Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis Wilson, 1911

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 : 406-408

Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis Wilson, 1911

( Figure 4 , Table 1 )

Lissodendoryx carolinensis Wilson (1911) : p. 11; George & Wilson (1919): p. 150; pl.LXI, fig. 26–28, pl. LXVI, fig. 62a–e. Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis , Ŗtzler et al. (2007): p. 1497, fig. 1C, 3.

Examined material: UFPEPOR 2346, Ponta de Pedras Beach (07° 37 ‘00” S, 34° 48’ 51” W, Goiana, Pernambuco State, Brazil), intertidal, collected manually, coll. T. Cavalcanti (May/12/2017) .

Description: External morphology ( Fig 4A ): Arborescent specimen (8 x 5 cm, length x width) with single and bifurcated digitated branches (0.5–1.0 cm, diameter). Smooth surface, compressible and fragile consistency. Circular oscules with 0.1 mm (diameter). Yellowish-pink color, when preserved it has a beige color (80% ethanol).

Skeleton ( Fig4B ):Abundant spongin fibers in the ectosome.Choanosome formed by a reticulation of multispicular bundles of styles, overlaid by scattered tylotes. Abundant microscleres spread throughout the choanosome.

Spicules ( Fig 4C–F ). Styles (151– 160.0 –177 /4– 5.8 –6 µm): robust, smooth, slightly curved, rounded and elongated base, acerate tips ( Fig 4C ). Tylotes (174– 184.5 –209 / 3– 4.2 –6 µm): thin, smooth, straight, prominent and rounded tyles ( Fig 4D ). Arcuate isochelae I (22– 27.7 –32 µm): slightly curved axis, short and straight alae. Arcuate isochelae II (11– 13.3 –16 µm): smaller, similar to category I ( Fig 4E ). Sigmas I (38– 42.8 –48 µm): thin, smooth, slightly curved, “C”-shaped. Sigmas II (14– 17.6 –19 µm): smaller, thin, smooth, curved, and “C”-shaped ( Fig 4F ).

Ecology: The specimen was collected manually from the sandstone reefs of Ponta de Pedras Beach (Goiana, Pernambuco State, Brazil), at <1 m depth, in the intertidal zone .

Geographical distribution: Found from Cape Cod (Massachusetts) to coastal North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Bahamas and Belize (Ŗtzler et al. 2007). In Brazil it has only been recorded from Pernambuco State (present study).

Remarks: The analyzed specimen was identified as belonging to the subgenus L. ( Lissodendoryx ) because it presents styles as choanosomal megascleres and tylotes as ectosomal megascleres. It has a spicular set similar to that described by Ŗtzler et al. (2007) for the species L. (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis , so it was identified as the aforementioned species. The Caribbean specimens, as described by Ŗtzler et al. (2007), show external morphology and coloration different from the Brazilian specimen studied here, where it was possible to observe a yellowish-pink coloration and arborescent shape, with the absence of oscules, while in the Caribbean specimens the coloration can vary from blue, green and greenish-tan, to dirty orange and bright orange. Its shape is tubular, similar to a chimney, with a single oscule at the top. In addition, there are also differences in the size of isochelae I and II and sigmas I and II, with isochelae I and II and sigmas I being larger in the Brazilian specimen. Sigmas II are larger in the specimens from the Caribbean (see Table 1 ). These differences are considered intraspecific variations in the wide geographical distribution of the species. This is the first record of the species from Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis Wilson, 1911. A, preserved specimen (UFPEPOR 2346); B, thin section showing the choanosome and ectosome; C, style; D, tylote; E–F, arcuate isochelae; G–H, sigmas. Scales: A = 2 cm; B = 20 µm; C = 10 µm; D = 25 µm; E–F = 5 µm; G–H = 10 µm.

Tables

TABLE 1. Comparison of micrometric data of Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis Wilson, 1911 spicules. Values in micrometers (µm), expressed as: minimum–maximum or minimum–mean–maximum.

Specimens	Tylotes	Styles	Arcuate Isochelae	Sigmas
sensu Ŗtzler et al. (2007)	182–200 / 3.3–4.7	161–202 / 3.5–5.5	I–18–26	I–23–41
			II–12–15	II–19–22
Present study	174– 184.5 –209 /	151– 160 –177 /	I–22– 27.7 –32	I–38– 42.8 –48
	3– 4.2 –6	4– 5.8 –6	II–11– 13.3 –16	II–14– 17.6 –19

in micrometers (µm), expressed as: minimum–maximum or minimum– mean –maximum.