identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03BCB7172325FFD4FF3581E4FA5DF9B8.text	03BCB7172325FFD4FF3581E4FA5DF9B8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the groups of Litophyton species from Australia</p><p>1. Supporting bundle clearly projecting (can be seen by the naked eye)............................................ group I</p><p>- Supporting bundle projecting little or not at all................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Adaxial side of polyps without sclerites...................................................................group II</p><p>-. Adaxial side of polyps with sclerites........................................................................... 3</p><p>3. Polyp with numerous scales........................................................................... group III</p><p>-. Polyp without scales....................................................................................... 4</p><p>4. Polyp stalk without small rods......................................................................... group IV</p><p>-. Polyp stalk with small rods.............................................................................group V</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172325FFD4FF3581E4FA5DF9B8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172325FFD4FF3586BBFCD1FB89.text	03BCB7172325FFD4FF3586BBFCD1FB89.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Litophyton Forskål, 1775</p><p>For genus definition and synonymy see Ofwegen (2016)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172325FFD4FF3586BBFCD1FB89	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172325FFD5FF358332FA5DFD9D.text	03BCB7172325FFD5FF358332FA5DFD9D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the species of Litophyton group I (10 species)</p><p>1. Polyps higher than wide.............................................................................. L. cockburnensis</p><p>-. Polyps wider than high............................................................................................ 2</p><p>2. At least some supporting bundle spindles with a smooth terminal spine............................................... 3</p><p>-. No supporting bundle spindles with smooth spine present.......................................................... 5</p><p>3. Only rods present in polyp stalk................................................................. L. myrmidonensis</p><p>-. Ovals and rods present in polyp stalk.......................................................................... 4 -.</p><p>4. Supporting bundle projecting up to 0.80 mm, many rods in polyp stalk..................................... L. rowleyensis</p><p>-. Supporting bundle projecting up to 0.30 mm, few rods in polyp stalk................................. L. pseudorowleyensis 5. Some supporting bundle spindles with leafy end.......................................................... L. graafae</p><p>-. Supporting bundle spindles with spiny end...................................................................... 6</p><p>6. Some point spindles project beyond the polyp head...................................................... L. projectum</p><p>-. No projecting point spindles................................................................................. 7</p><p>7. Interior stalk spindles with blunt ends present............................................................ L. dipensis</p><p>-. No interior stalk spindles with blunt ends....................................................................... 8</p><p>8. Many interior stalk spindles with side branches......................................................... L. elfordensis</p><p>-. No or few interior stalk spindles with side branches............................................................... 9</p><p>9. Internal spindles very big, up to 2 mm long........................................................... L. daviesensis</p><p>-. Most internal spindles only up to about 1 mm long, occasionally up to 1.5 mm, but never 2.00 mm............... L. spinulosum</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172325FFD5FF358332FA5DFD9D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172324FFD5FF3587EEFBA1F944.text	03BCB7172324FFD5FF3587EEFBA1F944.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton cockburnensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton cockburnensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 1a, 2a, 3)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C10288, Great Barrier Reef, GBR 2, Cockburn reef, depth 12-15 m, 10 December 1990, coll. J. Jan; paratype: NTM C10322, Great Barrier Reef, GBR 3, Nomad/Mason reef, depth 3-6 m, 11 December 1990, coll. J. Jan.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C10288 is 11.5 cm high and 9.5 cm wide, the stalk is 2.5 cm high (Fig. 1a). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.8 mm high and grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With very irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 2a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.45 mm long (Fig. 3a); towards the adaxial side they become smaller (Fig. 3b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 3c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with many straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 3d). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.30 mm (Fig. 3e). Some polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core. Many xeniid type sclerites are present in the polyp body (Figs. 2a, the small ovals in the polyp, 3f).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles, some unilaterally spinose, up to 1 mm long and all with simple tubercles (Fig. 3g).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans and spiny derivatives of capstans up to 0.20 mm long, and spindles, mostly unilaterally spinose, up to 0.70 mm long, with complex tubercles (Fig. 3h).</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with complex tubercles (Fig. 3i) and pointed ends. These spindles are mostly up to 0.75 mm long, a few are longer than 1 mm (Fig. 3j). Smaller spindles are somewhat flattened (Fig. 3k).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Cockburn reef, Nomad/Mason reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only Australian Litophyton species with projecting supporting bundles and polyps higher than wide. Some polyps of L. elfordensis sp. nov. are also higher than wide (Fig. 2e, h) but most are wider than high (Fig. 2d, f-g).</p><p>Both holotype and paratype have xeniid type sclerites in the polyps (Figs. 2a, 3f). This is also the case in some specimens of L. spinulosum sp. nov., but that species has a clearly different colony shape, with spherical catkins (Fig. 26 a-c), and the tubercles on its sclerites are more complex (Figs. 26 d-i, 27-30).</p><p>L. robustum (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate, Indonesia) resembles this species regarding polyps being higher than wide (Fig. 4a). However, L. robustum has much larger spindles in the interior of the base of the stalk, up to 1.5 mm long. For comparison the colony (Fig. 12d) and sclerites (Fig. 4) of L. robustum are also presented.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172324FFD5FF3587EEFBA1F944	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172324FFDBFF358226FE62FCEE.text	03BCB7172324FFDBFF358226FE62FCEE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton daviesensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton daviesensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 1b, 2b, 5)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4149, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4149 is 14 cm high and 6 cm wide, the stalk is 5 cm high (Fig. 1b). The polyps are up to 1.00 mm wide and 0.50 mm high, and are grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 2b). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.50 mm long (Fig. 5a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 5b). Tentacles with curved rods and scales up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 5c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 5 d-e). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.30 mm (Fig. 5f). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 2.40 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 5g).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. A few capstans and derivatives of capstans (Fig. 5 h-i), but mostly spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles; similar to those of the top of the stalk. These spindles are up to 2.00 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 2.00 mm long (Fig. 5j), with complex tubercles (Fig. 5k).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. L. myrmidonensis sp. nov. and L. rowleyensis sp. nov. also have very long spindles in the interior of the base of the stalk. Both differ in having supporting bundle spindles with a smooth projecting end. Moreover, L. myrmidonensis has many radiates and derivatives of radiates in the base of the stalk, and L. rowleyensis differs in having ovals in the polyp stalk.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172324FFDBFF358226FE62FCEE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717232AFFDBFF3586DFFDCDF8FE.text	03BCB717232AFFDBFF3586DFFDCDF8FE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton dipensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton dipensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 2c, 6-7, 12a)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C362, February 1978, coll. D. Schubot; paratype NTM C4141, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 5-10 m, 6 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C362 is 7 cm high and 10,5 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high (Fig. 12a). The polyps are up to 0.65 mm wide and 0.50 mm high, and grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 2c). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.45 mm long (Fig. 6a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 6b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 6c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.12 mm long (Fig. 6d). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.70 mm (Fig. 6e). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles. The spindles are up to 0.80 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles and long spines (Fig. 6 f-g).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.60 mm long, with complex tubercles and very long spines (Fig. 7a).</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed or blunt ends, up to 1.00 mm long and smaller irregular forms (Fig. 7 b-c), with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 7d).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the locality of the paratype.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Dip reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only species with projecting supporting bundle and blunt interior spindles. The unilaterally spinose sclerites with very long spines are very distinctive but in group I are also present in L. elfordensis sp. nov., L. graafae sp. nov., and L. myrmidonensis sp. nov. However, L. dipensis has many interior stalk spindles with blunt ends, in L. elfordensis they are branched, in L. graafae they are pointed with very coarse tubercles, and in L. myrmidonensis they are very slender.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717232AFFDBFF3586DFFDCDF8FE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717232FFFDEFF3585F4FDB8FB79.text	03BCB717232FFFDEFF3585F4FDB8FB79.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton elfordensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton elfordensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 1 c-f, 2d-h, 8-11)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype, NTM C193, Queensland, Elford reef, 1 December 1976, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C192, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C4022, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Cay, depth 5-10 m, 24 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C04135, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C193 is 5 cm high and 7 cm wide, the stalk is 3 cm high (Fig. 1c). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm wide and high, and are grouped in spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 2 d-e). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 8a), with a leafy distal part; towards the adaxial points the spindles become smaller (Fig. 8b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 8c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 8d). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2.00 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.40 mm (Fig. 8e). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 8 f-h), with complex tubercles and long spines. The spindles are up to 1.40 mm long.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.60 mm long, with complex tubercles (Figs 8i). The spines of the unilaterally spinose sclerites are very long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Branched spindles, mostly laterally, up to 2.00 mm long, with complex tubercles and pointed ends (Fig. 8 j-l).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Elford reef, Flinders reef, Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only species with projecting supporting bundle and leafy point spindles. The species shows a lot of variation regarding polyp armature (Fig. 2 d-h) and interior stalk sclerites, and therefore the colonies (Fig. 1 d-f) and sclerites (Figs. 9-11) of all paratypes are also presented. NTM C192 and NTM C4022 do not show branched internal spindles (Figs. 9j, 10g) but both specimens probably lack the base of the stalk (Fig. 1 d-e).</p><p>The unilaterally spinose sclerites with long spines are very distinctive in L. elfordensis but are also present in the group I species L. dipensis sp. nov., L. myrmidonensis sp. nov., and L. graafae sp. nov. The differences between these four species are discussed with L. dipensis .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717232FFFDEFF3585F4FDB8FB79	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717232FFFC3FF358074FE02FE62.text	03BCB717232FFFC3FF358074FE02FE62.