Spheciospongia, MARSHALL, 1892
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00126.x |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DF878E-FF8B-7472-5BE1-FA7527903F0F |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Spheciospongia |
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SPHECIOSPONGIA MARSHALL, 1892 View in CoL
Synonymy: Heterocliona Verrill, 1907
Type species: Alcyonium vesparium Lamarck, 1814
Diagnosis: Large-growing sponges with cribiporal chones (pore sieves) and simple, multiple or septate oscula. In the ectosome, there are numerous robust tylostyles forming a dense tangential network, and rare, minute spirasters and spiraster-derived amphiasters; the latter are also located in the canal linings. In the choanosome, tylostyles occur densely scattered and in strands. Tylostyles may be modified to styles, tylostrongyles and strongyles. The sponges excavated limestone in the early growth stage, forming large, tissue-filled cavities, not a series of distinct chambers as do other clionaids ( Rützler, 2002a).
SPHECIOSPONGIA RUETZLERI SP. NOV.
( FIG. 24 View Figure 24 )
Holotype: MNCN-1.01/241, Peña de La Virgen ( San Blas , Nayarit), 4.5 m depth, on rocks in sand bottoms. 22.xi.1999.
Paratype: LEB-ICML-UNAM-69, Peña de La Virgen (San Blas, Nayarit), 4.5 m depth, on rocks in sand bottoms, 22.xi.1999. Spheciospongia confoederata holotype USNM-21487, Spheciospongia confoederata paratype BMNH-28.8.22.50.
Description: Very large, massive sponge up to 8 cm thick, covering a maximum surface area of 50 ¥ 18 cm. The oscula are scarce but large, up to 15 mm in diameter, and they are characteristically situated in elevations (2–3.5 cm high) that seem like small volcanoes. They are often septate, and up to 12 exhalant canals are confluent in each. The inhalant pore sieve area is formed by 9–16 small circular not contractile pores from 2 to 3 mm in diameter. These areas are scattered, and extend over a surface from 2.5 to 6 cm 2. The choanosome is cavernous, with canals of 0.3–1.7 cm in diameter, and up to 6 cm in length. The consistency is very firm. The surface is smooth. The ectosome is purplish in life, and the choanosome is ochraceous. Dark brown in alcohol.
Skeletal characters: The tylostyles are thick, mostly gently curved, sometimes double curved, with a well differentiated head ( Fig. 24A, B View Figure 24 ). Tylostyles mean measurements (length ¥ width shaft; head width): 105-(283)-437.5 ¥ 2.5-(12.9)-17.5 Mm; 5-(13.7)-18.8 Mm. Despite the ample range in the length of the tylostyles the frequency histogram showed only one size class. The spirasters are short and thick from 10 to 20 Mm in length (average 13 Mm), with few waves, some almost straight ( Fig. 24C View Figure 24 ). They are very scarce, and it is necessary to use a huge amount of sponge to find them.
Etymology: The species is named after Dr Klaus Rützler for his contribution to the study of the clionaid sponge fauna.
Distribution: Peña de La Virgen (San Blas, Nayarit).
Remarks: See below.
SPHECIOSPONGIA INCRUSTANS SP. NOV.
( FIG. 25 View Figure 25 )
Holotype: MNCN-1.01/305, Conchas Chinas ( Puerto Vallarta , Jalisco), 20 35¢16¢¢ N-105 14 ¢42¢¢W, 4 m depth, 08.x.2002.
