Ircinia bergquistia, Sim & Lee & Kim, 2016

Sim, Chung Ja, Lee, Kyung Jin & Kim, Hyung June, 2016, Nine new species of genus Ircinia (Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida: Irciniidae) from Korea, Journal of Species Research 5 (3), pp. 483-497 : 492

9. Ircinia bergquistia n. sp. ( Fig. 12 )

Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000554228), Korea: Mureungachi, Daejeong­eup, Seogwipo­si , Jeju­do, 26 June 2016, Moon SE, by SCUBA, Depth 15­20 m, deposited in the NIBR.

Description. Sponge irregular thick, encrusting, size up to 8 × 9 × 4 cm. Surface conules covered with filamentous membrane mixed pigments and spicules. Oscules, 4­5 mm in diameter, opened on sponge surface rarely. Colour in life, blackish gray on upper surface, pale brown near base of sponge. Texture soft and compressible.

Skeleton: Fasciculated primary fibres near surface, 700- 1100 μm in diameter, very loose and not cored. Branched secondary fibres fasciculate, 300­400 μm in diameter. Filaments, 3­6 μm in diameter, terminal knobs, 10-15 μm in diameter.

Etymology. This species name bergquistia is named after late Dr. Particia R. Bergquist, who was a professor School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and reported many Dictyoceratid sponges.

Remark. Primary and secondary fibres of this sponge are free from foreign debris.

Figures

Fig. 12. Ircinia bergquistia n. sp. A, entire animal; B, closed surface; C, surface conules and membrane with spicules; D, E, skeletal structure near surface; F, branched secondary fibres; G, primary and secondary fibres; H, branched secondary fibres. Scale bars:A=2 cm, B=10 cm, C­H=100 μm.