Polycarpa Heller, 1877

Monniot, Françoise & Monniot, Claude, 2001, Ascidians from the tropical western Pacific, Zoosystema 23 (2), pp. 201-383 : 322

Genus Polycarpa Heller, 1877

Polycarpa argentata ( Sluiter, 1890) ( Fig. 128A )

Styela argentata Sluiter, 1890: 340 . Type locality: Indonesia.

Synonymy and distribution: see Polycarpa argentata – Monniot F. & Monniot C. 1996: 247, fig. 52, pl. 8H. Polycarpa iwayamae Tokioka, 1970: 97 , fig. 8.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Palau. Koror, Ngeteklou Island (Kaibakku Island), tunnel into Marine Lake, 7°19.47’N, 134°29.42’E, 10 m, 1.XI.1995 ( MNHN S1 POL.B 360).

Philippines. Bohol Sea, Balicasag Island SW of Bohol, 9°31.02’N, 123°40.83’E, 15.IV.1997 ( MNHN S1 POL.B 378).

REMARKS

This species ( Fig. 128A ), present in many parts of the western tropical Pacific and western Australia, is now recorded in the Philippines. It was also collected far from this region at Ibo Island, Mozambique. Tokioka (1970) described Polycarpa iwayamae , which has an external appearance very like that of P. argentata . Its internal anatomy does not present enough distinctive characteristics to justify a different species.

Figures

FIG. 128. — A, Polycarpa argentata (Sluiter, 1890); B, Polycarpa camptos n. sp. covered by a black didemnid; C, Polycarpa captiosa (Sluiter, 1885); D, Polycarpa cryptocarpa (Sluiter, 1885); E, Polycarpa nigerrima n. sp.; F, Polycarpa papillata (Sluiter, 1885).