Polyclinum isipingense

Polyclinum isipingense Sluiter, 1898

Polyclinum isipingense Sluiter, 1898:21, South Africa. Monniot et al 2001: 16, figs 1D–11H South Africa, and synonymy.

Stations. TR 7 (MNHN A1 POL.B 108). TR 12 (MNHN A1 POL.B 110). TR 17 (MNHN: A1 POL.B 109). TA 41 (MNHN A1 POL.B 110). TA 56 (MNHN A1 POL.B 110).

In cushions or thick crusts several cm wide and 1–3cm thick, the colonies have a uniform sandy surface. The surface layer of the tunic is resistant with some red pigment around the siphon apertures. The colourless zooids are in circular systems. The 6 oral lobes are sharp. The atrial languet is long. The thoracic musculature is weak with 5 to 8 short fibres on each side. There are 12 to 14 rows of stigmata. On the right side about 16 stigmata and 10 papillae are counted in a row. The abdomen and post-abdomen have the common shape of the genus. The sperm duct is red. Larvae 500µm in length are located in the atrial cavity. They have 3 adhesive papillae, 2 odd vesicles, 4 pairs of anterior round vesicles and dorsal and ventral fields of small ampullae. A crystal is present in the visceral mass. The species is common in the south western Indian Ocean from Madagascar to South Africa.