Callyspongia (Euplacella) abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Calcinai, Barbara, Belfiore, Giuseppe, Pica, Daniela, Torsani, Fabrizio, Palma, Marco & Cerrano, Carlo, 2020, Porifera from Ponta do Ouro (Mozambique), European Journal of Taxonomy 698, pp. 1-56 : 12-14

Callyspongia (Euplacella) abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Fig. 7

Callyspongia abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993: 340 , fig. 78.

Material examined

PONTA DO OURO • 5 fragments preserved dry, the larger is about 10 × 3 cm and 4 mm thick; 26°49′17.512″ S, 32°53′42.518″ E; Kev’s; 23.4 m deep; 3 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO5 • 1 fragment alcohol preserved, 1 dried fragment about 13 × 6 cm × 4 mm; 26°47′34.8″ S, 32°53′57.665″ E; Close; 18.6 m deep; 9 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO30 • Slide preparations of the holotype, labelled MBA 167, belonging to the author’s personal collection.

Description

Live sponges erect, foliaceous, lamellar, about 4–5 mm thick, and with scattered, digitate processes ( Fig. 7 A–B). On one side of the sponge, roundish vents, about 300–400 μm in diameter, are grouped ( Fig. 7B ), while on the opposite side, numerous pores are scattered and not visible to the naked eye. The

color in life is brick red; ochre in preserved specimens. Surface optically smooth, but microhispid at microscope magnification. The consistence is soft and compressible, rough at touch.

SKELETON. Ectosome ( Fig. 7 C–D) formed by a reticulation of paucispicular (2–5 oxeas) fibers, 18–35 µm in section, with no marked difference between primary and secondary fibers; the meshes are irregular and 150–350 µm wide, and are echinated by free spicules. Choanosome ( Fig. 7 E–F) formed by reticulation of thicker, paucispicular (4–8 oxeas) fibers, 30–45 µm, that form irregular, rounded or polygonal meshes, 230–360 µm wide.

SPICULES. Slender and slightly curved oxeas with acerate tips, 90–(102.5, 11.9)– 115 µm × 2–(5, 1.4)– 6 µm ( Fig. 7G ).

Remarks

These samples fit with C. abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993 from Mombasa, Kenya, in external morphology, skeleton structure, and spicule shape and size. The examination of the slides of the holotype confirms the identification. This new finding allowed us to assign the species to the subgenus Euplacella , considering that the ectosomal skeleton is made by one size of small rounded mesh, echinated by spicules. This is the first record of the species since its original description.

Figures

Fig. 7. Callyspongia (Euplacella) abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993. A. The specimen PO30 in situ. B. Magnification of the specimen PO5, with groups of roundish vents in evidence (arrow). C. Ectosomal skeleton. D. SEM picture of the ectosomal skeleton. E. Choanosomal skeleton. F. SEM picture of the choanosomal skeleton. G. Oxea and magnification of the tip.