Polysyncraton purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987

Polysyncraton purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987 View in CoL

Fig. 10 View Fig

Polysyncraton purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987: 49 View in CoL , fig. 16d–h, pl. 3i.

Polysyncraton purou View in CoL – F. Monniot 1993: 11. — Kott 2001: 126, figs 60, 162C, pl. 6F; 2002: 33, fig. 12A–D; 2005: 2436, fig. 19D.

Material examined

TANZANIA • 3 slides; MNHN A2-843, MNHN A2-846, MNHN A2-847.

Remarks

This species was described from French Polynesia by C. Monniot & F. Monniot (1987). All the characteristics of the specimens from Tanzania correspond to those in the original description ( Fig. 10 View Fig ), thus enlarging the known distribution of this species.

Monniot & Monniot (2001) described P. vestiens from Palau as a different species from P. purou based on the smaller spicules, a wider atrial aperture and the absence of the muscular process in P. vestiens . However, in the specimens from Tanzania there is a variation in the size of the spicules and they are smaller ( 43 to 55 µm) than in specimens from Tahiti. The muscular process in P. purou is very small and not visible in some zooids ( Fig. 10 View Fig a–b). Since the size of the atrial aperture is also a variable character that depends on the contraction of the zooid, there is doubt as to whether P. vestiens is a valid species.

Distribution

Type locality: French Polynesia (C. Monniot & F. Monniot 1987). Australia ( Kott 2001), New Caledonia (F. Monniot 1993) and Tanzania (this study).