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Volume 88, 1960-61
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Ascidians of New Zealand Part XIII-Aseidians of the Cook Strait Region

By Beryl I Brewin, University of Otago

[Received by Editor, April 10, 1959.]

Summary

The number of ascidians recorded from the Cook Strait region is raised from 12 to 26. In accordance with the known distribution of ascidians in New Zealand waters, an additional 13 species could be expected in the ascidian fauna.

Sluiter's collection (1900) contained 9 species of ascidians. The Mortensen Expedition (1914–1916) added an additional three. The present survey is based on the study of (1) shore collections by G. Knox, L. Gurr, I. Morton, B. Street and the author; (2) dredged material collected by W. H. Dawbin; and (3) material from settling blocks set up in the Wellington Harbour by D. Hurley and P. Ralph. The number of species recorded from this region is now 26. These are listed below together with the known local distribution (A.H., Abel Head; C., Cape Campbell, C.B., Cable Bay, F.P., French Pass, I.B., Island Bay. K., Kaiteriteri; N., Nelson Harbour, P., Porirua; Q.C.S., Queen Charlotte; Sound; T., Takunaui, W., Wellington Harbour; W.B., Woodpecker Bay, West Coast).

List of Species
Synoicidae Locality
*Amaroucium benhami Brewin I. B., C., Q. C. S.
*Amaroucium foliaceum (Sluit). F. P.
*Amaroucium phortax f. typica Mich. F. P.
*Amaroucium stelliferum (Sluit). F. P.
Amaroucium thomasi Brewin. C. B., Q. C. S.
Amaroucium thomsoni Brewin. W. B.
Didemnidae
† Didemnum candidum Sav. C. B., P., Q. C. S.
* Didemnum tuberatum (Nott). F. P.
Diplosoma macdonaldi (Herdman) W.
Polycitoridae
Polycitor (Eudistoma) circumvallatum Sluiter C.
† Cystodytes dellachiaiae (Della Valle) I. B., Q. C. S.
Distaplia knoxi Brewin C
Rhodosomatidae
† Corella eumyota Traust. K., N., W., W. B., P., Q. C. S.
Botryllidae
Botrylloides leachi Sav. C., F. P.
Botryllus schlosseri (Pallas) W.
Styelidae
† Asterocarpa cerea (Sluit) Q. C. S., N., T., W., F. P.
† Cnemidocarpa nisiotis (Sluit) C., N., Q. C. S., W., F. P.
† Cnemidocarpa bicornuata (Sluit) A. H., F. P., T., Q. C. S.
Pyuridae
Pyura subuculata (Sluit) F. P., K., N., T., W., W. B., Q. C. S.

[Footnote] * Not in the present collection.

[Footnote] † Known from dredged material.

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Pyura rugata Brewin W, Q. C. S.
Pyura cancellata Brewin N., T., W., Q. C. S.
† Pyura pulla (Sluit.) N., Q. C. S.
† Pyura pachydermatina (Herdman) F. P.
Molgulidae
Molgula sluiteri Mich. W. B.
Molgula mortenseni (Mich.) K., Q. C. S.
* † Paramolgula filholi (Piz) Q. C. S.

In addition, in accordance with their known distribution in New Zealand waters, the following 13 species could be expected to be present in the Cook Strait region—

  • Didemnum albidum (Verr).

  • † Didemnum chondrilla Mich.

  • Didemnum psammatodes Sluit var. maculatum Nott.

  • Hypsistozoa fasmeriana (Mich).

  • Sycozoa sigillinoides Less.

  • Distaplia taylori Brewin.

  • Botryllus magnicoecus Hartm.

  • Alloeocarpa minuta Brewin.

  • Cnemidocarpa madagascariensis Hart. var. regalis

  • Cnemidocarpa novae-zelandiae Mich.

  • Pyura suteri Mich.

  • Pyura trita (Sluit).

  • Pyura carnea Brewin.

In the majority of species the specimens collected from this region fell within the range of variability given in earlier papers of the series. Variations noted were as follows—(1) Specimens of Asterocarpa cerea though not of great size showed a large count of longitudinal vessels (52 to 58 on the left side, 51 to 60 on the right) and displayed the orange colouration recorded for specimens from the Hauraki Gulf. (2) Specimens of Pyura cancellata were of large size range and up to 5.5 cm in length. The count of longitudinal vessels was high (up to 156 on the left side, 154 on the right). (3) Specimens of Cnemidocarpa nisiotis fell in the larger size range, some reaching 7 cm in length. The count of longitudinal vessels was high (up to 109 on the left side, 110 on the right) and in many the gonads were of the crenulated type depicted by Sluiter (1900). (4) Specimens of Pyura subuculata fell in the larger size range, some reaching 4.9 cm in length. The count of longitudinal vessels was high (up to 149 on the left side, 131 on the right).

Tadpoles

These were present in Aplidium thomasi and Didemnum candidum collected in January, 1957, and in Polycitor (Eudistoma) circumvallatum and Asterocarpa cerea collected in December, 1952.

Parasites and Commensals

Copepods of the family Notodelphidae were present in the branchial sac of Pyura pulla and Cnemidocarpa nisiotis. Amphipods also were observed in the branchial sac of the latter species.

An endoproct polyzoan encircled the tentacular region of a few specimens of Pyura pulla and Cnemidocarpa nisiotis

Literature

As listed in the previous papers of the series.

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