Paratype: BMNH-2003.6.27.3, Conchas Chinas (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco), 20∞35¢16¢¢ N-105 14 ¢42¢¢W, 4 m depth, 08.x.2002. Spheciospongia confoederata holotype USNM-21487, Spheciospongia confoederata paratype BMNH-28.8.22.50. LEB-ICML-UNAM-360, Los Arcos (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco), 20∞32¢73¢¢N- 105∞18¢47¢W, 2 m depth, 23.i.2001. LEB-ICML- UNAM-475, Antiguo Corral del Risco (Punta de Mita, Nayarit), 20∞46¢20¢¢N-105∞32¢49¢¢W, 4 m depth, 06.iv.2002. LEB-ICML-UNAM-499, Los Arcos (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco), 20∞32¢73¢¢N-105∞18¢47¢W, 2 m depth, 08.iv.2002. LEB-ICML-UNAM-514, Playa los Muertos (Sayulita, Nayarit), 20∞52¢29 N-105∞26¢72¢¢, 8 m depth, 09.iv.2002. LEB-ICML-UNAM-574, Isla Redonda (Islas Marietas, Nayarit), 20∞42¢04¢¢N- 105∞33¢89¢¢W, 3 m depth, 04.x.2002. LEB-ICML- UNAM-602, Isla Redonda (Islas Marietas, Nayarit), 20∞42¢04¢¢N-105∞33¢89¢¢W, 10 m depth, 04.x.2002. LEB-ICML-UNAM-614, Isla Redonda (Islas Marietas, Nayarit), 20∞42¢04¢¢N-105∞33¢89¢¢W, 8 m depth, 04c.2002, in cave. LEB-ICML-UNAM-622, Conchas Chinas (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco), 20 35¢16¢¢ N-105 14 ¢42¢¢W, 4 m depth, 08.x.2002. LEB-ICML-UNAM- 639, Playa los Muertos (Sayulita, Nayarit), 20∞52¢29 N-105∞26¢72¢¢, 8 m depth, 09.x.2002.
Description: Encrusting sponge from 1 to 4.5 cm thick, with an endolithic portion that inhabits large hollows and cavities of dead coral ( Fig. 12E, F View Figure 12 ). The species is also able to spread over the substratum reaching a coverage up to 20 ¥ 14 cm. The pore sieves (1–4 mm in diameter) are clustered in small areas of 3.2 cm 2 (from three to nine pores). They are present even in the smallest specimens. Colour is purplish when alive.
Skeletal characters: The megascleres are robust, curved tylostyles, with small heads, most frequently ovoid, and in some cases almost undifferentiated from the shaft ( Fig. 25 View Figure 25 ). They measure 286 ¥ 7.9 Mm on average ( Table 12). The heads are typically mucronated (average 9.4 Mm). The shaft is bent in the middle; ensiform tylostyles with a short and sharp tip frequently appear. The microscleres are of two types: slender spirasters (13.8 Mm average length), with many spines uniformly distributed along the shaft, with 2–5 turns; and straight short, stout amphiasters with long, irregular, smooth rays which have pointed, often bifid tips ( Fig. 25B View Figure 25 ). Tylostyles run in strands that branch toward the surface, where the spicules protrude in tufts.
Etymology: The specific name refers to its typical growth form.
Distribution: Bahía de Banderas (Jalisco), Sayulita (Nayarit). east Pacific Ocean.
Remarks: The closest related species to S. rueztleri sp. nov. seems to be S. vesparium (Lamarck) . However, S. rueztleri sp. nov. has shorter and thicker tylostyles (283 ¥ 13 Mm average) than S. vesparium (368 ¥ 9.2 Mm average) ( Vicente et al., 1991); in addition, the types and the morphology of the spirasters are quite different between the two species. S. rueztleri sp. nov. only presents short and thick spirasters that are almost straight or with very few waves, and the main spirasters of S. vesparium are slender with several turns (see Vicente et al., 1991). Another closely related species seems to be Spheciospongia confoederata de Laubenfels (1932) , which is similar in form, and in the morphology and size of the tylostyles, which measure: length from 222.5 to 320 Mm (282.5 Mm average), width from 3.8 to 12.5 Mm (8.9 Mm average); head from 5 to 10 Mm (12.5 Mm average). However, the presence of spirasters in S. ruetzleri (absent in S. confoederata ) clearly separates both species. We first thought that due to their scarcity in the sponge flesh, and their small size, they could be overlooked by de Laubenfels. However, the holotype and paratype of this species were examined in detail and we didn’t find spirasters. Spheciospongia incrustans sp. nov. is different from S. rueztleri in the form, and in the morphology of its spirasters. A species close to S. incrustans could be S. cuspidifera (originally described as Alcyonium cuspidiferum Lamarck, 1815 ), which has similar spirasters. However, this species has a very different external morphology, growing in the form of single erect or staghorn-like hollow cylinders without conspicuous aquiferous openings and with a specialized inhalant complex ( Vicente et al., 1991), and it was recently accommodated in the new genus Cervicornia ( Rützler & Hooper, 2000) .
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