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton graafae Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton graafae sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 13a, 14-15, 21f)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4095, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C4097, coll. Z. Dinesen (probably same data as holotype).</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4095 is 9.5 cm high and 8 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm high (Fig. 21f). The polyps are up to 0.50 mm wide and 0.40 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and blunt terminal projections, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 14a); towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 14b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 14c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 14 d-e). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 1.60 mm long, with complex tubercles and a leafy projecting part projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm (Fig. 14f). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core (not shown in polyp drawing).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. A few capstans present but mostly spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 1.60 mm long, with complex tubercles (Figs. 14g, 15 a-b).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with complex tubercles and long spines (Fig. 15c). The spindles are up to 1.20 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 1.20 mm long (Fig. 15d), with large complex tubercles (Fig. 15f); the smaller spindles distinctly flattened (Fig. 15e).</p><p>Etymology. Named after my girlfriend Jose de Graaf.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only Australian species of Litophyton with projecting supporting bundle spindles with leafy distal end.Also the interior spindles with rather large simple tubercles and the large derivatives of capstans characterise this species.</p><p>The paratype NTM C4097 has not only supporting bundle spindles with leafy distal end but also its larger point spindles have a leafy appearance.</p><p>The unilaterally spinose sclerites with very long spines are very distinctive but in group I are also present in L. dipensis sp. nov., L. elfordensis sp. nov., and L. myrmidonensis sp. nov. The differences between these species are discussed with L. dipensis .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717232FFFC3FF358074FE02FE62	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172332FFC3FF358774FE91F920.text	03BCB7172332FFC3FF358774FE91F920.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton myrmidonensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton myrmidonensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 12b, 13c, 16-17)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C994, 1978, coll. D. Schubot; paratypes: NTM C3951, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 1-5 m, 7 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4393, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 10-15 m, 3 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; other material: NTM C2247, Queensland, Briggs-Sudbury reef, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C994 is 16 cm high and 15.5 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm high (Fig. 12b). The base of the stalk has a flap of tissue, probably encrusting the substrate when the colony was alive. The polyps are up to 0.8 mm wide and 0.45 mm high, grouped in oblong to spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13c). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long, towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 16a). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 16b). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 16 c-d). A couple of these rods have a rough surface texture. Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2 mm long, with simple tubercles, and a smooth or spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.40 mm (Fig. 16e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 16 f-g). The unilaterally spinose sclerites have long spines.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles (Figs. 16 h-i, 17a-b). The spindles are up to 0.80 mm long. The unilaterally spinose sclerites have long spines. In the flap unilaterally spinose sclerites are lacking (Fig. 17 c-d).</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 2.00 mm long (Fig. 17 e-f), with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 17g).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the paratype locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Myrmidon reef, Briggs-Sudbury reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only Litophyton species with projecting supporting bundle with spindles with a smooth tip and polyp stalks with long rods.</p><p>With some doubts NTM C2247 is included in this species as it shows some supporting bundle spindles with smooth, projecting tip and long rods in the polyp stalk, but its interior stalk spindles differ, being only 0.85 mm long.</p><p>The unilaterally spinose sclerites with very long spines are very distinctive but are in group I also present in L. dipensis sp. nov., L. elfordensis sp. nov., and L. graafae sp. nov. The differences between these species are discussed with L. dipensis .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172332FFC3FF358774FE91F920	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172332FFCCFF35838CFB80FC8A.text	03BCB7172332FFCCFF35838CFB80FC8A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton projectum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton projectum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 1g, 13d, 18-19)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4203, Queensland, South Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, depth 30-35 m, 21 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; two paratypes NTM C4197, Queensland, South Great Barrier Reef; Flinders reef, depth 5-10 m, 26 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4203 is 4 cm high and 5 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high (Fig. 1g). The polyps are up to 1 mm wide and 0.45 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13d). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.60 mm long (Fig. 18a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 18b). Several of the point sclerites project beyond the polyp head (Fig. 13d). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 18c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 18 d-e). These rods have a crystalline texture. Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.40 mm (Fig. 18 f-g). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 18 h-i).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles (Figs. 18 j-k, 19a-c). The spindles are up to 0.80 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 1.00 mm long (Fig. 19 d-e), the smaller ones with simple tubercles, the larger ones with more complex tubercles (Fig. 19f).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin projectum, projection, refers to the projecting point spindles of this species.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Flinders reef.</p><p>Remarks. This is the only Litophyton species with projecting supporting bundle also having projecting point spindles.</p><p>NTM C4197 has different stalk sclerites than the holotype as its interior stalk spindles are longer and wider (Fig. 19g) and more capstans and derivatives of capstans are present in the surface layer of the base stalk (Fig. 19 h-i). As the other characters are similar to the holotype I consider this to be infraspecific variation.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172332FFCCFF35838CFB80FC8A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717233DFFCCFF3586E3FE9DF80D.text	03BCB717233DFFCCFF3586E3FE9DF80D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton pseudorowleyensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton pseudorowleyensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 12c, 13e, 20)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4013, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C2246, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C4099, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 10-13 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4125, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 10-13 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4150, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4381, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 10-15 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4013 is 7.5 cm high and 4.5 cm wide, the stalk is 2.2 cm high (Fig. 12c). The polyps are up to 0.8 mm wide and 0.65 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With relatively regular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13e). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 20a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 20b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 20c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with many straight rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 20d), and platelets up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 20e). The polyp stalk sclerites have a crystalline texture, as do the smaller tentacle scales. Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 3.00 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny or sometimes smooth tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.30 mm (Fig. 20f). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles, up to 2 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 20g).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles (Figs 20 h-i). The spindles are up to 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends, up to 1.5 mm long (Fig. 20j), with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 20l). Smaller spindles are flattened (Fig. 20k)</p><p>Etymology. The Greek Pseudo, for false, referring to the superficially similar L. rowleyensis sp. nov.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C4099 and NTM C4125 have longer internal spindles, up to 2.00 mm long.</p><p>The other Litophyton species with supporting bundle spindles with a smooth tip and platelets in the polyp stalk, L. rowleyensis sp. nov. (see below), has the supporting bundle projecting for a maximum distance of 0.80 mm. Furthermore, it has many more rods in the polyp stalk and polyp sclerites that are relatively well organised into point-like groups (Fig. 13b).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717233DFFCCFF3586E3FE9DF80D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717233FFFCEFF3585F4FE7BFA75.text	03BCB717233FFFCEFF3585F4FE7BFA75.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton rowleyensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton rowleyensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 21 a-e, 13b, g, 22-25)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C10780, Western Australia, Rowley Shoals, Clerke reef, depth 5-10 m, 18 July 1987, coll. J. Hooper ; paratypes: NTM C5804, two specimens, same data as holotype; NTM C5807, two specimens, Western Australia, Rowley Shoals, Clerke reef, collected in a lagoon, depth 10 m, 18 July 1987, coll. J. Hooper; NTM C10722, North-Western Australia, July 1987, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C10737; same data as holotype; NTM C10769, Western Australia, Rowley Shoals.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C10780 is 4.5 cm high and 8 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high (Fig. 21a). The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and 0.75 mm high, and are grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13g). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.45 mm long (Fig. 22a), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 22b). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 22c). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with straight rods up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 22e), and platelets up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 22d). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 2.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and a spiny or sometimes smooth tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.80 mm (Fig. 22f). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 22 g-h).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple tubercles (Fig. 22 i-j). The spindles are up to 1.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles with pointed ends (Fig. 22 k-l), up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 22m).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Western Australia: Rowley Shoals.</p><p>Remarks. The specimens of Litophyton rowleyensis show a considerable variation concerning colony shape (Fig. 21 a-e) and sclerites (Figs. 22-25). One of the paratypes of NTM C5807 (Fig. 21d) and NTM C10722 (Fig. 21c) lack the basal part of the stalk and show shorter internal spindles, only up to 1.00 mm long (Fig. 24e), with complex tubercles, and less spiny surface stalk sclerites (Fig. 23 j-k). The other paratype of NTM C5807 (Fig. 21e) shows the longest internal stalk spindles, up to 2.00 mm long (Fig. 25j). One of the paratypes of NTM C5804 (Fig. 21b) has many rather smooth internal stalk sclerites (Fig. 24 a-c).</p><p>The paratype of NTM C5807 having the largest internal stalk sclerites (Fig. 25j) suggests this is the specimen with most of the stalk intact as in general the internal stalk sclerites become larger towards the base of the stalk (see material and methods). Apparently also the holotype lacks a bit of the base which is sometimes difficult to observe as with collecting a broken stalk tends to close fast (my field observations while collecting nephtheids).</p><p>The other Litophyton species with projecting supporting bundle spindles with a smooth tip, L. pseudorowleyensis sp. nov., has the supporting bundle projecting for a maximum distance of only 0.30 mm. Furthermore, it has far less sclerites in the polyp stalk.