Ralfsia pacifica Hollenberg

radial section and surface view

Synonyms:

Ralfsia occidentalis Hollenberg

Illustrations:

Abbott and Hollenberg 1976, p. 170, fig. 135 (x-section, plurilocular organs); Scagel 1967, p. 83, fig. 27a (habit), fig. 27b (x-section, unilocular organs); Smith 1944, pl. 12, fig. 4 (x-section, base of plant), fig. 5 (x-section, plurilocular organs), fig. 6 (x-section, unilocular organs); Wynne 1969a, pl. 13, figs. e–g (photo: x-section, vegetative anatomy); Hollenberg 1969, p. 294, figs. 17, 18 (not labeled), (x-section, vegetative base and plurilocular organs)

Pacific Coast Distribution:

Alaska (Unalaska, Aleutian Is.: Setchell and Gardner 1925, p. 497, as R. verrucosa; Prince Wm. Sound: Johansen 1971b, p. 66); Queen Charlotte Is., British Columbia (Scagel 1957, p. 73) to Cape Arago, Ore. (Doty 1947, p. 73); Shell Beach, Sonoma Co., Calif. (Kjeldsen 1995, p. 29) to Monterey Peninsula, Calif. (Smith 1944, p. 96); San Luis Obispo Co., Calif. (Cayucos; Shell Beach: Sparling 1977, p. 32); Channel Is., Calif. (San Nicolas: Caplan and Boolootian 1967, p. 209); Corona del Mar, Orange Co., Calif. (Hollenberg 1969, p. 296); Gulf of California (Bahía Tepoca: Dawson 1944a, pp. 222, 223; to Mazatlán, Sinalóa, México: Hollenberg 1969, p. 296); Isla Socorro, Revillagigedo Arch., México (Hollenberg in Taylor 1945, p. 81)

Taxonomy:

Tanaka and Chihara 1980a; Tanaka and Chihara 1980b; Hollenberg 1969, p. 296

Life History:

plurilocular and unilocular organs found on separate crusts. One isolate from central Calif., was started from zooids from plurilocular organs. They grew into crusts, but were not followed beyond that stage (Wynne 1972b, pp. 139, 140)

Biology/Ecology:

Dethier et al. 1991; Dethier 1987, p. 1840; Thom 1980a, p. 9; Devinny 1978, p. 358; Emerson and Zedler 1978, p. 317; Caplan and Boolootian 1967, p. 209; Stephenson and Stephenson 1961a, p. 14