Monanchora quadrangulata ( Lévi, 1958 ), Levi, 1958

Calcinai, Barbara, Bavestrello, Giorgio, Bertolino, Marco, Pica, Daniela, Wagner, Daniel & Cerrano, Carlo, 2013, Sponges associated with octocorals in the Indo-Pacific, with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 3617 (1), pp. 1-61 : 17-18

Monanchora quadrangulata ( Lévi, 1958)

( Fig. 10 A–D)

Examined material. Sample YO-257 O’ahu: Hawai’i, O’ahu Island, 30 m, May 2005.

Description. Pulpy sponge encrusting the body wall of Carijoa riisei ( Fig. 10 A) up to the anthocodiae. The sample consists of a single fragment of octocoral about 20 cm long. The sponge is about 1 mm thick. Surface smooth and gelatinous, pinkish in ethanol ( Fig. 10 A). Numerous larvae are dispersed in the tissue ( Fig. 10 A).

Skeleton. The ectosome is a thin gelatinous dermal membrane with pores and scattered spicules, sometimes organized in paucispicular thin tracts ( Fig. 10 B). The choanosomal skeleton is confused, with few, paucispicular (2–4 spicules across), interconnecting, sinuous tracts and scattered spicules ( Fig. 10 C).

Spicules. Very thin subtylostyles, with ovoid head ( Fig. 10 D) and evident black axial canal, 210 – (223 ± 12) – 250 x 2 μm. The spicules look like needles under SEM ( Fig. 10 D).

Distribution and remarks. This is a new record for Hawai’i and the second record of this species after its original description from the Red Sea. Lévi (1958) described M. quadrangulata as encrusting, with a skeleton of long and curved tracts of spicules and with styles characterised by a roughly rectangular head. The species is an atypical Monanchora (as it lacks microscleres) but is well characterised by the particular shape of its tylostyles. Our specimen fits well with the species of Lévi in its general morphology (encrusting, pulpy), in having a skeleton organized in thin tracts of styles, and in the shape and size of its megascleres (225 x 2 – 3 μm).

As discussed for Batzella aurantiaca (see above), also M. quadrangulata was here recorded very far from its type locality. Further studies will have to clarify its cryptogenic nature.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Monanchora quadrangulata (Lévi, 1958). A, Close up of the sponge covering Carijoa riisei with numerous larvae; B, Superficial dermal membrane with pores (arrows) and scattered spicules; C, Choanosome with few sinuous tracts; D, Subtylostyle with close up of the head.