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717233FFFCEFF3585F4FE7BFA75	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717233FFFF9FF358378FA92FEF2.text	03BCB717233FFFF9FF358378FA92FEF2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton spinulosum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton spinulosum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 13f, 26-30)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C215, Queensland, Milln reef, 2 December 1976, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C194-NTM C195, same data as holotype; NTM C204-NTMC214, same data as holotype; NTM C369, Bommie, Milln reef, Queensland, depth 6-10 m, February 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C447, Bommie, Milln reef, Queensland, depth 6-8 m, February 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C541-NTM C544, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C761, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C1369, Sweet-lip reef, Swain reefs, Queensland, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2239-NTM C02240, Bommie, Briggs reef, Queensland; depth 6-7 m, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2291, Queensland, Moore reef, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2841, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C215 is 4.3 cm high and 7 cm wide, the stalk is 1.8 cm high (Fig. 26a). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.5 mm high, and grouped in spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 13f). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spiny distal part, largest present abaxially, up to 0.45 mm long (Fig. 26d), towards the adaxial points they become smaller (Fig. 26e). Tentacles with curved scales up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 26f). Adaxial side of the polyp stalk with many straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 26g). Supporting bundle composed of one or two spindles up to 1.60 mm long, with simple tubercles and sometimes a spiny tip projecting for a maximum distance of 0.30 mm (Fig. 26h). Many polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans up to 0.10 mm long, and many spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 1.10 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 26i, 27 a-b).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 27 c-d). The spindles are up to 0.30 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Mostly unbranched spindles, branched spindles, and spindles with a few side branches (Fig. 27 e-f), all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 27g) and pointed ends. The spindles are up to 0.85 mm long.</p><p>Etymology. The Latin spinulosum, spiny, referring to the spiny colony shape, the most spiny appearance of all Australian Litophyton species.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Milln reef, Moore reef, Elford reef.</p><p>Remarks. The microscope slide of NTM C204 showed somewhat bigger internal spindles, up to 1.50 mm long, NTM C541 even has spindles up to 2.00 mm long. NTM C541-NTM C544, and NTM C1369 contain xeniid type sclerites in the polyps (Fig. 28e). NTM C2291 (Fig. 26c) sclerites are also presented (Figs. 29-30). NTM C1369, NTM C2239, and NTM C2240 show smaller catkins.</p><p>This is the most common species with projecting supporting bundle on the Great Barrier Reef. L. elfordensis sp. nov. has interior stalk spindles with side branches in common with L. spinulosum sp. nov. It differs from L. spinulosum in having much longer interior stalk spindles, up to 2 mm long, and point spindles with leafy distal end.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717233FFFF9FF358378FA92FEF2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172308FFF9FF3587B2FD1EF828.text	03BCB7172308FFF9FF3587B2FD1EF828.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton acutum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton acutum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 31 a-b, 32a-b, 33-35)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4107; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, 5-10 m depth, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C4108, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 10-15 m, 26 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C1365, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Sanctuary reef, 13 November 1980; coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3955, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, depth - 2 m; 22 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C3961, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 1-5 m; 6 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C3979, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, S.W., depth 5-10 m; 26 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C3996, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4028, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 1-5 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The NTM C4107 holotype is 5 cm high and 10 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm long (Fig. 31a). The polyps are grouped in conical catkins, they are up to 0.5 mm wide and high.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in points (Fig. 32a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are unilaterally spinous or foliaceous spindles, the largest present abaxially, up to 0.50 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 33a). Adaxially there are only tentacles sclerites, small rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 33b). The polyp stalk next to the adaxial tentacles has a few small almost smooth rods (Fig. 33c). Supporting bundle not projecting, composed of spindles up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles and a somewhat spiny distal end (Fig. 33d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.55 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles and long spines (Fig. 33e).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 33 f-g, 34a). The derivations of capstans and unilaterally spinose spindles have very large spines. The spindles are up to 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long (Fig. 34b, c), with pointed ends and simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 34d). The smaller spindles are often branched.</p><p>Variability. Paratype NTM C3979 (Fig. 31b) overall shows more slender internal spindles (Fig. 35k). This is probably caused by different sampling position. Both the holotype and this paratype miss the basal part of the stalk.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin acutus, acute, sharp, pointed, refers to the interior spindles with pointed ends.</p><p>Distribution. Queensland: Davies reef, Rib reef, Sanctuary reef, Flinders reef, Dip reef.</p><p>Remarks. The holotype obviously is lacking the very base of the stalk (Fig. 31a).</p><p>L. acutum sp. nov., L. obtusum sp. nov., and L. territoryensis sp. nov. all have unilaterally spinose sclerites with long spines. L. acutum and L. territoryensis with interior of the stalk with many spindles with pointed ends, but the spindles of L. territoryensis have much finer tuberculation. L. obtusum has many interior stalk spindles with blunt ends and less branched small internal stalk spindles.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172308FFF9FF3587B2FD1EF828	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172308FFF9FF3584FBFA5CFD38.text	03BCB7172308FFF9FF3584FBFA5CFD38.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the species of Litophyton group II (3 species)</p><p>(Adaxial side of polyps without sclerites)</p><p>1. Interior stalk spindles with regular placed simple tubercles............................................. L. territoryensis</p><p>-. Interior stalk spindles with irregular placed coarse tubercles........................................................ 2</p><p>1. Interior stalk with many spindles with blunt ends........................................................ L. obtusum</p><p>-. Interior stalk with many spindles with pointed ends........................................................ L. acutum</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172308FFF9FF3584FBFA5CFD38	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717230BFFFAFF3585F4FBEAF955.text	03BCB717230BFFFAFF3585F4FBEAF955.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton obtusum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton obtusum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 31c, 32c, 36)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4164, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Brewer reef, reef flat, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C4035; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4134, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 10-15 m; 23 November 1980, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4137, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4138, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 15-20 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4155, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 1-5 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4237, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, depth 1-5 m, 20 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4327; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 10 m, 5 October 1980, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4356, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 10-15 m, 3 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4365; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 10-15 m; 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4373, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 1-5 m, 3 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4375; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 10-15 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4377, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 15-20 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4394, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 5-10 m, 9 October 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C5391, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Darley reef, 25 November 1982, coll. G. König.</p><p>Description. The NTM C4164 holotype is 10.5 cm high and 10 cm wide, the stalk is 1 cm long (Fig. 31c). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high, mostly situated on long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With a relatively regular arrangement of sclerites in points (Fig. 32c). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with spines, the largest present abaxially, up to 0.50 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 36a). Adaxially there are no sclerites, only the tentacles have sclerites in this part of the polyp, small, bent rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 36 b-c). Supporting bundle very weak and not projecting, composed of spindles, up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles, more tuberculate at both ends (Fig. 36d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 36e).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans (Fig. 36 f-g), 0.05-0.20 mm long. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles. The spines of the unilaterally spinose sclerites are very long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long (Fig. 36h), with pointed or blunt ends and quite tall complex tubercles (Fig. 36j). The smaller spindles are less tuberculate (Fig. 36i).</p><p>Variability. The length of the basal internal stalk spindles does vary, NTM C4377 has the longest, up to 1.80 mm long. Several specimens have rods in the polyp stalk, sometimes in larger numbers than present in L. acutum sp. nov.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin obtusus, blunt, refers to the presence of interior stalk spindles with blunt ends.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Brewer reef, Davies reef, Rib reef, Myrmidon reef, Dip reef.</p><p>Remarks. L. acutum sp. nov., L. obtusum sp. nov., and L. territoryensis sp. nov. all have unilaterally spinose sclerites with long spines. The differences are discussed with L. acutum .</p><p>The permanent microscope slide of NTM C4356 did not show the characteristic internal spindles of this species, an additional temporary slide did show them.</p><p>The species resembles L. capnelliformis (Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931), from Timor, Indonesia, regarding the internal stalk spindles with blunt ends (Fig. 82g). However, L. capnelliformis lacks the unilaterally spinose sclerites in the polyps and in the surface of the stalk. Unfortunately, the polyp sclerite arrangement of L. capnelliformis is not clear due to a large amount of detritus present in the polyps. Therefore, the one polyp drawn (Fig. 82a) could have rods in the adaxial side of the polyp stalk, as others do, the rods are possibly just hidden by the detritus.