Sertularella kerguelensis Allman 1876

Sertularella kerguelensis Allman, 1876

Sertularella kerguelensis Allman, 1876: 113. – Studer, 1879: 120. – Kirchenpauer, 1884: 40.

Description: Stem monosiphonic, up to 2.5 cm high, profusely and irregularly branched. Internodes with shallow annulations basally, each bearing a hydrotheca distally; the latter somewhat tumid below, tapering distally, aperture slightly incurved adaxially. Gonothecae arising from below the hydrothecal bases, ovoid, transversely-ringed in upper half and becoming smooth towards the base; distally a short, tubular neck bearing apically an aperture surrounded by 4 perisarc projections.

Remarks: This species, succinctly described and not illustrated in the original account, is unrecognizable among its congeners recorded subsequently from Kerguelen, especially given that its type material could not be located in collections of NHML (A. Cabrinovic, pers. comm.). According to Allman (1876), it is “nearly allied to S. polyzonias ”, with which it has been synonymized later on (Allman, 1879). However, there are no relevant records of the Linnean species from the study area, as earlier assignments to it proved erroneous (see Appendix I).

Since the binomen S. kerguelensis has apparently not been used since 1899, it should be considered as a nomen dubium.

Distribution: French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Kerguelen Is. – Swains Bay (Allman, 1876).