Geodia polytriaena, Almeida & Sandes & Guimarães & Muricy, 2021

Almeida, Danilo S., Sandes, Joana, Guimarães, Carmen R. P. & Muricy, Guilherme, 2021, Taxonomy of Geodia and Rhabdastrella from the Brazilian coast: a new species new synonyms and redescription of Geodia tylastra (Demospongiae: Astrophorina Geodiidae and Ancorinidae), Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 281-302 : 290-298

Geodia polytriaena sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 , 9 , 10 ; Tabs. 1–2)

Type material. Holotype – UFSPOR 1130, off Pirambu city (10°49’26.4” S 36°36’15.8” W), Sergipe State, NE Brazil, 40 m depth, leg. Petrobras, July 2011.

Diagnosis. Geodia with two categories of oxeas, five categories of triaenes (ortho-, dicho-, ana-, pro- and mesotriaenes), sterrasters, two categories of oxyasters and strongylasters.

Description ( Fig. 9A–B ). Globular shape, with 4 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm (length x width x height) ( Fig. 9A ). Lateral pre-oscula measuring 1.3 cm with abundant uniporal oscules, less than 1 mm ( Fig. 9B ). Pores not observed, probably contracted. The surface is rough, slightly irregular and the consistency is firm, slightly compressive. Color dark brown in ethanol.

Skeleton ( Fig. 9C ). Cortical skeleton about 1400 µm thick, distinct from the choanosome. The inner layer of the cortex is densely packed with sterrasters and the outer layer is composed of oxyasters II and strongylasters. The choanosomal skeleton consists of bundles of large oxeas and triaenes that radiate out from the center of the sponge. The triaene cladomes underline the cortex ( Fig. 9C ). Oxyasters I, oxyasters II and strongylasters are also scattered throughout the choanosome. Oxeas II are only found in the choanosome.

Megascleres ( Fig. 10A–F ; Tab. 1). Two categories of oxeas plus ortho-, dicho-, ana-, pro- and mesotriaenes.

Oxea I (1525−1833−2275 / 12−27.5− 40 µm / n = 18): choanosomal, large, straight and acerate ( Fig. 10A ).

Oxea II (65−132.7−165 / 5 µm / n = 20): choanosomal, small, slightly curved and acerate ( Fig. 10B ).

Orthotriaene (rhabdome 1600−2006−2500 / 25−33.1− 37 µm; cladome 500−640− 760 µm / n = 4): large rhab- dome, with small and straight clads ( Fig. 10C ).

Dichotriaene (rhabdome 1475−1975− 2475 µm; cladome 400−515− 630 µm; protoclad 47−56.2− 65 µm; deu- teroclad 60−71.2− 82 µm / n = 2): often broken, rare and may have a third ramification that emerges in the distal portion of proto or deuteroclad ( Fig. 10D ).

Anatriaene (rhabdome up to 4500 / 6–10.4– 18 µm; cladome 32–39.7– 55 µm / n = 10): long, thin and sinuous rhabdome, often broken, with short cladomes ( Fig. 10E ).

Rare protriaenes (not illustrated) and mesotriaenes ( Fig. 10F ) always broken, minimum 600 / 13 µm.

Microscleres ( Figs. 10G–K ; Tab. 1). Sterrasters, two categories of oxyasters and strongylasters.

Sterraster (55−76.3− 97 µm in diameter): subspherical, with smooth rosettes (3−5 rays) and warty hilum ( Fig. 10G–H ).

Oxyaster I (16.7−19.9− 25.7 µm in diameter; 8–11 rays / n = 10): large, spined, with slender actines and spines often curved inwards and mostly located in the distal portion ( Fig. 10I ).

Oxyaster II (4.4−5.6− 6.9 µm in diameter; 6–11 rays / n = 3): small, spined, with stout actines and spines mostly located in the distal portion ( Fig. 10J ).

Strongylaster (5.8−6.8− 7.5 µm in diameter; 7−10 rays / n = 6): small, spined, with stout actines and spines mostly located in the distal portion ( Fig. 10K ).

Ecology. The specimen was found in coarse sand substrate, associated with the sponges Dragmacidon sp. and Acarnus sp.

Geographic distribution. Only known from Sergipe State, Northeast Brazil ( Fig. 3 ; Tab. 2).

Etymology. The specific epithet polytriaena derives from the presence of five categories of triaenes in the new species.

Remarks. Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. has a unique spicular composition, with two categories of oxeas, five categories of triaenes (ortho-, dicho-, ana-, pro- and mesotriaenes), two categories of oxyasters and strongylasters. We compared the new species with all other four species of Geodia with dichotriaenes from the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean: Geodia australis Silva & Mothes, 2000 ; Geodia garoupa Carvalho, Lopes, Cosme & Hajdu, 2016 ; Geodia riograndensis Silva & Mothes, 2000 ; and Geodia spherastrea Lévi, 1964 ( Tab. 1). Geodia riograndensis is the only one that also has five categories of triaenes, but is easily distinguished from Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. by its larger oxeas (up to 8464 µm in length) and very large oxyasters (64–86– 114 µm in diameter). Additionally, Geodia australis has larger sterrasters (266–315– 353 µm in diameter), Geodia garoupa has larger oxyasters (up to 90 µm in diameter) and G. spherastrea has larger cortical oxeas (300–375 µm in length) when compared to new species.