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717230BFFFAFF3585F4FBEAF955	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717230BFFE5FF358258FCE5FCA6.text	03BCB717230BFFE5FF358258FCE5FCA6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton territoryensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton territoryensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 32 d-f, 37-40)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C3187, Northern Territory, Van Diemen Gulf, Trepang Bay, depth 1-1.5 m, 14 October 1981 ; paratypes: NTM C3206-NTM C3208, NTM C3213, PA5, Northern Territory, Van Diemen Gulf, Trepang Bay, depth 1-1.5 m, 14 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3223-NTM C3224, Northern Territory, Van Diemen Gulf, Trepang Bay, depth 1.5-6 m, 15 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3370, PA11, Northern Territory, Port Essington, Coral Bay, depth 5-6 m, 18 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3371, NTM C3373, same data as NTM C3370; NTM C3469, NTM C03471, PA14, Northern Territory, Sandy Is., No. 2, depth 7-8 m; 20 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3663, PA20; Northern Territory, Table Head, Port Essington, depth 2-4 m, 3 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C03683, NTM C3686-NTM C3687, Northern Territory, Coburg Peninsula, Table Head, PA20, depth 2-4 m, 3 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3684, PA20, Northern Territory, Coburg Peninsula, Table Head, depth 2-4 m, 3 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C03688; Northern Territory, Coburg Peninsula, Table Head, 2-4 m; 2 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3714-NTM C03715, Northern Territory, Port Essington, Table Head, depth 3-5 m, 4 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3743, NTM C3745, NTM C3746, NTM C5231, Northern Territory, Darwin Harbour, Channel Is., Sta RW8528, coral; reef flat LWS, 17 October 1985, coll. R. Williams; NTM C5472, Northern Territory, Darwin, East Arm, LWS, 10 February 1987, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C5651, Sta. CP70, Northern Territory, Port Essington, Coral Bay, depth 2-5 m, 12 September 1985, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C5729, Sta. CP78A, Northern Territory, Port Essington, Kennedy Bay, depth 3 m, 17 September 1985, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C11170-NTM C11172, NTM C11174-NTM C11175, Northern Territory, Darwin, East Arm, (Nr Boatramp), MLW, 28 October 1991; NTM C2906-NTM C2907, Northern Territory, Darwin, Weed reef, 4 m, 11 May 1984, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3421, PA12, Northern Territory, Smith reef, depth 3-5 m, 19 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3425, same data as NTM C3421; NTM C3451, NTM C3454 PA13, Northern Territory, Sandy Is., No. 2, depth 3-5 m, 20 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C5687 Northern Territory, Port Essington, Orontes reef, Sta. CP77 depth 5 m, 16 September 1985, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3753, Sta. PA22, Northern Territory, Orontes reef, 5 May 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C5684, Sta. CP75, Northern Territory, Port Essington, Coral Bay, depth 3 m, 15 September 1985, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C4617, Northern Territory, Arafura Sea, New Year Island, 50 feet, 14 October 1982, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Description. The NTM C3187 holotype is 10 cm high and 6.5 cm wide, the stalk is 4.5 cm long (Fig. 37b). The polyps are up to 0.5 mm wide and high, and are grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in points (Fig. 32d). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with spines, the largest present abaxially, up to 0.50 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 38a). Adaxially there are no sclerites, only the tentacles have sclerites in this part of the polyp, small rods and scales, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 38b). The polyp stalk next to the adaxial tentacles has some small almost smooth rods (Fig. 38c). Supporting bundle sometimes slightly projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm but mostly not projecting, composed of spindles, up to 0.70 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 38d). The spindles that are projecting have a smooth tip (Fig. 32d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.10 mm long. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 38 e-f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans (Fig. 38 g-h), 0.05-0.20 mm long. A few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.30 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles. The spines of the unilaterally spinose sclerites are very long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long (Fig. 38 i-j), with pointed ends and simple tubercles (Fig. 38k); several with one or two side branches. Branching occurs more often in the smaller spindles.</p><p>Variability. Only a few specimens have projecting supporting bundle spindles: the holotype NTM C3187, NTM C3206, NTM C3471, NTM C3715, and NTM C5472. NTM C3213 (Figs. 37a, 39) showed much smaller internal stalk spindles, only up to 0.50 mm long. Many specimens have opaque polyp sclerites, for instance NTM C5651 (Figs. 32f, 37c), which also has rather small internal stalk spindles (Fig. 40h), alike NTM C3213.</p><p>Etymology. Named after the Northern Territory.</p><p>Distribution. Northern Territory.</p><p>Remarks. The small polyp stalk rods are often not visible, probably due to contraction of the polyps, which also makes it difficult to see whether the adaxial polyp sclerites are lacking. The polyp arrangement of NTM C11170 is depicted as this specimen best shows the absence of adaxial point sclerites (Fig. 32e).</p><p>L. acutum sp. nov., L. obtusum sp. nov., and L. territoryensis sp. nov. all have unilaterally spinose sclerites with long spines. The differences are discussed with L. acutum .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717230BFFE5FF358258FCE5FCA6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172314FFE5FF358607FA5CFAD2.text	03BCB7172314FFE5FF358607FA5CFAD2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the species of Litophyton group III (6 species)</p><p>(polyps with many scales)</p><p>1. Interior of the base of the stalk with small spindles with side branches.................................... L. legiopolypum</p><p>-. No interior stalk spindles with side branches.................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Interior of the base of the stalk with short (&lt;1mm) spindles with pointed or blunt ends.................................. 3</p><p>-. Interior of the base of the stalk with long (&gt; 1mm) pointed spindles.................................................. 5</p><p>3. Stalk sclerites with simple tubercles.................................................................... L. simplex</p><p>-. Stalk sclerites with simple and complex tubercles................................................................ 4</p><p>4. Interior stalk sclerites with pointed ends............................................................. L. squamatum</p><p>-. Interior stalk sclerites with blunt and pointed ends....................................................... L. oxleyensis</p><p>5. Slender interior stalk sclerites, few unilaterally spinose spindles........................................... L. brewerensis</p><p>- Wide interior stalk spindles and many unilaterally spinose spindles......................................... L. snakeensis</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172314FFE5FF358607FA5CFAD2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172314FFEAFF3580D9FE1AFD45.text	03BCB7172314FFEAFF3580D9FE1AFD45.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton brewerensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton brewerensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 41a, 42a, 43-44)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4050, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 5-10 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C02236-NTM C2238, Queensland, Briggs reef, Bommie, surface, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2248, Queensland, Briggs-Sudbury reef, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2260-NTM C2261, Queensland, Masthead reef, 31 August 1974, coll. P. Alderslade;? NTM C2939, Queensland, Orpheus island, Pioneer Bay, depth 10-15 m, coll. J. Coll; NTM C10003, cf. alba; Queensland, Orpheus island, Pioneer Bay, coll. P. Alino.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4050 is 8 cm high and wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm high (Fig. 41a). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm wide and 0.90 mm high, and grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites (Fig. 42a). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 43a), laterally and adaxially scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk (Fig. 43b). Supporting bundle without projecting spindles or one projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm. Spindles of the supporting bundle up to 1.40 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 43c). Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.60 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 43d).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.15 mm long. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.70 mm long (Fig. 43e). The smaller sclerites have simple tubercles, the larger ones also complex tubercles.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.20 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 43 f-g) and simple tubercles (Fig. 43h).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef, Briggs-Sudbury reef,? Orpheus island.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C2248 differs from the other material in colony shape (Fig. 41b), probably the colony was dried out at some stage.</p><p>The species mostly resembles L. snakeensis sp. nov., but differs in having more slender interior stalk spindles and many capstans and derivatives of capstans in the surface layer of the stalk.</p><p>NTM C2236-NTM C2238 were examined using temporary slides.</p><p>NTM C2939 and NTM C10003 are included in this species, but with some doubts. They differ from the other specimens in having numerous rods in polyp stalk (Fig. 44c) instead of scales. In this aspect these specimens resemble L. legiopolypum (see below). However, they lack the short branched spindles with rough tubercles in the base of the stalk of the colony (Fig. 44h).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172314FFEAFF3580D9FE1AFD45	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717231BFFEAFF35862BFB3FF927.text	03BCB717231BFFEAFF35862BFB3FF927.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton legiopolypum (Verseveldt & Alderslade 1982) Great Barrier Reef	<div><p>Litophyton legiopolypum (Verseveldt &amp; Alderslade, 1982)</p><p>(Figs. 41 c-d, 42b, 45-46)</p><p>Nephthea legiopolypa Verseveldt &amp; Alderslade, 1982: 633, Fig. 8, pl. 7B.</p><p>Material examined. Holotype AM G14806, Great Barrier Reef, west tip of Palfrey Island, on reef slope, depth 4.5-6 m, rubble, sand and corals, 3 November 1975, coll. H.K. Larson no. DFH 75-254; RMNH 12438, part of holotype, 6 microscope slides; RMNH 14722, Australia, Lizard Island, 30-40 feet, 7 microscope slides; NTM C200, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, off Cairns, December 1976, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C566-567, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C713-714, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C11054, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Elford reef, depth 6 m, 10 November 1989, coll. B. Bowden.</p><p>Remarks. For a description see Verseveldt &amp; Alderslade (1982). Although these authors depicted a polyp with projecting supporting bundle, the current study indicates that this is not the case for all the polyps. Here I present SEM images of the sclerites of NTM C11054 (Fig. 45) and the polyp armature of the holotype as given by Verseveldt &amp; Alderslade (Fig. 42b).</p><p>Apparently the base of the holotype was missing, therefore other material shows different sclerites in this part of the colony; shorter spindles in the interior which may have side branches (Fig. 45k).</p><p>NTM C713 and NTM C714 (Figs. 41 c-d, 46) are somewhat different from the other material, the polyps have more spindles instead of scales (Fig. 46b). The depicted stalk sclerites of NTM C713 are sampled somewhat above the base of the colony, the presented interior stalk sclerites are less branched and somewhat longer (Fig. 46j). The sclerites of these specimens resemble NTM C2939 and NTM C10003 of L. brewerensis (Fig. 44h), but differ in the tuberculation of the interior stalk spindles, being much coarser in L. legiopolypum .</p><p>The species should not be confused with L. mollis as that species has not so many internal stalk spindles with side branches, no projecting supporting bundles, and more spindles in the polyp body than L. legiopolypum .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717231BFFEAFF35862BFB3FF927	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717231BFFEBFF358386FB71FB76.text	03BCB717231BFFEBFF358386FB71FB76.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton oxleyensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton oxleyensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 41e, 42c, 47-48)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4669, Northern Territory, Arafura Sea, Oxley Island, depth 5 m, 20 October 1982, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C837, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C2283, no data; NTM C3173, Northern Territory, Burford Island, PA4, dry reef edge exposed, 13 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3177- NTM C3178, Northern Territory, Burford Island, PA4, dry reef edge exposed, 14 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3180, Northern Territory, Van Diemen Gulf, Burford Island, 13 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3194, PA5, Northern Territory, Van Diemen Gulf, Trepang Bay, depth 1-1.5 m, 14 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3225, Northern Territory, Trepang Bay, PA6, 1.5-6 m; 15 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C03266, Northern Territory, Coral Bay, PA8, exposed, 18 October 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C4591- NTM C4593, NTM C4595- NTM C4596, Northern Territory, Arafura Sea, Oxley Island, reef flat, 19 October 1982, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C4655 Northern Territory, Arafura Sea, New Year Island, 15-20 feet, 13 October 1982, coll. P. Alderslade (crème and brown specimen).</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4669 is 10 cm high and 14.5 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm high (Fig. 41e). The polyps are up to 0.90 mm wide and 0.60 mm high, and grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites (Fig. 42c). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles up to 0.35 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 47a); a few are also present laterally (Fig. 47b). Scales and rods, 0.03-0.10 mm long, are present adaxially but most occur laterally, and they are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk (Fig. 47 c-d). Supporting bundle without projecting spindles or one projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm, composed of spindles, up to 1.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 47e). All polyp spindles have an optically black inner core (not indicated in drawing of polyp).