Calthropella Corticellopsis novaezealandiae (Bergquist, 1961)

Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & De Voogd, Nicole J., 2010, Skeletons in confusion: a review of astrophorid sponges with (dicho-) calthrops as structural megascleres (Porifera, Demospongiae, Astrophorida), ZooKeys 68, pp. 1-88 : 64-65

Calthropella Corticellopsis novaezealandiae (Bergquist, 1961)

Corticella novae-zealandiae Bergquist 1961: 45, fig. 17

Corticellopsis novaezealandiae ; Bergquist 1968: 62, fig. 29, pl. 15 fig. C.

Material examined.

None.

Description

(from Bergquist 1961, 1968). Encrusting to massive sponge, smooth but uneven surface. Consistency firm. Colour white.

Skeleton: no data.

Spicules: calthrops, strongylasters, oxyasters.

Calthrops, occasionally with five or six cladi, 120-210 × 26-38 µm; "occasionally with dicho-modifications"; the 1968 illustration (Fig. 29) shows at least one proper short-shafted dichocalthrops.

Strongylasters, rather irregular in shape, with stunted rays, but not with a thickly silicified centre, 11 µm.

Oxyasters, 50-70 µm (5-7 rays).

Habitat.

Sublittoral fringe.

Distribution.

Rangitoto Island, northern New Zealand.

Remarks.

The drawings and photos of the asters are limited to the rather irregular strongylasters, whereas no illustrations are available of the oxyasters. It is assumed these were regular and unremarkable.