Spirastrella decumbens var. robusta Kirkpatrick, 1900

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 75

Spirastrella decumbens var. robusta Kirkpatrick, 1900

( Fig. 8B )

Spirastrella decumbens var. robusta Kirkpatrick, 1900: 134 (no illustration).

Spirastrella decumbens var.; Ridley & Dendy 1887: 229, pl. XLV fig. 12.

? Spirastrella decumbens ; Topsent 1897: 444 (no description).

Spirastrella semilunaris Lindgren, 1897: 484 ; 1898: 323, pl. 19 fig. 23; Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: 374; Hooper et al. 2000: 142.

The variety was described by Kirkpatrick from Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island, approximate coordinates 10.4°S 105.67°E, shore collecting (wet holotype BMNH 1886.12.20.21). According to Kirkpatrick the variety differs from the typical variety, described and illustrated by Ridley (1884: 470, pl. XLIII fig. c, from Torres Strait, N Australia, 10.486°S 142.36°E, depth 13 m, holotype BMNH 1882.2.23.278, fide Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: 374) in minor details of spicule lengths and thickness. Curiously, he emphasized that Spirastrella semilunaris Lindgren, 1897 (from Java, approximate coordinates 6.5°S 108.53°E, depth not provided, syntype Uppsala Museum Spongiaria #2) was identical to his variety robusta citing spicule size data to support this, but he failed to acknowledge that S. semilunaris has priority over his new name robusta . Lindgren’s name is based on the presence of small single turn spirasters next to larger, thick, double turned spirasters, precisely as was described by Kirkpatrick, and drawn by Ridley & Dendy (1887: pl. XLV fig. 12, for their Spirastrella decumbens ‘var.’ from Challenger Exped. Stat. 208, Philippine Islands, 11.6167°N 123.3167°E, depth 33 m, wet specimen BMNH 1887.5.2.97). This is different from the type of the species.

In addition to Kirkpatrick’s overlooking of the priority of the name robusta , the name combination of the present variety is also a junior primary homonym of Spirastrella cunctatrix var. robusta Carter (1886a: 114) (currently Spheciospongia robusta ). I propose to merge the present variety with Lindgren’s species to be named Spirastrella semilunaris , and by this the homonymy is removed (ICZN art. 60.2).

Reassignment of semilunaris to Spheciospongia appears inappropriate because of the microsclere complement with a dense layer of robust double turned spirasters at the surface and throughout the sponge body.

Figures

FIGURE 8. A. Cliona argus var. laevicollis Thiele, 1898: pl. VIII fig. 15, B. Spirastrella decumbens var. Ridley & Dendy, 1887: pl. XLV fig. 12, C–D. Spirastrella digitata Hentschel, 1909, C. habitus pl. XXII fig. 7, D. spicules text-fig. 18, E. Spirastrella vagabunda var. arabica Topsent, 1893: fig. 1, F. Suberites inconstans var. digitata Dendy, 1887: pl. IX fig. 2, G. Suberites inconstans var. globosa Dendy, 1887: pl. IX fig. 1, H. Suberites inconstans var. maeandrina Dendy, 1887: pl. X fig. 1, I. Hymedesmia unistellata var. aspera Topsent, 1904: pl. XII fig. 7, J. Timea crassa; sensu Lévi, 1952: fig. 10, K. Timea hallezi var. crassa; sensu Lévi, 1952: fig. 9, L. Aaptos niger Hoshino, 1981b: pl. II fig. 5, M. Halichondria bowerbanki var. stellifera Breton, Girard & Lagardère, 1995: fig. 9, N. Hymeniacidon kerguelensis var. capensis Hentschel, 1914: pl. VIII fig. 8, O. Pellina longispicula f. tahanrohensis Czerniavsky, 1880: pl. II (VI) figs. 15b-c, P. Pseudosuberites hyalinus var. compacta Hentschel, 1914: pl. IV fig. 1.