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles (fig. 47f). Capstans 0.10-0.15 mm long and spindles up to 0.70 mm long. All these sclerites have simple and complex tubercles and an optically black inner core. The unilaterally spinose sclerites have long spines.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spheroids, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 48 a-b). The spines of the spinose spheroids are very long. Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long and spindles up to 0.40 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles up to 1.00 mm long, some are branched, others have a slight median waist, and with pointed or blunt ends (Fig. 48 c-d). All spindles have simple tubercles (Fig. 48e).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Northern Territory.</p><p>Remarks. The permanent slides of the stalk of both specimens of NTM C4655 did not show any interior stalk spindles. Extra temporary slides showed the shorter ones with blunt ends.</p><p>NTM C3173, NTM C3177-NTM C3178, NTM C3180, NTM C3225, NTM C03266 and the brown specimen of NTM C4655 show no scales but rods in the polyp and few to none polyp stalk sclerites. As all other sclerites are similar I have included them in this species. They are included in the key of group IV as well.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717231BFFEBFF358386FB71FB76	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717231AFFEBFF358060FD70F849.text	03BCB717231AFFEBFF358060FD70F849.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton simplex Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton simplex sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 42d, 49a, 50)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C3949, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C4023, same data as holotype.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C3949 is 6.5 cm high and 6 cm wide, the stalk is 2 cm high (Fig. 49a). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm wide and 0.95 mm high, and grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites (Fig. 42d). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles, up to 0.40 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 50a). Scales and rods, 0.03-0.12 mm long, are present laterally and adaxially, and they are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk (Fig. 50 b-c). Supporting bundle without projecting spindles or one projecting for a maximum distance of 0.10 mm, composed of spindles, up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 51d). Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 50 e-f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 50 g-h). The spindles are up to 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.00 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 50k), and pointed ends (Fig. 50 i-j).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin simplex, simple, referring to the simple tuberculation of the sclerites of this species.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. The species resembles L. nigrescens (Roxas, 1933) (Ternate) (Figs. 51, 56a) but differs in having much coarser, sparse tuberculation in the stalk sclerites.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717231AFFEBFF358060FD70F849	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717231EFF95FF35825CFE12FDD2.text	03BCB717231EFF95FF35825CFE12FDD2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton snakeensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton snakeensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 49b, 42e, 52-53)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C10439, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Snake reef, depth 10-12 m, 14 December 1990, coll. J. Jan ; paratypes: NTM C3988, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 10-15 m, 26 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4011, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4340, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Myrmidon reef, depth 0-5 m; 7 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C10439 is 12 cm high and 12.5 cm wide, the stalk is 3.5 cm high (Fig. 49b). The polyps are up to 0.80 mm high and 0.50 mm wide, and grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites (Fig. 42e). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 52a), adaxial scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles (Fig. 52 b-c). Several of these scales and rods have a crystalline texture. Supporting bundle with spindles, up to 1.40 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 52d), and not projecting beyond the polyp head. Several polyp sclerites have an optically black inner core.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 52e).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, the smaller sclerites with simple tubercles, the larger ones also with complex tubercles (Fig. 53 a-b). The capstans and derivatives of capstans are 0.05-0.15 mm long, the spindles are up to 0.60 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 53e), and pointed ends; several branched (Fig. 53 c-d).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Snake reef, Rib reef, Davies reef, Myrmidon reef.</p><p>Remarks. The big interior spindles and many unilateral spinose spindles in the surface of the base of the stalk are characteristic for the species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717231EFF95FF35825CFE12FDD2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172364FF95FF3587DBFABFFA72.text	03BCB7172364FF95FF3587DBFABFFA72.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton squamatum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton squamatum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 49c, 42f, 54-55)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4136, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen .</p><p>Description. The holotype NTM C4136 is 10 cm high and 6.5 cm wide, the stalk is 3 cm high (Fig. 49c). The polyps are up to 1.2 mm high and 0.8 mm wide, and grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. Without clear arrangement of sclerites (Fig. 42f). Abaxial and point sclerites are spindles up to 0.50 mm long, with dense simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 54a), laterally they are smaller and less tuberculate (Fig. 54b). Adaxial scales and rods are present, which are also present in the tentacles and polyp stalk (Fig. 54c). Supporting bundle composed of spindles, up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 54d). The supporting bundles spindles have an optically black inner core (not shown in drawing of polyp).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.50 mm long, with dense simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 54e).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with dense simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 55 a-b). The capstans and derivatives of capstans are 0.05-0.15 mm long, the spindles are up to 0.40 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.7 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 55e), and pointed ends; several are branched (Fig. 55 c-d).</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef.</p><p>Etymology. The Latin squamatum, scaly, referring to the many big scales in the polyps of this species.</p><p>Remarks. The species resembles L. oxleyensis sp. nov., but differs by its interior spindles having pointed ends.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172364FF95FF3587DBFABFFA72	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172364FF96FF35837BFDA3FE46.text	03BCB7172364FF96FF35837BFDA3FE46.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the species of Litophyton group IV (3 species)</p><p>(polyp stalk without small rods)</p><p>1. Polyps with strongly developed sclerites................................................................ L. grandis</p><p>-. Polyps with less strongly developed sclerites.................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Big wide interior spindles (&gt; 1 mm long) with very regular tubercles........................................ L. carnatum</p><p>-. Small slender interior spindles (&lt;1 mm long); opaque polyp sclerites................................................ 3</p><p>3. Spindles with blunt ends present in interior of the base of the stalk.......................................... L. oxleyensis</p><p>-. No spindles with blunt ends...................................................................... L. pandoraensis</p><p>Remarks. As the polyps of L. oxleyensis mostly have scales it also fits group III, where it was described.</p><p>L. compactum (Verseveldt, 1966), described from Indonesia, falls in this group (Figs. 42 g-h, 56b, 57). It has similar tuberculated interior stalk sclerites as L. carnatum but they are only about 1 mm long in L. compactum . It differs from L. pandoraensis by having the tuberculation of the interior stalk sclerites much finer, and from L. grandis, which has much stronger developed point sclerites.</p><p>L. elongatum (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate, Indonesia) resembles L. compactum but because of a large amount of detritus attached to the colony the polyp sclerite arrangement could not be drawn. However, the colony and sclerites are presented (Fig. 56c, 58). The most obvious difference is the presence of long rods (Fig. 58d), which are not from the polyp stalk but are polyp spindles.</p><p>L. pyramidalis (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate, Indonesia) (Figs. 56d, 59) shows sclerites similar to those of L. elongatum and therefore I here synonymize it with L. elongatum (Kükenthal, 1895) . Especially the smooth spindles from the interior of the top of the stalk are strikingly similar in both species (Figs. 58g, 59h). The polyp sclerite arrangement of L. pyramidalis could be drawn (Fig. 59a).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172364FF96FF35837BFDA3FE46	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172369FF98FF3585F4FABDFC41.text	03BCB7172369FF98FF3585F4FABDFC41.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton carnatum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton carnatum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 56e, 60a, 61a, 62-65)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4100, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 1-5 m, 6 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype NTM C3947, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 10-15 m, 9 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The NTM C4100 holotype is 6.5 cm high and 14 cm wide (Fig. 56e). The stalk is 1.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.9 mm wide and 1.1 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With a relatively regular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 61a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, largest spindles present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 62a), laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 62b). In the adaxial points there are small rods and curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 62 c-d). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles, and spines, more numerous at one end; spindles not projecting beyond the polyp (Fig. 62e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.5 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 62f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 63 ab). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.6 mm long. All sclerites with simple and complex tubercles.</p><p>Interior stalk. Robust spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with pointed or blunt ends (Fig. 63c) and simple tubercles (Fig. 63e). The smaller ones are often branched (Fig. 63d).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin carnatum, fat, corpulent, fleshy, refers to the very fat interior stalk spindles.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef.</p><p>Remarks. Paratype NTM C3947 (Fig. 60a) has even longer internal stalk spindles (Fig. 65a), up to 2 mm long. Also several polyps have the supporting bundle projecting beyond the polyp body for a distance up to 0.30 mm.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172369FF98FF3585F4FABDFC41	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172369FF98FF358153FDF0F897.text	03BCB7172369FF98FF358153FDF0F897.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton grandis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton grandis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 60b, 61b, 66)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C5419, RH87-6, Western Australia, Cape Leveque, sandy beach, LWS, 18 March 1987, coll. R. Hanley .</p><p>Description. The NTM C5419 holotype is 11 cm high and 11.5 cm wide (Fig. 60b). The stalk is 3.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.6 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With no arrangement of sclerites as points (Fig. 61b). Abaxial and lateral sclerites are spindles unilaterally ornamented with many big spines, largest spindles present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 66a); laterally there also are some simple spindles (Fig. 66b).The adaxial sclerites are small curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 66c). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles, and not projecting beyond the polyp (Fig. 66d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Mostly capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.20 mm long; a few spindles (not depicted) and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.3 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 66 e-f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Mostly capstans and derivatives of capstans (Fig. 66 g-h), a few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.4 mm long. All sclerites with simple tubercles.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.75 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 66 i-j) and simple tubercles (Fig. 66k).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin grandis, great, large, grown, strong, refers to the strongly developed polyp sclerites.</p><p>Distribution. Western Australia.