Polymastia isidis var. simplex Hentschel, 1914

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 65

Polymastia isidis var. simplex Hentschel, 1914

( Fig. 7A )

Polymastia isidis var. simplex Hentschel, 1914: 47 , pl. V fig. 3; Plotkin et al. 2017: 1379.

The variety was described by Hentschel from Gauss Station, Antarctica, 66.0333°S 89.6333°E, depth 385 m (syntypes ZMB 4829). The differences of the syntype specimens with the typical variety described by Thiele (1905: 414, from Tierra del Fuego, Chile 54.3167°S 69.5°W, depth 19 m, holotype ZMB 3271) were declared by Burton (1932: 337–338) to be too minimal to keep the varieties as separate taxa. Plotkin et al. (2017: 1374–1378), however, discovered exotyles in the type of P. isidis , overlooked by Hentschel and also by Desqueyroux-Faúndez & Van Soest (1997: 421), who re-examined the type. Plotkin et al. transferred the type material of P. isidis to Sphaerotylus , but not the var. simplex as no exotyles were found in the syntype specimens of the variety (Plotkin et al. p. 1378, right hand column). Consequently, I propose here to formally elevate the var. simplex to a valid species to be named Polymastia simplex Hentschel, 1914 .

Figures

FIGURE 7. A. Polymastia isidis var. simplex Hentschel, 1914: pl. V fig. 3, B. Asbestopluma biserialis var. californiana De Laubenfels, 1935: fig. 5, C. Esperiopsis macrosigma var. novaezealandiae Dendy, 1924: pl. XIII figs. 14–20, D. Halichondria flabellifera Bowerbank, 1882: pl. VII figs. 4–10, E. Hymedesmia (Ectyodesmia) mutabilis var. costata Topsent, 1928: pl. VIII figs. 20, 22–23, F. Iophon flabellodigitatus var. gaussi Hentschel, 1914: pl. VI fig.10, G. Iophon pluricornis var. trullifera Hentschel, 1914: pl. VI fig. 9, H. Lissodendoryx isodictyalis var. paucispinosa Topsent, 1928: pl. VIII fig. 11, I. Myxilla mariana var. polysigma Topsent, 1904: pl. XIV figs. 10, J–K. Myxilla rosacea var. japonica Ridley & Dendy, 1887, J. habitus pl. XXVI fig. 3, K. spicules XXVII fig. 8, L. Pytheas rosea var. laevigata Descatoire, 1969b: fig. 4, M. Stylostichon dendyi var. robustum Topsent, 1928: pl. X fig.1.