Clathria (Thalysias) vulpina ( Lamarck, 1814 )

Calcinai, Barbara, Belfiore, Giuseppe, Pica, Daniela, Torsani, Fabrizio, Palma, Marco & Cerrano, Carlo, 2020, Porifera from Ponta do Ouro (Mozambique), European Journal of Taxonomy 698, pp. 1-56 : 41

Clathria (Thalysias) vulpina ( Lamarck, 1814)

Fig. 22

Spongia vulpina Lamarck, 1814: 449 .

Material examined

PONTA DO OURO • 1 sample preserved dry; 26°46′39.864″ S, 32°55′25.319″ E; Cloud break; 34 m deep; 22 May 2015; Torsani leg.; IMG0826 • several fragments, the larger about 6 cm long; 26°49′17.512″ S, 32°53′42.511″ E; Kev’s; 23.4 m deep; 3 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO3 .

Description

The live sponge is massive, with rounded conules covering the surface ( Fig. 22A ). The color is redorange. The fragments preserved in alcohol are beige in color; they have a digitate-conulose surface and a very firm consistence.

SKELETON. The ectosome consists of a paratangential layer of thin styles ( Fig. 22B ). The choanosome ( Fig. 22C ) is made by a reticulation of multispicular primary fibers, 70–125 µm in section, and secondary fibers, 23–35 µm, forming irregularly rounded meshes around 150 µm wide. The fibers have a core of styles and are echinated by acanthostyles.

SPICULES. Slightly curved and smooth styles ( Fig. 22D ), sometimes straight, 145–(176.5, 21.4)– 210 µm × 6–(7, 1.1)– 9.5 µm; longer and straight subtylote styles ( Fig. 22E ), microspined or smooth on the head, 198.5–(230, 15.5)– 250 µm ×4.5–(6.5, 0.8)– 7.5 µm; subtylote acanthostyles ( Fig. 22F ), with smooth neck, 47.5–(51, 4.9)– 72.5 µm; very thin toxas ( Fig. 22G ), bent in the middle, 143–181 µm; palmate isochelae ( Fig. 22H ) 11.3–14.6 µm.

Remarks

The specimens fit the original description of Clathria (Thalysias) vulpina ( Lamarck, 1814) from Australia. The species has already been found in the area ( Thomas 1979). On the specimen PO3, the hydroid Zyzzyzus warreni Calder, 1988 (Class Hydrozoa, Phylum Cnidaria) grew.

Figures

Fig. 22. Clathria (Thalysias) vulpina (Lamarck, 1814). A. Specimen IMG0826 in situ. B. Ectosomal skeleton (SEM). C. Choanosomal skeleton (SEM). D. Slightly curved style and magnification of its smooth head. E. Longer style and magnification of its microspined head. F. Acanthostyle and magnification of its microspined head. G. Very thin toxa. H. Palmate isochelas.