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172369FF98FF358153FDF0F897	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172369FF99FF35821DFDAEFC5F.text	03BCB7172369FF99FF35821DFDAEFC5F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton pandoraensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton pandoraensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 60 c-d, 61c, 67-68)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4053, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 1-5 m, 28 May</p><p>1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; paratypes: NTM C3945, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 5-9 m, 28 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C3970, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Pandora reef, depth 1-4 m, 28 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4070, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 15-21 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The NTM C4053 holotype is 8 cm high and 7.5 cm wide (Fig. 60c). The stalk is 2.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and 0.5 mm high, grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 61c). Abaxial point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, largest spindles up to 0.50 mm long (Fig. 67a). Laterally and adaxially the polyp sclerites are rods, up to 0.30 mm long, with small prickles on their surface (Fig. 67b). The tentacles have scales and rods up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 67c). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 0.75 mm long, with simple tubercles and spines, more numerous at one end; spindles not projecting beyond the polyp (Fig. 67d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 0.5 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 67e).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 67f). Capstans 0.10-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.35 mm long. Sclerites with simple and complex tubercles.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 67g) and complex tubercles (Fig. 67i). The smaller ones are often branched (fig. 67h).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Pandora reef, Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C3945 (Fig. 60d) does not show the point spindles lacking tuberculation. It also lacks the radiates and derivatives of radiates of the surface layer of the base of the stalk (Fig. 68). Probably the very base of the colony is missing.</p><p>The species mostly resembles specimens of L. oxleyensis sp. nov. lacking scales (see remarks after key) but differs in lacking interior spindles with blunt ends.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172369FF99FF35821DFDAEFC5F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172368FF99FF35812FFA5DF845.text	03BCB7172368FF99FF35812FFA5DF845.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton Forskal 1775	<div><p>Key to the species of Litophyton group V (11 species)</p><p>(polyp stalk with small rods)</p><p>1. Many crowded rods present in long polyp stalk........................................................ L. brachiatum</p><p>-. Fewer rods present in short polyp stalk......................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Polyp stalk with rods and ovals.............................................................................. 3</p><p>-. No ovals in polyp stalk..................................................................................... 4</p><p>3. Interior stalk sclerites include spindles with blunt ends................................................. L. burfordensis</p><p>-. Interior spindles only with pointed ends.................................................................. L. mollis</p><p>4. Interior stalk spindles include branched forms................................................................... 5</p><p>-. Interior stalk sclerites not branched............................................................................ 9</p><p>5. Interior stalk spindles small, less than 1 mm long, and slender................................................ L. folium</p><p>-. Interior stalk sclerites longer than 1 mm ........................................................................ 6</p><p>6. Interior stalk spindles with large rough tubercles....................................................... L. darleyensis</p><p>-. Interior stalk spindles with small tubercles...................................................................... 7</p><p>7. Interior stalk spindles wide, smaller ones heavily branched............................................ L. sanctuaryensis</p><p>-. All interior stalk spindles branched............................................................................ 8</p><p>8. Surface stalk sclerites mostly spindles................................................................... L. fusum</p><p>-. Surface stalk also with many derivatives of capstans................................................. L. horseshoeensis</p><p>9. Internal stalk spindles with blunt ends................................................................. L. crassum</p><p>-. Internal stalk spindles with pointed ends....................................................................... 10</p><p>10. Internal stalk spindles with distant coarse tubercles, unilaterally spinose sclerites of surface stalk large (- 0.25 mm). L. verrucosum</p><p>-. Internal stalk spindles with small fine tubercles, unilaterally spinose sclerites of surface stalk small (&lt;0.20 mm).... L. swainensis</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172368FF99FF35812FFA5DF845	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717236EFF83FF3586CEFC85F8E8.text	03BCB717236EFF83FF3586CEFC85F8E8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton brachiatum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton brachiatum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 69 a-c, 70a-c, 71-75)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4154, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C1373, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Swain reefs, Sweet-lip reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C1380-NTM C1385, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sanctuary reef, 13 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C 1473-1474, Queensland, Sanctuary reef, 13 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3967, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981; NTM C4139, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4179, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 1-5 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4283, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 5-10 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The NTM C4154 holotype is 12 cm high and 9 cm wide (Fig. 69a). The colony consists of two main stalks fused at the base, one 4 cm long, the other 5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.8 mm wide and 1 mm high, mostly with expanded tentacles, and grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 70a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with spines, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 71a), laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 71b). In the adaxial points there are small curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 71c). Straight small rods are very abundant on the adaxial side of the polyp stalk, up to 0.05 mm long, many of them with enlarged ends (Fig. 71d). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 71e), and not projecting beyond the polyp or only slightly so.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.10 mm long; spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.7 mm long. The smaller sclerites with simple tubercles (Fig. 71f), the larger ones with complex tubercles (Fig. 71g).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, and unilaterally spinose spheroids (Figs. 71h, 72a), and a few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles (not depicted). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.70 mm long. The smaller sclerites with simple tubercles (Fig. 72a), the larger ones with complex tubercles (Fig. 71h)</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, many with side branches (Fig. 72c), up to 2 mm long with pointed ends and prickly complex tubercles (Fig. 72d). Smaller spindles are flattened with less tubercles (fig. 72b).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin brachiatum, branched, branchiate, refers to the branched interior stalk spindles.</p><p>Distribution. Queensland, Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef, Dip reef, John Brewer reef.</p><p>Remarks. The microscope slides of NTM C1373, NTM C1473 (Figs. 69b, 70b), and NTM C4139, and the SEM images of the latter two (Figs. 73-74) showed less branched interior stalk spindles. Extra temporary slides of the interior stalk of NTM C1473 and NTM C4139 showed them. NTM C1473 shows some supporting bundle spindles with smooth tip (Fig. 73e)</p><p>NTM C1380-NTM C1385 were checked with temporary slides only.</p><p>NTM C4179 (Fig. 69c) is with some doubts included in this species. The sclerites of the interior of the base of the stalk did not show a single branched spindle (Fig. 75i), extra temporary slides also did not show them. Furthermore, no clear view of the arrangement of the polyp sclerites could be achieved (Fig. 70c). Notably, its sclerites (Fig. 75) are not different from the other specimens belonging to this species; especially the polyp rods with enlarged ends are strikingly similar (Fig. 75d).</p><p>L. bayeri (Verseveldt, 1966) from the Moluccas, Indonesia, (Figs. 69d; 70d) resembles this species. It has similar shaped polyp sclerites (Fig. 76 a-c) but far fewer polyp stalk rods (Fig. 76d). The surface stalk sclerites are also different (Fig. 76 f-g), mostly spindles and unilaterally spine spindles. Also the interior stalk sclerites differ (Fig. 76 h-j), but this could have been caused by the missing basal part of the stalk of L. bayeri .</p><p>L. debilis (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate) (Figs. 69e, 77) resembles this species even more, but differs by having much smaller interior stalk spindles, only up to 1 mm long (Fig. 77l).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717236EFF83FF3586CEFC85F8E8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172376FF87FF3585F4FBE0FA2B.text	03BCB7172376FF87FF3585F4FBE0FA2B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton burfordensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton burfordensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 69f, 70 e-f, 78-79)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C3171, Northern Territory, Burford Is, PA4, dry reef edge exposed, 13 October 1981, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C3172, NTM C3174, same data as holotype.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 7.5 cm high and 10.5 cm wide (Fig. 69f). The stalk is 3 cm long, and divides in three main stems. The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 70e). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with spines, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long (Fig. 78a), laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 78b). In the adaxial points there are curved rods and scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 78c). Straight rods and ovals are present on the adaxial side of the polyp stalk, these rods are up to 0.05 mm long (Fig. 78 d-e). One or two supporting bundle spindles projecting beyond the polyp head for a distance up to 0.20 mm. The spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 78f); some with one smooth end.</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are present, up to 0.70 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 78 g-h).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles (not depicted), and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 78i). Capstans 0.10-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.70 mm long, all with simple and complex tubercles.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.10 mm long, with pointed and blunt ends (Fig. 78k) and complex tubercles (Fig. 78l); a few branched. Smaller spindles have less tubercles (Fig. 78j).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Northern Territory, Burford Island.</p><p>Variability. NTM C3174 has much more developed polyp sclerites, even some club-like (Figs. 70f, 79a, e) and the adaxial side of the polyp stalk has scales next to the rods and ovals (Fig. 79d).Although the large polyp sclerites suggest this specimen actually represents another species only one specimen with these characters was present and therefore I decided to include it in L. burfordensis till more material can be examined.</p><p>Remarks. The species resembles L. capnelliformis (Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931), from Timor, Indonesia, regarding the internal stalk spindles with blunt ends (Fig. 82 g-h). However, L. capnelliformis lacks unilaterally spinose sclerites in the stalk (Fig. 82 e-f) and ovals in the polyp stalk (Fig. 82a). Noteworthy, the polyp sclerite arrangement of L. capnelliformis is not clear due to a large amount of detritus present in the polyps. Therefore, the one polyp drawn (Fig. 82a) could have rods in the adaxial side as other polyps do, the rods are possibly just hidden in between the detritus.</p><p>The species also resembles L. oxleyensis sp. nov., but that species has many scales in the polyp head or no rods in the polyp stalk. Moreover, L. oxleyensis has less developed point sclerites and more tuberculated surface stalk sclerites. However, I don’t exclude the possibility that these differences represent intraspecific variation. Pending examination of more material L. oxleyensis and L. burfordensis are maintained as different species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172376FF87FF3585F4FBE0FA2B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172376FF8BFF35808CFDBAF8DE.text	03BCB7172376FF8BFF35808CFDBAF8DE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton crassum (Kukenthal 1903)	<div><p>Litophyton crassum (Kükenthal, 1903)</p><p>(Figs. 80a, 81)</p><p>Nephthya crassa Kükenthal, 1903: 167, pl. 8 fig. 16, pl. 9 figs. 61-62 (Western Australia, Port Denison).