Polycitorella peresi

Remarks. Eight species of Polycitorella have been described. P. hospitiolum (Savigny, 1816) and P. stellifera Monniot & Monniot, 2001, both differ by few stigmata rows. P. setoensis Nishikawa, 1980 has disk-shaped spicules. P. coronaria Monniot F., 1988 has circular systems and up to 20 rows of stigmata. P. orientalis Kott, 1990 has no dark pigment, spicules of 25 – 35 µm, 10 rows of stigmata and no circular systems. P. m a r i a e Michaelsen, 1924 from New Zealand lacks dark pigment, lacks circular systems and the spicules are smaller. P. pallida Millar, 1962, with 16 stigmata rows, has no dark pigment. The type specimen of P. p e re s i (MNHN A 3 POL. B 11) consists in small pieces. The colour in life was said to be red. In formalin, the upper layer of the samples is soft and black, the columnar base is white and hard. The zooids are damaged, with about 13 rows of stigmata. The general aspect is the same as in Atimo Vatae samples and the spicules are the same in shape and size. P. p e re s i is only known from Madagascar.