Skolosachlys Ekins, Erpenbeck & Hooper, 2023

Ekins, Merrick, Erpenbeck, Dirk, Debitus, Cécile, Petek, Sylvain, Mai, Tepoerau, Wörheide, Gert & Hooper, John N. A., 2023, Revision of the genus Fascaplysinopsis, the type species Fascaplysinopsis reticulata (Hentschel, 1912) (Porifera, Dictyoceratida, Thorectidae) and descriptions of two new genera and seven new species, Zootaxa 5346 (3), pp. 201-241 : 219-220

Skolosachlys Ekins, Erpenbeck & Hooper gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D48D6295-ED03-4C79-81AE-6557CAFC07C8

Etymology. Gr. skolos, m., thorn, Gr. achlys, n, darkness, blackness or mist (after the ancient Greek goddess Achlys)

Definition. Thorectidae in which the irregular skeleton is composed of laminated fully cored primary fibres and secondary fibres that are also laminated, and often cored with detritus. It has partial or striated armour, anastomosing and fasciculating (bundles) of primary fibres, heavy collagen mesohyl, and a cavernous interior.

Diagnosis. Vase or saucer shaped sponges that have a black or dark brown exterior and yellow/green interior. The skeleton although cavernous is well supported by this yellowish dense collagenous matrix. The sponge has a very harsh and firm texture because of the massive fasciculating fibre bundles. It is the large cored laminated fibres that form massive fascicules that characterise this genus. It also has large laminated secondary fibres are often cored, which separates it from Hyrtios which always has heavy coring of the secondary fibres. The secondary fibres are almost as large as the primary fibres. The armour is partial, giving a striped or striated appearance due to the sand coring in the surface fibres.

Remarks. Skolosachlys gen. nov. differs is unique amongst the genera of Thorectinae by the partial striated armouring. It differs from other genera of Thorectinae that have partial armouring including Fascaplysinopsis and, Petrosaspongia by the coring of secondary fibres. The coring of secondary fibres also shows a marked difference from all other members of Thorectinae that have armouring i.e. Aplysinopsis , Thorecta and Thorectandra ( Table 1 ). It is most easily separated however, either in the field or in the laboratory by simply cutting the sponge and observing the yellow collagenous interior contrasting with the darkbrown black harsh exterior. Skolosachlys gen. nov. can easily be distinguished in the field by the dark brown/black colour and the very harsh and firm texture of the sponge.

Type species: Skolosachlys enlutea sp. nov. here designated.