Sertularella geodiae Totton 1930

Sertularella geodiae Totton, 1930

Fig. 11A; Table 11

Sertularella geodiae Totton, 1930: 196, text-fig. 43, pl. 3 figs

7-8.

non Sertularella geodiae. – Vervoort, 1972: 120, fig. 37 (=? S. hermanosensis El Beshbeeshy, 2011). – Blanco, 1976: 39, pl. 3 figs 7-8; 1994: 199 (= Sertularella blanconae El Beshbeeshy, 2011).

Description: Colonies up to 15 cm high, arising from large rooting masses; irregularly pinnate; stems and branches fascicled and well defined, divided into rather short, slightly geniculate internodes by means of oblique constrictions of the perisarc slanting in alternate directions; a hydrotheca to the distal end of each internode. Side branches given off laterally from below the bases of stem hydrothecae; structure similar to that of stem. Hydrothecae biseriate, alternate, coplanar; large, flask-shaped, adnate for 3/5th their adaxial length, swollen adaxially; a typical notch at junction between proximal part of free adaxial wall with corresponding internode; abaxial wall slightly sigmoid (imperceptibly concave for most of its length, becoming suddenly convex below aperture); free adaxial wall with slight “shoulder” proximally, perisarc undulated; margin with 4 short, sharp, triangular cusps separated by very shallow, semicircular embayments; occasionally 3 submarginal, intrathecal projections of perisarc, 2 latero-adaxial, and one abaxial; a 4-flapped operculum. Gonothecae borne on both stem and side branches, arising from below the hydrothecal bases; elongatedovoid, wall transversely-wrinkled, aperture surrounded by 3-4 apical cusps.

Dimensions: See Table 11.

Remarks: The description given above combines the original account with that provided by Vervoort & Watson (2003). As stated by these authors, S. geodiae differs from S. gayi (Lamouroux, 1821) through its much larger hydrothecae, the occasional presence of submarginal cusps, and the apical part of its gonotheca. The typical shape of a colony fragment is illustrated by Totton (1930, pl. 3 fig. 8).

Distribution: (?) Chile – Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena [eastern coast of Tierra del Fuego (Naumov & Stepanjants, 1962, as S. geodia). New Zealand and New Caledonia (Vervoort & Watson, 2003).