Due the rarity of dicho-, meso- and protriaenes in G. polytriaena sp. nov., the new species can be compared to Geodia species from the Tropical Western Atlantic that have orthotriaenes ( Tab. 1). Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. differs from G. gibberosa , G. neptuni , G. tylastra and G. sulcata by the presence of strongylasters. Geodia glariosa has only one category of oxyasters instead of two categories and Geodia cribrata Rützler, Piantoni, Van Soest & Díaz, 2014 has cortical strongyloxeas instead of cortical oxeas as in the new species. Geodia curacoensis Van Soest, Meesters & Becking, 2014 and Geodia pocillum Van Soest, 2017 have larger choanosomal oxeas than G. polytriaena sp. nov. (up to 4000 µm and 6600 µm in length, respectively). Geodia pachydermata Sollas, 1886 and Geodia splendida Silva & Mothes, 2000 have larger sterrasters than the new species (240 µm and 171 µm in diameter, respectively). Finally, Geodia tuberculosa Bowerbank, 1872 has larger oxyasters I (16–32– 53 µm in diameter), larger strongylasters (9–14– 18 µm in diameter) and smaller sterrasters (41–54– 64 µm in diameter) when compared to G. polytriaena sp. nov.

Specimens Register Numbers Diactines Triaenes Sterrasters Euasters MNHN. LBIM.D.NBE 999 Oxea: 635–872–1035 / Orthotriaene 28–34–38 Oxyaster I: 17–20–23 (holotype of Geodia tylastra ) 7–14–20 R: 525–691–810 / (n = 4)

Style: 375–430–625 / 2–4–5 10–13–18 Oxyaster II: 6–7–9

(n = 8) C: 137–207–288 (n=5)

YPM 5730 (holotype of Oxea: 700–932–1100 / Orthotriaene 17–32–38 Oxyaster I: 15–22–28 Rhabdastrella fibrosa ) 6–13–20 R: 450–753–900 / (n = 4)

Style: 175–341–435 / 2–4–8 6–12–15 Oxyaster II: 7–8–11 (n

(n = 13) C: 167–209–270 = 4)

UFRJPOR 3098 (holotype of Oxea: 750–1360–2313 / Orthotriaene 28–43–53 Oxyaster I: 13–17–21 Geodia corticostylifera ) 12–25–41 R: 590–790–1120 / (n = 4) Style: 260–371–480 / 4–6–8 12–20–26 Oxyaster II: 7–8–10 (n C: 210–296–395 = 9)

UFSPOR 134 Oxea: 525–712–925 / Orthotriaene (n = 10) 24–30–36 Oxyaaster I: 10–19–24 6–11–19 R: 600–729–938 / (n = 15) Oxyaster II: 3–5–6 Style: 212–351–450 / 3–5–6 10–15–19 C: 87–112–164 / 6– 10–16

UFSPOR 489 Oxea: 560–825–1070 / Orthotriaene 25–31–40 Oxyaster I: 12–18–25 7–14–20 R: 500–750–900 / Oxyaster II: 3–5–8 Style: 340–395–460 / 2–4–6 5–14–20 C: 100–141–200 / 5– 10–15

UFSPOR 793 Oxea: 680–833–940 / Orthotriaene (n = 13) 20–30–40 Oxyaster I: 12–18–25 5–13–20 R: 580–691–890 / Oxyaster II: 5–6–8 Style: 180–350–530 / 2–5–8 10–12–15 C: 70–112–150 / 5–9– 15

Apart from the presence of rare dichotriaenes in the new species, the species most similar to G. polytriaena sp. nov is Geodia papyracea . Both species have two categories of oxeas, plagio-, ana-, meso- and protriaenes, two categories of oxyasters and strongylasters. However, Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. has large orthotriaenes that are absent in G. papyracea , larger anatriaenes (up to 4500 µm versus 354–633– 885 µm in length) and smaller oxyasters I (17–20– 26 µm versus 22–27– 36 µm in diameter) when compared to G. papyracea .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Geodia glariosa, Geodia tylastra and Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. Stars represent new species and new records (nr) and circles are previous records (pr) from the literature. See Tab. 2 for localities and references.

FIGURE 9. Morphological and anatomical characters of Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. (A) Holotype UFSPOR 1130; (B) Detail of the lateral pre-oscula and uniporal oscules; (C) Cortex (cx) and choanosome (cho) in transversal section.

FIGURE 10. Spicules of Geodia polytriaena sp. nov. (holotype UFSPOR 1130). (A) Oxeas I; (B) Oxea II; (C) Orthotriaenes; (D) Dichotriaene cladome with a third ramification (broken); (E) Anatriaene cladome; (F) Mesotriaene (broken); (G) Sterraster; (H) Sterraster rosettes; (I) Oxyasters I; (J) Oxyasters II; (K) Strongylasters. (A–C, E, G–K: SEM).