Polycitor columna Kott 1954

Polycitor columna Kott, 1954 Polycitor columna Kott, 1954: 153. Distribution. Type locality: Tasmania (Maria I., 174– 155 m, syntypes AM Y1297). Description. Syntype colonies have been re-examined. They have thick fleshy stalks about the same length as, and only slightly less diameter than, the head. The stalks taper toward the base. The test is translucent without contained sand. Zooids open around the head by separate six-lobed apertures. About 15 longitudual thoracic muscles per side extend in a wide band along each side of the abdomen. The branchial sac has 16 rows of about 35 stigmata per row. The stomach has four shallow longitudinal furrows. The large larvae (trunk 1.6 mm long) are as previously described with the tail wound half-way around the trunk. Remarks. Kott’s (1954) report of only 12 stigmata in each row is wrong. On re-examination of these specimens at least 35 stigmata have been detected on each side. The species most resembles Polycitor calamus Kott, 1990a in its stalked colony, but P. calamus has a longer stalk, a shorter head, fewer stigmata per row, and 12 distinct longitudinal gastric folds.
Published as part of KOTT, PATRICIA, 2003, New syntheses and new species in the Australian Ascidiacea, pp. 1611-1653 in Journal of Natural History 37 (13) on pages 1623-1624, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110104258