Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 60

Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912

( Fig. 6K )

Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912: 315 , pl. 17 fig. 5.

The variety was described by Hentschel from Sungu Barkai, Aru Islands, Indonesia, 6.2946°S 134.4831°E, depth 15 m (syntypes SMF 1512, 1550 and 1565, cf. Barnich & Jabussen 2006: 137). Kieschnick (1896: 529) described Synops alba (currently Geodia alba ) from Ternate, Halmaheira, Indonesia, 0.85°N 127.2917°E (holotype SMF 678, cf. Barnich & Janussen 2006: 128), using four lines lacking sufficient details to recognize it among the many Geodiidae , but Thiele (1900: 46, pl. II fig. 16) provided an extensive redescription of Kieschnick’s material. For 13 similar specimens from the Aru Islands, Hentschel (1912) erected a variety minor focusing on small details of e.g. spicule lengths. The main distinctive feature of the species, i.e. the presence of (pro-)mesotriaenes, is present in both the typical variety and the var. minor . I consider the small spicular differences insufficient for specific distinction and accordingly propose the variety minor to be a junior synonym of a single species Geodia alba ( Kieschnick, 1896) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Geodia variospiculosa var. aapta Lebwohl, 1914: pl. II figs. 63–77, B. Geodia variospiculosa var. clavigera Thiele, 1898: pl. VI fig. 7b, C–D. Geodia variospiculosa var. intermedia Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 figs. 39–40, E. Geodia variospiculosa var. micraster Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 fig. 41, F–G. Poecillastra compressa var. parvistellata Topsent, 1913: pl. IV figs. 1–2, H. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. siliquariae; Pattanayak 2009: pl. VI fig. E, I. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi; Pattanayak, 2009: pl. VI fig. F, J. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi Annandale, 1911b: pl. IX figs. 1–15, K. Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912: pl. 17 fig. 5, L. Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909: fig. 7, M. Stelletta validissima f. orthotriaena Koltun, 1966: pl. VII fig. 1, N. Thenea grayi var. lateralis Thiele, 1898: pl. V fig. 4, O–P. Theonella swinhoei var. verrucosa Wilson, 1925, O. habitus pl. 43 fig. 1, P. Spicules pl. 49 fig. 10.