Photosymbiotic Ascidians from Nakanoshima Island and Takarajima Island (the Tokara Islands, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan) with Remarks on the Status of Diplosoma midori (Tokioka, 1954)*

Abstract

We studied the fauna of photosymbiotic ascidians in the shallow reef shore of the Tokara Islands. We collected Lissoclinum bistratum, L. punctatum, Trididemnum clinides, T. cyclops, T. sp. (cf. T. paraclinides), Diplosoma aaru, D. simile, D. simileguwa, D. virens, D. sp. A. and D. sp. B (cf. D. multipapillatum) from four sites off Nakanoshima Isl and and one site off Takarajima Island. Diplosoma midori (Tokioka, 1954) is a photosymbiotic ascidian that was originally described from Nakanoshima Island and Takaraj ima Isl and. Although there is argument as to the taxonomical sta tus of this species, the conditions of the syntype specimens were inadequate for examining detailed features for identification. Based on the topotype specimens from Takarajima Island, we concluded that D. midori should be regarded as an invalid species, and is ajunior synonym of D. simile or D. virens.