Lissodendoryx (Waldoschmittia) almeidai, Barros & Cavalcanti & Hajdu & Pinheiro, 2023

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 : 408-410

Lissodendoryx (Waldoschmittia) almeidai sp. nov.

( Figure 5 , Table 2 )

Holotype: UFPEPOR 2724, off Boa Viagem Beach (8° 8 ‘47.6” S, 34° 34’ 11” W, Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), 56 m depth, dredging, coll. Laboratório de Biologia de Crustáceos – UFPE (Feb/07/2018).

Description: External morphology ( Fig 5A ): Encrusting specimen. Reasonably detachable rough surface, covered with debris. Rigid consistency. Oscules not observed. Presence of small fistules 0.2–1.0 cm length ( Fig 5B ). Dark brown color when preserved (80% ethanol), unknown color in life.

Skeleton ( Fig 5D ): Ectosomal skeleton formed by brushes of tylotes ( Fig 5E ) inserted in distinct subdermal spaces. Tylotes are also found in the choanossomal and subectosomal region traversing the surface. Choanosomal skeleton forming a pauci to unispicular isotropic reticulation of smooth oxeas and tylotes ( Fig 5F ).Abundant spongin and debris present in the choanosome. Microscleres are found spread throughout the ectosome and choanosome.

Spicules ( Fig 5G–K ). Oxeas (161– 186.4 –206/ 3.2 µm): thin, smooth, slightly curved, needle-like tips ( Fig 5G ). Tylotes (203– 244.6 –264/ 3.2 µm): thin, smooth, straight, rounded tyles ( Fig 5H ). Arcuate isochelae (23– 24.0 –26 µm): slightly curved axis, short and curved alae ( Fig 5K ).

Ecology: The specimen was collected by dredging off Boa Viagem Beach (Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), at 56 m depth, on sandy bottom .

Etymology: The chosen specific name honors Professor Alexandre Oliveira de Almeida, from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, who collected and provided the specimen.

Geographic distribution: Known only for the type locality: off Boa Viagem Beach , Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil (present study) .

References: 1. Núñez Pons et al. (2017); 2. Sarà & Siribelli (1960); 3. Van Soest (2002); 4. Present study.

Remarks: The specimen was identified as belonging to the subgenus L. (Waldoschmittia) because it contains oxeas as choanosomal megascleres. Lissodendoryx (W.) almeidai sp. nov. differs from the other species of the subgenus by its spicular set and spicular dimensions. Lissodendoryx (W.) hawaiiana has sigmas as microscleres and larger oxeas than those of the new species; L. (W.) schmidti has sigmas and two categories of arcuate isochelae; finally, L. (W.) mediterranea, the species approaching the new species the most, is distinguished by having acanthoxeas as choanosomal megascleres. This is the first record of the subgenus L. (Waldoschmittia) from the Atlantic Ocean ( Table 2 ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Lissodendoryx (Waldoschmittia) almeidai sp. nov., holotype. A, preserved specimen (UFPEPOR 2724); B, detail of small fistule; C, internal part of sponge filled with debris; D, cross section showing choanosome and ectosome; E, ectosomal brushes of tylotes; F, oxeas in choanosome; G, oxea; H, tylote; I, detail of the extremity of the oxea; J, detail of the end of the tylote; K, arcuate isochelae. Scales: A = 1.5 cm; D = 300 µm; E–F = 40 µm G = 20 µm; H = 10 µm; I = 50 µm; J–K = 5 µm.