Merlia deficiens Vacelet, 1980

Synonymy and references. Merlia deficiens Vacelet, 1980: van Soest, 1984b: 211, figs. 1–5.

Material. This species was observed by our colleague Philippe Willenz (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Bruxelles, Belgium) during a survey of small forereef caves between South Water Cay and Curlew Bank, 24–39 m, in April 1987. No specimens were collected for Museum deposit.

Ecology. Cryptic, in dark parts of caves and on reefs (Vacelet, 1980), 5– 39 m.

Distribution. Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Comments. Characteristic spicules (clavidiscs combined with tylostyles) found as foreign components in other sponges collected in forereef caves probably originated from this species during episodes of overgrowth.

The view of synonymizing Merlia deficiens with M. normani is no longer upheld (van Soest et al., 2013b).