Herengeria Lévi F Lévi, 1988

Schlacher-Hoenlinger, Monika A., Pisera, Andrzej & Hooper, John N. A., 2005, Deep-sea “ lithistid ” assemblages from the Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia), with description of seven new species and a new genus (Porifera, Demospongiae), Zoosystema 27 (4), pp. 649-698 : 665-668

Genus Herengeria Lévi F Lévi, 1988

Herengeria Lévi F Lévi, 1988: 250 , fig. 5, pl. 5: 5.

TYPE SPECIES. — Herengeria auriculata Lévi F Lévi, 1988 by monotypy.

DEFINITION. — Massive spherical or cup-shaped lithistids with smooth ectosomal dichotriaenes and endosomal dicranoclone desmas; microscleres are microxeas and two types of spirasters (spirasters with long pointed rays and rhabd-like spirasters) (here emended from Pisera F Lévi 2002b).

Herengeria auriculata Lévi F Lévi, 1988 ( Figs 2G ; 11 ; 25 )

Herengeria auriculata Lévi F Lévi, 1988: 250 , fig. 5,

pl. 5: 5.

HOLOTYPE. — New Caledonian Slope ( MNHN DCL

3543).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (see Table 1). — Introuvable,

572-605 m ( QM G318566); 508-541 m ( QM

G318575). — Éponge, 508-541 m ( QM G318643,

QM G318651).

DESCRIPTION

Growth form

Globular, ovoid sponge, with choanosomal bundles of large oxeas protruding from the upper surface. Sponges are approximately 15 mm high and 10 mm wide.

Schlacher-Hoenlinger M. A. et al.

Colour

Brown in etoh.

Oscules

Not visible.

Texture

Hard.

Surface ornamentation

Rough.

Ectosomal skeleton

Ectosomal layer contains smooth dichotriaenes and abundant microscleres. Large oxeas occur in bundles about 10 mm long. The skeleton around these bundles at this apical part of the sponge is less dense and consists of more slender, more arched, and less regular, less tuberculate desmas, and often supplied with long spine-like outgrowths. Microscleres at the surface are numerous consisting of microspinose microxeas (often centrotylote, often curved), and rhabd-like spirasters.

Choanosomal skeleton

Choanosomal skeleton consists of regular and slightly curved dicranoclones. Choanosomal microscleres are typically microspinose spirasters with long, more or less pointed rays.

Megascleres

Dicranoclone desmas bearing numerous mushroom-shaped tubercles, which are in turn covered with small, low, densely packed tubercles. Young desmas can be smooth or bear smooth tubercles: 450-800 µm/50-75 µm.

Dichotriaenes smooth, often with tips of the bent downwards: 300-475 µm long × 245-500 µm diameter (cladome).

Oxeas: 10 mm × 10-18 µm.

Microscleres

Microspinose microxeas (centrotylote, curved): 70-100 × 5-8 µm.

Rhabd-like spirasters (irregular, covered with low microspines): 32-40 × 5 µm.

Microspinose spirasters with pointed rays:

19-25 × 15-19 µm.

REMARKS

This material conforms exactly in shape and spicule geometry to the holotype, the only difference being the possession of longer rhabd-like spirasters, which should be regarded as a new characteristic of this taxon.

Figures

FIG. 2. — A, Aciculites orientalis Dendy, 1905; B, Scleritoderma sp.; C, S. camusi Lévi & Lévi, 1983; D, S. flabelliforme Sollas, 1888; E, Corallistes australis n. sp.; F, Herengeria vasiformis n. sp.; G, H. auriculata Lévi & Lévi, 1988. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 11. — Herengeria auriculata Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, outer surface of the choanosomal skeleton; B, modified choanosomal desmas in the central part of the sponge; C, details of dicranoclone desmas; D, details of articulation between choanosomal desmas. Scale bars: A, D, 100 µm; B, 500 µm; C, 200 µm.

FIG. 25. — Herengeria auriculata Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, detail of microxea; B, C, microxeas; D, ectosomal dichotriaene; E, cladome of ectosomal dichotriaene; F-K, choanosomal spirasters with slender rays; L-N, subectosomal rhabd-like spirasters. Scale bars: A, 5 µm; B, C, 20 µm; D, E, 100 µm; F-N, 10 µm.