Culeolus herdmani Sluiter, 1904 (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) from the northwestern Australian continental slope with an overview of the genus

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 6 years ago

ABSTRACT – Thirteen specimens of Culeolus herdmani Sluiter, 1904 (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) taken at 3 locations on the northwestern Australian continental slope (between 408m and 550m and 14°16.8'S and 16°09.5'S) are the first records of this genus from Australian waters. The species is one of 7 Culeolus spp. recorded at depths of 1800m or less. The newly recorded specimens generally resemble the type specimen and others from the Philippines, Japan and New Caledonia, although there are some differences in the number of branchial folds, length of stalk, presence of a long ventral branchial tentacle and mid-ventral papillary crest and interruption of the postero-Iateral papillary crest over the dorsal mid-line. Included in this account is a key to the species of the genus and a table summarising their distribution and
characters.