Crella (Pytheas) crassa (Hentschel, 1914)

(Fig. 5a–f)

Restricted synonymy: Grayella crassa Hentschel, 1914, Pytheas crassa (Hentschel, 1914) .

Material examined: 5 small specimens collected in station 11 (SOI; 60°53'S, 42°35'W; 487 m; 10/3/2014; MACN-In 44363; IEO-CSIC Col.) .

Description: Massive to elongate specimens, light beige. Surface areolated (Figure 5a). Ectosome is a dense layer of acanthostyles, supported by multispicular fibers in the choanosome (Figure 5e, f). Megascleres are strongyles 430–500µm by 10µm, and acanthostyles, some slightly curved, 100–180 µm by 5 µm. Microscleres are arcuate isochelae of 25 µm (Figure 5 b–d).

Remarks: This species has been recorded from Antarctic waters by Henstchel (1914), Koltun (1964) and Göcke & Janussen (2013), among others. This is a new record for the SOI.