</p><p>Not Nephthea crassa; Utinomi, 1954 b: 60, fig. 3, pl. 2 fig. 2 (Kii, Japan); Imahara, 1996: 25 (listed).</p><p>Material examined. NHMW C2370 (material from Godeffroy museum, not as type in collection, but from Port Denison and the species mentioned by Kükenthal as being stored in the Natural History Museum Vienna).</p><p>Re-description. The holotype is 11.5 cm high and 6.5 cm wide (Fig. 80a). The stalk is 2.5 cm long. The polyps are up to 0.5 mm wide and high, mostly with expanded tentacles, and grouped in spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With arrangement of sclerites in abaxial and lateral points only (Fig. 81 a-b). Abaxial and lateral sclerites are spindles with sparsely distributed blunt spines, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 81c). The adaxial sclerites are small curved scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 81d). Straight small rods, up to 0.10 mm long, are present on the adaxial side of the polyp stalk (Fig. 81e). Spindles of the supporting bundle are up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles, and not projecting beyond the polyp (Fig. 81f).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.15 mm long (Fig. 81g); a few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.3 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 81h).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, and a few spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig. 81j). Capstans 0.10-0.15 mm long and spindles up to about 0.30 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with pointed or blunt ends and simple tubercles; few with a side branch (Fig. 81i, k-l)).</p><p>Distribution. Western Australia: Port Denison.</p><p>Remarks. The species resembles L. capnelliformis (Thomson &amp; Dean, 1931), from Timor, Indonesia (Fig. 80b), regarding the internal stalk spindles with blunt ends (Fig. 82g). However, that species lacks unilaterally spinose sclerites (Fig. 82f). Noteworthy, the polyp sclerite arrangement of L. capnelliformis is not clear due to a large amount of detritus present in the polyps. Therefore, the one polyp drawn (Fig. 82a) could have rods in the adaxial side, the rods are possibly just hidden beneath the detritus.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172376FF8BFF35808CFDBAF8DE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172342FFB3FF3585F4FB6AFCCE.text	03BCB7172342FFB3FF3585F4FB6AFCCE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton darleyensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton darleyensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 70g, 80c, 83-84)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C1155, Queensland, Darley reef, December 1979, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratype NTM C1154, same data as holotype.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 10.5 cm high and 9 cm wide, the stalk is 4 cm long (Fig. 80c). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and 0.9 mm high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With a relatively good arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 70g).Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles; abaxially up to 0.35 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 83a); laterally up to 0.20 mm long. Adaxially there are small, curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 83b). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.08 mm long (Fig. 83c). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles up to 1.5 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 83d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles up to 1 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 83 e-f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, a few derivatives of capstans, and spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 83h, 84a). Capstans 0.05-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.5 mm long, with pointed ends and simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 84d); many with one or more side branches (Fig. 83g, 84 b-c).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the type locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Darley reef.</p><p>Remarks. The species is similar to L. folium sp. nov. (see below) but has longer internal stalk spindles with coarser tubercles, less developed point sclerites and very few spinose derivatives of capstans.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172342FFB3FF3585F4FB6AFCCE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172342FFB6FF3586A5FB6EF81A.text	03BCB7172342FFB6FF3586A5FB6EF81A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton folium Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton folium sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 80 d-e, 85a-b; 86-88)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4128, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C4123, same data as holotype; NTM C4147, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 15-20 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4386, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 15-20 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C10456 GBR 1; Great Barrier Reef, Cockburn reef, 12 December 1990, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 8 cm high and 8.5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long (Fig. 80d). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 85a). Abaxially and lateral point sclerites are spindles; abaxially up to 0.40 mm long, with spines and a few distal leaves (Fig. 86a); laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long, with spines. Adaxially there are small, bent rods (Fig. 86b), up to 0.10 mm long. The tentacles have rods and scales (Fig. 86 c-d). The polyp stalk has a few straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (not depicted). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 0.70 mm long, with simple tubercles and distally some spines (Fig. 86e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.15 mm long; spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 86 f-g). The unilaterally spinose sclerites have long spines.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, mostly with simple tubercles (Fig. 86 h-i). The spines of the spinose sclerites are very long. Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.40 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 87b) and simple and complex tubercles (Fig.87c); especially the smaller spindles with one or more side branches (Fig. 87a).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin folium, leaf, refers to the leafy point spindles.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Davies reef, Cockburn reef.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C4147, NTM C4386, and NTM C10456 (Fig. 80e) have slightly less developed polyp sclerites, seldom with distal leafy appearance (Fig. 88). The surface stalk sclerites of the base of NTM C10456 are less spiny (Fig. 88h) and the internal stalk sclerites are shorter and less branched (Fig. 88j). Sclerite sampling of NTM C10456 was done somewhat above the base of the stalk, causing these differences.</p><p>L. debilis (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate) (Figs. 69e, 77) resembles this species but has the larger interior stalk spindles also with side branches.</p><p>The species also resembles L. darleyensis sp. nov. but has more developed point sclerites, more unilaterally spinose sclerites and shorter interior stalk spindles.</p><p>In group V also L. sanctuaryensis sp. nov and L. verrucosum sp. nov. have unilaterally spinose sclerites with long spines. L. sanctuaryensis differs in having much more robust interior stalk sclerites and the smaller ones are less branched. L. verrucosum also has more robust interior stalk sclerites, which are not branched.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172342FFB6FF3586A5FB6EF81A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172349FFB9FF358399FB64FC7B.text	03BCB7172349FFB9FF358399FB64FC7B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton fusum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton fusum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 85c, 89a, 90-91)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4366, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, depth 10-13 m, 7 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratype; NTM C4075, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 5-11 m, 27 May 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 8 cm high and 11 cm wide, the stalk is very short, almost immediately above the base the colony divides in two stems baring the branches (Fig. 89a). The polyps are up to 0.8 mm wide and high, they are grouped in long catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 85c). Abaxially and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, abaxially up to 0.50 mm long, laterally up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 90a). Adaxially there are small, curved rods and scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 90b). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 90c). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 1.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and one spiny end (Fig. 90d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, up to 1.50 mm long, mostly with complex tubercles (Fig. 90 e-f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. A few capstans and derivatives of capstans (not depicted) but mostly spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 90g, 91 a-b). Capstans 0.10-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 1.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 2 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 91e), with pointed ends; many with side branches (Fig. 91 c-d).</p><p>Etymology. The Latin fuses, spool, spindle, refers to the many spindles in the surface layer of the base of the stalk.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: John Brewer reef, Rib reef.</p><p>Remarks. The paratype has also big interior stalk spindles, but they have no side branches, apparently the base of the stalk is missing.</p><p>The species resembles L. snakeensis sp. nov. regarding the many spindles in the surface layer of the base of the stalk, but that species has many scales in the polyps. It resembles L. brachiatum sp. nov. regarding the interior stalk spindles with side branches and the polyp sclerites, but differs from that species in having only a few radiates and derivatives of radiates in the surface layer of the stalk, and no unilaterally spinose spheroids at all.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172349FFB9FF358399FB64FC7B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172348FFB9FF358173FD27F86F.text	03BCB7172348FFB9FF358173FD27F86F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton horseshoeensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton horseshoeensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 85d, 89b, 92-93)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C2256, Queensland, Horseshoe reef, Bommie Top, 11 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C 1366-68, 1370, 1379, Queensland, Swain reef, Sweet-lip reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C 1392-95, Queensland, Bills reef, 8 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C1396, Queensland; Central reef, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2255; Queensland, Horseshoe reef, Bommie Top, 11 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3992, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 7.5 cm high and 4.5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long (Fig. 89b). The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and 0.5 high, grouped in spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 85d). Abaxially and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines; abaxially up to 0.50 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 92 a-b). Adaxially there are small, curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 92c). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 92d). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 1.80 mm long, with simple tubercles and one spiny end (Fig. 92e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 92 f-g). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.60 mm long.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, thorny derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Figs. 92h, 93a). Capstans 0.05-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 93c), and simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 93b). The smaller spindles often have side branches (Fig. 93b).</p><p>Etymology. Named after the holotype locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Horseshoe reef, Sweet-lip reef, Bills reef, Central reef, Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C1379 has somewhat longer internal stalk spindles, up to 1.20 mm long.</p><p>L. horseshoeensis resembles L. debilis (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate) (Figs. 69e, 77), but has many thorny derivatives of capstans in the surface of the base of the stalk.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172348FFB9FF358173FD27F86F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717234BFFA2FF35830FFB8EF8A4.text	03BCB717234BFFA2FF35830FFB8EF8A4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton mollis (Macfadyen 1936) Great Barrier Reef	<div><p>Litophyton mollis (Macfadyen, 1936)</p><p>(Figs. 89 c-d, 94-96)</p><p>Nephthya mollis Macfadyen, 1936: 57, figs 9-10, pl. 5 Fig. 6 (Australia, GBR, Low lsles).