Scopalina ruetzleri ( Wiedenmayer, 1977 )

Rützler, Klaus, Piantoni, Carla, Van, Rob W. M. & Díaz, Cristina, 2014, Diversity of sponges (Porifera) from cryptic habitats on the Belize barrier reef near Carrie Bow Cay, Zootaxa 3805 (1), pp. 1-129 : 74

Scopalina ruetzleri ( Wiedenmayer, 1977)

( Figure 2 g)

Synonymy and references. Ulosa ruetzleri Wiedenmayer, 1977: 145 , fig. 149, pl. 30: 6, 7.

Material. USNM 1229081, Curlew Bank forereef cave, 20 m; C. Piantoni col. 28 Jun 2007. USNM 1229082, Carrie Bow Cay west, lagoon, under rubble, 1 m; K. Ruetzler, col. 20 Aug 2012. Additional specimens were noted in the Twin Cays and Tobacco Range mangroves but not collected.

External morphology. Thin (2–5 mm) cushions, covering up to 20 cm 2. Surface conulose (1–2 mm tall conules, 2–4 mm apart), with oscular openings (2 mm) here and there, some in small clusters. Consistency very soft and limp, color bright orange.

Skeleton structure. Ascending, ribbon-like spongin fibers, cored and accompanied by styloid spicules, end in the conules at the surface; spicules may protrude beyond like fine brushes.

Spicules. Long, slender styles, a few of them with oxeote modifications: 510–680 x 5–9 (600 x 8) Μm.

Ecology. Observed mainly in shaded habitats, such as mangrove prop roots and in the back of peat undercuts, and under reef overhangs as well as in caves, 0.3– 20 m.

Distribution. Tropical western Atlantic, from Bermuda to the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean region.

Comments. The spicule dimensions in our specimens are larger than those given by the original author (350–450 x 5–7 Μm: Wiedenmayer, 1977) but all other taxonomic characteristics are identical.

Figures

FIGURE 2. The most common cryptic habitats studied in the Carrie Bow Cay vicinity (measurements in parentheses are picture widths): a, lower surface of platy coral rock showing the characteristic red foraminiferan Homotrema rubrum, calcareous serpulid polychaete tubes, and two encrusting sponges, Clathria (Thalysias) venosa (left) and Clathria (Thalysias) curacaoensis (10 cm); b, wall inside a forereef framework cave, showing the massive Smenospongia cf. echina (yellow) and Topsentia bahamensis, and encrusting Clathria (Microciona) bulbotoxa (17 cm); c, ceiling of the drowned karst cave in the barrier reef lagoon near Columbus Cay, about 20 m away from the entrance (“ blue hole ”), showing cemented (mostly dead) serpulid tubes, a branching form of Geodia gibberosa (center) and a few knobby specimens of Gastrophanella cavernicola (far left and right; 20 cm); d, broken-up rock from a forereef cave bottom, showing deserted polychaete borings that are colonized by Cryptosyringa membranophila specimens (6 cm); e, broken-up coral rock showing chambers of excavating sponge Cliona cf. mucronata (7 cm); f, Queen conch (Strombus gigas) shell discarded by local fishermen are a common cryptic habitat on the shallow reef (the slot cut by machete near the apex (arrow) to remove the conch assures good ventilation inside the shell); this shell is colonized outside by Chondrilla caribensis, which occurs fully light exposed as well as in darkness (20 cm); g, peat cave (undercut) in the Twin Cays mangrove, the wall covered by Scopalina ruetzleri (80 cm).