAM E3280); (B) Pycnoclavella tabella (SAM E3290); (C) Stomozoa australiensis (SAM E3285); (D) Sigillina exigua (SAM E3300, syntype); (E) Distaplia australiensis (SAM E3294); (F) Distaplia australiensis (SAM E3295); (G) Distaplia florida (SAM E3293); (H) Distaplia pallida (SAM E3273).