Fig. 8A, B; Table 7
Sertularella curvitheca Galea & Schories, 2012a: 38, pl. 3E, fig. 4A-E.
Sertularella gayi. – Galea, 2007: 62. – Galea et al., 2007b: 161. – Galea et al., 2007c: 312 [non Sertularella gayi (Lamouroux, 1821)].
Sertularella polyzonias. – Leloup, 1974: 32, fig. 26. – Galea, 2007: 64, fig. 15A-D. – Galea et al., 2007b: 161. – Galea et al., 2007c: 312 [non Sertularella polyzonias (Linnaeus, 1758)].
Material examined: MHNG-INVE-79665; Chile, Región de los Lagos, Caleta la Arena, Caleta Yerbas Buenas, -41.67263° -72.65650°, 20 m, coll. D. Schories, lot #05; 25.04.2007; colony composed of several profusely-branched, polysiphonic stems, up to 10 cm high, some bearing male gonothecae (holotype). – HRG-1178; Chile, Región de Aysén, Isla Waller, -46.7648° -75.2312°, 20 m, coll. HSFS, HF24, lot #128; 20.04.2015; three colonies with polysiphonic stems, 4.5, 5.8, and 7.0 cm high, the latter bearing a male gonotheca.
Description: Colonies erect, up to 10 cm high, arising from creeping, branching stolon. Stems either mono- or polysiphonic. Basal part of monosiphonic stems of varied length, not constricted above origin from stolon, ahydrothecate, with smooth perisarc; remainder of stem composed of a succession of moderatelylong, slightly geniculate internodes delimited by rather indistinct, oblique nodes sloping in alternate directions. A hydrotheca, or a hydrotheca and a short, lateral apophysis immediately below its base, confined to the distal end of each internode. Branching pattern alternate and coplanar, with generally 3 hydrothecae between successive side branches, but possibly 1 to 9; up to 3rd order branching observed; branches with similar structure as the stem, though 1 st internode comparatively longer than subsequent ones. Hydrothecae tubular, distinctly curved outwards, adnate for about half their length to the corresponding internode; abaxial wall straight for 3/4th its length, conspicuously curved outwards below rim; free adaxial wall slightly convex, perisarc smooth to wavy, in the latter case provided with 2-3 indistinct undulations, more conspicuous proximally; hydrothecal aperture expanding just below rim; the latter provided with 4 acute cusps separated by moderately-deep, semi-circular embayments; operculum composed of 4 triangular flaps, with concentric, closely-set striae. Gonothecae arising from below the hydrothecal bases; male and female similar, though of slightly different size; broadly ovoid, with 6-7 transverse ribs, the 3-4 distalmost well-marked, becoming obsolete towards base; aperture mounted on short, terminal collar, truncate distally and provided with 4 blunt perisarc projections; female with acrocysts.
Dimensions: See Table 7.
Remarks: The typical shape of the colonies of this species is illustrated in Galea & Schories (2012a, pl. 3E, fig. 4A), and its gonothecae in both Galea (2007, fig. 15B, D) and Galea & Schories (2012a, fig. 4E).
Distribution: Chile – Región de los Lagos [Fjord Comau (Galea, 2007, as both S. gayi and S. polyzonias), Gulf of Ancud (Leloup, 1974, as S. polyzonias), Seno de Reloncaví (Galea & Schories, 2012a)]; Región de Aysén [Canal Puyuhuapi (Galea et al., 2009, as S. cf. gayi); Isla Waller (present study)]; Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena [Canal Adalberto and Isla Camello (Galea, 2007, as S. gayi), Canal Fallos (Galea, 2007, as S. polyzonias)].