Corella eumyota

Corella eumyota from Sub-Antarcic regions and Europe

Figs 5, 6

Material examined

- New Zealand: Portobello: shore and wharfs, coll. A.Wood, 2012. Dunedin, coll. Lambert, 16/01/1994. - Amsterdam Island, 37°50 S–77°30 E, 80m, 11/01/1972, coll. Beurois. - South Africa, Hout Bay, 7/02/1996, coll. Monniot.

- France: Le Havre harbour, 2010, 2011, 2012, coll. Breton; Fecamp 2007, coll. Breton; Camaret 2002, coll. Lambert; Arradon 2009, coll. Le Roux.

Turon (1988) partially described and represented specimens identified as C. eumyota from Namibia (lagoon, 1m depth) but the specimens are lost (Turon pers. com.).Their tunic is said to present “small tubercles” and the stigmata have only 1 or 2 spiral turns. The gonads (Turon 1988 Fig. 5) are limited to the bottom of the gut loop, The genital ducts are not figured nor mentioned. This species may be C. eumyota .

Brewin (1946) described as C. eumyota ascidians from New Zealand and precised that some of them were slightly different with a long sperm duct. She probably overlooked the presence of a second species C. brewinae n.sp. in addition to C eumyota .

There is a dense population of Corella developed in the littoral area in the vicinity of Portobello (New Zealand) and it has been known for a long time. Specimens newly collected from Portobello and specimens collected by Lambert (1994) from Dunedin have been compared with the Chilean ascidians. The results are absolutely similar: body proportions (Fig. 5 A), muscular design (Fig 5 B), dorsal tubercle (Fig 6 B), branchial tissue (Fig. 6 A) dorsal languets (Fig. 6 C), anus (Fig. 6 D), genital papillae. Similarly no differences could be found with the numerous specimens collected along the French coast. (coll. Breton).