Quattuoria pallida Benayahu & Ekins & Van Ofwegen & Samimi-Namin & Mcfadden 2022, gen. nov

Quattuoria pallida Benayahu & McFadden gen. nov. sp. nov. Figures 1, 16–17 http://zoobank/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 434D2C4A-B44C-4B17-9B7A-60778ECEB808 Material examined. Madagascar. Holotype. SMNHTAU_ Co _36071 (MAD95), 4 Frére (12.994250° S, 48.487467° E), 4–15 m, 1 December 2012, coll. Y. Benayahu. Description. The holotype is an encrusting colony featuring a thin, irregular spreading membrane ( The sclerites are spheroid or ellipsoid platelets (Fig. 17A) measuring 0.012 –0.018 x 0.015 –0.020 mm in diameter, abundant throughout the colony. A few sclerites feature surface irregularity. They are composed of calcite rods whose tips provide a granular appearance to the sclerite surface (Fig. 17B). The sclerites often tend to fracture during the dehydration necessary for SEM. Color. The ethanol-preserved holotype is light cream, almost white. Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin pallida, referring to the pale color of the holotype. Remarks. Q. pallida is characterized by its pinnule arrangement which lacks the organization in rows that is typical of other xeniid taxa. The ethanol-preserved holotype was sequenced and subsequently assigned to MOTU71. Unfortunately, no image of a live colony is available. Distribution. Madagascar (Fig. 1).