Ircinia bocatorensis sp. nov.

Figures 4, 5; Tables 1, 2.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D3F0FC15-2302-453D-BBAB-B3528E4D8D0A

Holotype: USNM 1582284 (P16x58; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016).

Paratypes: USNM 1582282 (P16x56; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016), USNM 1582287 (P16x61; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016), USNM 1582289 (P16x63; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016), USNM 1582291 (P16x65; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016), USNM 1582295 (P16x69; 9.35133, -82.2593; appx. 5 m depth; coll. J.B.K. and R.W. T.; 26 July 2016) .

Type locality: Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Exterior morphology. Ircinia with a massive, sometimes cone-like growth morphology and a tan exterior color (Figure 4). Conules 3–5 mm in height, dully sharp to knobby, typically darker or lighter in color than the rest of the sponge body. Oscula usually black, either flush or apical on cone-like outgrowths, sparsely distributed, sometimes clumped. Oscule diameter 0.5–1.5 cm.

Internal morphology. Primary fascicular fibers 200–520 µm wide, heavily cored. Interconnecting fibers 15–65 µm wide, moderately cored and sometimes becoming uncored further from the point of connection with the primary fibers (Figure 5). Irciniid filaments 1–4 µm wide, terminating in spherical to oval knobs 5–10 µm in diameter.

Ecology. All specimens were collected from a Thalassia bed interspersed with small coral colonies.

Etymology. The species is named for the Panamanian province Bocas del Toro.

Remarks. One specimen was observed growing in physical contact with I. strobilina . Referred to as the ‘Massive B’ growth form in Kelly et al. (2021).