Symplegma brakenhielmi ( Michaelsen, 1904 )

Monniot, Françoise, 2018, Ascidians collected during the Madibenthos expedition in Martinique: 2. Stolidobranchia, Styelidae, Zootaxa 4410 (2), pp. 291-318 : 302

Symplegma brakenhielmi ( Michaelsen, 1904)

Fig. 10A

Diandrocarpa brakenhielmi Michaelsen, 1904

Symplema viride: Van Name 1945

Symplegma brakenhielmi: Monniot C. 1983 and synonymy; Monniot C. & F. 1997; Monniot F. 2016b; Rocha & Costa 2005. Stations: AM 34; AR 136 (MNHN S1 SYM 92)

The thin encrusting colonies are grey with a transparent tunic. The anatomy is that described by Van Name (1945), Monniot C. (1983), Monniot C. & F. (1997). The branchial structure is characteristic; there are 4 longitudinal vessels on each side but 2 vessels on the left side do not reach the base of the branchial sac but join the dorsal lamina ( Fig. 10A ). There are usually 9–11 rows of stigmata, sometimes 9 as in Fig. 10A . The testis vesicles are lobed and this peculiarity represents the main difference with S. viride living the same habitat. The distinction between both species is not clear in the literature. A discussion concerning the Caribbean Symplegma species was given by Monniot C. (1983) and also by Monniot C. & F. (1997) with a new record of S. brakenhielmi from the Arabian Gulf. The general geographic distribution according to several authors’ citations cannot be ascertained.

Figures

FIGURE 10. A, Symplegma brakenhielmi zooid ventrally opened. B, Symplegma rubra zooid ventrally opened. Scale bars = 1mm.