Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus Cavalcanti, Santos & Pinheiro, 2014

Barros, Thales, Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Hajdu, Eduardo & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2023, Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 (Poecilosclerida: Coelosphaeridae) from Brazil: a new species and transfer of Strongylacidon oxychaetum Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012 to the genus Lissodendoryx, Zootaxa 5336 (3), pp. 401-412 : 405-406

Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus Cavalcanti, Santos & Pinheiro, 2014

( Figure 3 )

Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus Cavalcanti et al. (2014) : p. 497 .

Examined material: UFPEPOR 3249, off Boa Viagem Beach (8° 9’ 9” S, 34° 45’ 8” W, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil), 27 m depth, dredging, st. IV, coll. Recife Expedition (Jan/19/1967) .

Description: External morphology ( Fig 3A ): Fragmented specimen, largest fragment measuring 6 cm. Thin transparent peelable film on the ectosome. Smooth surface, fragile consistency, oscules were not observed. Color is beige when preserved (80% ethanol), color in life is unknown.

Skeleton ( Fig 3B ): Ectosome consists of a palisade of tylotes forming a detachable film, with abundant spongin fibers. Choanosomal skeleton a dense, albeit loose reticulation of tylotes, with raphides strewn in confusion in between. Microscleres irregularly distributed.

Spicules ( Fig 3C–F ). Tylotes (293– 448.4 –525 / 4– 5.6 –7 µm): thin, smooth, curved to sinuous, rounded tyles, with slight prominence, sometimes styloid or strongyloid ( Fig 3C ). Raphides (68– 111.9 –124 µm): elongated, thin, straight to slightly curved, smooth, needle-like tips ( Fig 3D ). Arcuate isochelae (14– 18.5 –27 µm): slightly curved axis, short and curved alae ( Fig 3E ). Sigmas (24– 36.7 –46 µm): thin, smooth, curved, “C”-shaped ( Fig 3F ).

Ecology: The specimen was collected by dredging off Boa Viagem Beach (Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), at 27 m depth, on sandy bottom. The specimen was associated with Tedania (Tedania) ignis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) .

Geographic distribution: Brazilian endemic registered from Rio Grande do Norte State ( Cavalcanti et al. 2014), and now from Pernambuco State (present study).

Remarks: The analyzed specimen was assigned as a member of the subgenus L. (Anomodoryx) because it has only tylotes as megasclere. From this, it was identified as L. (Anomodoryx) vulcanus due to its skeletal architecture and spicular set being similar to that exhibited by the holotype ( Cavalcanti et al. 2014). Because the present materials comprise only fragments, it was not possible to observe the morphological characteristics described for the holotype from Rio Grande do Norte State. With this record, we expand the bathymetric occurrence to shallower waters (27 m depth), previously only known from 108 m depth ( Cavalcanti et al. 2014).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus Cavalcanti, Santos & Pinheiro, 2014. A, preserved specimen (UFPEPOR 3249); B, thick section showing the choanosome and ectosome; C, size variation of tylotes; D, raphides; E, arcuate isochelae; F, sigmas. Scales: A = 2 cm; B = 800 µm; C–D = 25 µm; E–F = 12.5 µm.