</p><p>Material examined. Holotype BM 1934.3.28.51; NTM C88-NTM C89, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Erskin Is., depth 1 m, 4 April 1977, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C266, broken up colony, Queensland, Broadhurst reef, March 1976, coll. G. Coll; NTM C798, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C1386, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sanctuary reef, 13 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C1475-NTM C1481, Queensland, Central Reef, depth 2/ 3 m, 5 November 1980, coll. P.Alderslade; NTM C2241-NTM C2243, Queensland, Masthead reef, 27 October 1974, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2244, Queensland, Moore reef, Bommie, surface, March 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2258, Queensland, Northwest Island, depth 7 m, 10 October 1978, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2262; Queensland, Northwest Island, depth 7 m, 10 October 1978; coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C2829, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4000, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Rib reef, depth 10-15 m, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C05390, cf. albida, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Darley reef, 25 November 1982, coll. G. König; NTM C10463, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Cockburn reef, 10 December 1990, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Re-description. The holotype is 11.5 cm high and 10 cm wide, the stalk is 3 cm long (Fig. 89c). The polyps are up to 0.8 mm wide and high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 94a). Abaxial and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, largest present abaxially, up to 0.40 mm long, laterally they are up to 0.15 mm long (Fig. 94b). Adaxially there are small scales, similar to those of the tentacles, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 94c). These small rods also are present on the adaxial side of the polyp stalk. Supporting bundle not projecting, composed of spindles, up to 0.50 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 94d).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans and derivatives of capstans, 0.05-0.10 mm long; spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles are also present, up to 0.35 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 94e). Towards the interior a few slightly stouter spindles occur (Fig. 94f).</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles (Fig 94g). Capstans 0.05-0.10 mm long; spindles up to about 0.30 mm long. Towards the interior these sclerite types become slightly bigger with less dense tuberculation (Fig. 94h).</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 0.75 mm long, with pointed ends and simple and complex tubercles and some irregular, branched forms (Fig. 94 i-j).</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Erskin Island, Broadhurst reef, Sanctuary reef, Central Reef, Masthead reef, Moore reef, Northwest Island, Rib reef, Darley reef, Cockburn reef.</p><p>Remarks. The differences from L. legiopolypum (Verseveldt &amp; Alderslade, 1982) are small. L. mollis has fewer rods in the polyps and the internal stalk spindles are less branched.</p><p>L. amboinensis (Burchardt, 1898) from Ambon (Indonesia) (Fig. 97a) also resembles L. mollis but has overall more tuberculated sclerites, polyp spindles are more spiny, and interior base spindles are smaller. (Fig. 98).</p><p>NTM C2262 (Fig. 89d) has been used for producing SEM images of the sclerites (Figs. 95-96).</p><p>NTM C1386, NTM C1475-NTM C1481 were checked with temporary slides only.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717234BFFA2FF35830FFB8EF8A4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB7172354FFA9FF35801EFD89F84B.text	03BCB7172354FFA9FF35801EFD89F84B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton sanctuaryensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton sanctuaryensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 85 e-f, 97b-c, 99-102)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C1387, Queensland, Central reef, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C 1388- 89, same data as holotype; NTM C 1464-65, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sweet-lip, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C1472, Queensland, Sanctuary reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C 2293-95, Queensland, Swain reefs, Blue-Lion reef, 8 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C3984, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4032, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 1-5 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4383, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, reef flat, 8 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C10459, Great Barrier Reef, Cockburn reef, 10 December 1990, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 7.5 cm high and 6.5 cm wide, the stalk is 3 cm long (Fig. 97b). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With irregular arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 85e). Abaxially and lateral point sclerites are spindles with simple tubercles and spines, abaxially up to 0.45 mm long (Fig. 99a). Laterally they are up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 99b). Adaxially there are small, curved rods and scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 99c). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 99d). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 1 mm long, with simple tubercles and one spiny end (Fig. 99e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 99 f-g). The spines of the spinose sclerites are very long. Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 99h, 100a). The spines of the spinose sclerites are very long. Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.50 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.3 mm long, with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 100d). These spindles are unbranched, branched, or with side branches. The spindles have pointed ends, one pointed and one blunt end or two blunt ends (Fig. 100 b-c). Especially the smaller spindles are heavily branched.</p><p>Etymology. Named after a paratype locality, Sanctuary reef.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Sanctuary reef, Blue-Lion reef, Davies reef, Sweet-lip reef, John Brewer reef, Cockburn reef.</p><p>Remarks. NTM C4383 (Fig. 97c) showed some ovals in the polyp stalk (Fig. 101d), similar to L. burfordensis sp. nov. (Northern Territory) and L. mollis (Macfadyen, 1936) . L. burfordensis differs in having many rather smooth spindles in the interior of the base of the stalk. L. mollis in having only pointed spindles in the interior of the base of the stalk and less developed point sclerites. Both have many more ovals in the polyp stalk than NTM C4383.</p><p>NTM C1464 has different interior stalk sclerites, more like those of L. swainensis sp. nov. (see below) but the colony is only a few cm high with hardly any stalk and therefore is included here together with NTM C1465 from the same collection effort.</p><p>L. debilis (Kükenthal, 1895) (Ternate) (Figs. 69e, 77) resembles this species but has the larger interior stalk spindles also with side branches.</p><p>In group V also L. folium sp. nov and L. verrucosum sp. nov. have sclerites with long spines. For the differences between the three species see L. folium .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB7172354FFA9FF35801EFD89F84B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717235AFFADFF35831EFB5CFD7E.text	03BCB717235AFFADFF35831EFB5CFD7E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton swainensis Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton swainensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 85g, 97d, 103)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C1371, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sweet-lip reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade ; paratypes: NTM C651, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C652, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C1372, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sanctuary reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade; NTM C 1374-1376, 1378, Queensland, Swain reefs, Sweet-lip reef, 15 November 1980, coll. P. Alderslade.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 4 cm high and 4.5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long (Fig. 97d). The polyps are up to 0.6 mm wide and high, they are grouped in spherical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With a relatively good arrangement of sclerites in eight points (Fig. 85g). Abaxially and laterally point sclerites are spindles; abaxially up to 0.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and spines (Fig. 103a). Laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 103b). Adaxially there are small, curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 103c). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 103d). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 1.30 mm long, with simple tubercles and one spiny end (Fig. 103e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 103 f-g). A few capstans and derivatives of capstans are also present (not depicted), also with simple and complex tubercles. Capstans 0.10-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.35 mm long.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Capstans, derivatives of capstans, spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles (Fig. 103 h-i). Capstans 0.05-0.20 mm long; spindles up to about 0.20 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1.1 mm long (Fig. 103 j-k), with pointed ends and simple tubercles (Fig. 103l). Unfortunately the SEM images showed shorter spindles than the microscope slide.</p><p>Etymology. Named after the holotype locality.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Sanctuary reef, Sweet-lip reef.</p><p>Remarks. The species resembles L. folium sp. nov. but has finer spines on the surface sclerites and finer tuberculation on the interior stalk sclerites, which are also slightly longer. Moreover, L. folium sp. nov. has many smaller branched interior stalk sclerites (Fig. 87a), whereas they are seldom branched in L. swainensis .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717235AFFADFF35831EFB5CFD7E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
03BCB717235CFFAEFF358678FD89F879.text	03BCB717235CFFAEFF358678FD89F879.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Litophyton verrucosum Van 2020	<div><p>Litophyton verrucosum sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs. 85h, 97 e-f, 104-106)</p><p>Material examined. Holotype NTM C4071, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 5-10 m, 9 January 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen ; paratypes: NTM C346, February 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C436; Queensland, Moore reef, Bommie, depth 3-13 m, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C764, March 1978, coll. D. Schubot; NTM C3978, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Cay, depth 20-25 m, 25 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4052, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4073, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 5-10 m, 16 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4145, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Davies reef, depth 10-15 m, 15 April 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4226, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders Cay, depth 5-10 m, 25 September 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4258, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Flinders reef, Sth., depth 5-10 m, 21 November 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C4282; Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Dip reef, depth 1-5 m, 5 February 1981, coll. Z. Dinesen; NTM C5304, cf. cupressiformis, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, John Brewer reef, back reef zone, depth 3 m, 8 October 1985, coll. H. Lasker.</p><p>Description. The holotype is 4 cm high and 5 cm wide, the stalk is 1.5 cm long (Fig. 97e). The polyps are up to 0.7 mm wide and high, grouped in conical catkins.</p><p>Polyps. With virtually no arrangement of sclerites as points (Fig. 85h).Abaxially the polyp sclerites are unilaterally spinose spindles up to 0.50 mm long, with simple tubercles and spines (Fig. 104a). Laterally they are up to 0.20 mm long (Fig. 104b). Adaxially there are rods and small curved scales, up to 0.10 mm long, similar to those of the tentacles (Fig. 104c). The polyp stalk has straight rods, up to 0.10 mm long (Fig. 104d). Supporting bundle not projecting or slightly so, composed of spindles, up to 0.80 mm long, with simple or complex tubercles and one spiny end (Fig. 104e).</p><p>Surface layer top stalk. Spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with simple and complex tubercles and tall complex spines (Fig. 104f). A few capstans and derivatives of capstans are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.10-0.15 mm long; spindles up to about 0.60 mm long.</p><p>Surface layer base stalk. Spindles, and unilaterally spinose spindles, all with complex tubercles and tall complex spines (Fig. 105a).A few capstans and derivatives of capstans are also present (not depicted). Capstans 0.10-0.25 mm long; spindles up to about 0.70 mm long.</p><p>Interior stalk. Spindles, up to 1 mm long, with pointed ends (Fig. 105 b-c) and simple and complex complex tubercles (Fig. 105d)</p><p>Etymology. The Latin verrucosum, warty, rough, rugged, refers to the internal stalk spindles with well-spaced coarse tubercles.</p><p>Distribution. Great Barrier Reef: Dip reef, Moore reef, Flinders Cay, Davies reef.</p><p>Remarks. The capstans and derivatives of capstans were present in small numbers and therefore not captured with the SEM images of the surface layer of the stalk.</p><p>The species resembles L. acutum sp. nov. with regards to the surface stalk sclerites. However, L. acutum has the adaxial side of polyps without sclerites, different tentacular sclerites and spiny capstan derivatives in the surface of the stalk base.</p><p>NTM C3978 (Figs. 97f, 106) has unusual many polyp stalk rods resembling L. brachiatum sp. nov. but lacks the big interior stalk spindles with side branches of that species.</p><p>In group V also L. folium sp. nov and L. sanctuaryensis sp. nov. have sclerites with long spines. For the differences between the three species see L. folium .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BCB717235CFFAEFF358678FD89F879	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Van Ofwegen, Leen P.	Van Ofwegen, Leen P. (2020): The genus Litophyton Forskål, 1775 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 4764 (1): 1-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4764.1.1
