Awhiowhio saci, Dias & Kelly & Pinheiro, 2023

Dias, Alan, Kelly, Michelle & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2023, Two news species of Corallistidae (Porifera; Demospongiae; Tetractinellida) with a first record of Awhiowhio from the Atlantic, Zootaxa 5277 (1), pp. 182-192 : 187-188

Awhiowhio saci sp. nov.

https://www.zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/a3e9224f-3127-4f7e-913f-8befd8bae45d

( Figs. 3 and 4 ; Table 2)

Type Material. Holotype: UFPEPOR 2438, imprecise location in North of Brazil (between Maranh „o and Amapá States ), collected with a trawl, by REVIZEE-N IV, 2001.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the Brazilian folklore character, Saci, which is associated with whirlwinds. Thus, establishing a “New Zealand-Brazil” relationship through the name of the genus that comes from Te reo Mâori “ Âwhiowhio ”, which means whirlwind.

Diagnosis. Cup-shaped Awhiowhio with dicranoclone desmas, smooth dichotriaenes, microrhabds with spined rays, microspined microxeas and microspined streptasters/amphiasters.

Description ( Fig. 3a–b ). The specimen presents a cup-shaped form and hard consistency with a strongly hispid surface with numerous tufts of dicranoclone desmas in the inner concave part of the cup. The color is unknown in life, beige in ethanol and the measures are: 7 cm (length), 9-19.5 cm (width) and 1 cm (thick). Additionally, the specimen presents a small number of clustered debris in the basal region.

Skeleton ( Fig. 3c ). Ectosomal skeleton formed by a dense layer of microscleres, pierced by choanossomal dichotriaenes. Choanosome formed by dichotriaenes, with some microscleres scattered throughout it, in association with tuberculated dicranoclones forming a net-like structure, occasionally interleaved by subcortical cavities.

Spicules ( Fig. 4a–h ). Dicranoclone Desmas ( Fig. 4a ): Articulated with smooth nodules (Overall size of the arch: 500– 700 –900 / 33.3– 108.3 –166.65 µm); Dichotriaene ( Fig. 4 b-d): Smooth rhabdome with conical and smooth cladome (Rhabdome: 133.3– 1017 –1900 / 33.3– 44.66 –66.6; Cladome: 275– 382.1 –562.5 µm); Microrhabds ( Fig. 4e ): Curved with numerous robust spined rays (13 –16.3– 22.5 µm); Microxea ( Fig. 4 f-g): Acanthose and slightly curved (100 –120– 190 / 1.5 –3.13– 6.5 µm); Streptaster/Amphiaster ( Fig. 4h ): Slightly curved shaft with 12 – 15 highly spined rays (10 –17.5– 22.5 µm).

Remarks. The specimen was assigned to Awhiowhio because of the smooth nodulose dicranoclones, smooth dichotriaenes, fine-rayed streptaster/amphiasters, irregular spirasters and the lack of diactines. This is the first record of the Genus Awhiowhio from the Atlantic Ocean, to date three species of Awhiowhio have been recorded worldwide: Awhiowhio osheai Kelly, 2007 and Awhiowhio sepulchrum Kelly, 2007 from New Zealand; and Awhiowhio unda Kelly, 2007 from the Fiji Basin. As expected for lithistid species, all three species are very similar to the new one in the spicule complement. However, there are some morphological differences: The overall size of dicranoclone arches and thickness (500–900 / 33.3– 108.3 –166.65) differs from all its congeners, with shorter and thinner arches in Awhiowhio osheai (200–500 / 50–60) or Awhiowhio unda (200–300 / 20–50) and longer and slightly thinner arches in Awhiowhio sepulchrum (900–1200 / 70–150); Awhiowhio osheai presents smaller dichotriaenes, bigger streptasters, presence of micropolyrhabd and regular rod-shaped microrhabds, while in the new species the microrhabds are spiraster-shaped; Awhiowhio sepulchrum apparently does not present microscleres, although this is most likely be due to the macerated state of the holotype; Awhiowhio unda presents a very similar spicule complement when compared to the new species, including the presence of spiraster-shaped microrhabds. Nevertheless, Awhiowhio unda lacks the microxea found in the new species and presents bigger streptasters than Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. ( Table 2). The presence of acanthose microxea in Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. is unusual for an Awhiowhio specimen but it can be related to a common problem in lithistid studies that is the lack of SEM images, it is possible that this spicule can be present in the genus but due to its size it has not been found only with optical microscopes. Additionally, this feature can demonstrate a close relation between Awhiowhio and Herengeria , going according to the suggested by Kelly (2007).

Figures

FIGURE 3 Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. (UFPEPOR 2438, holotype). a, Upper view of ethanol preserved specimen; b, Bottom view of ethanol preserved specimen; c, Cross section of skeleton. Scale bars: a = 5 cm; b = 5 cm; c = 575 μm.

FIGURE. 4 Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. (UFPEPOR 2438, holotype). a, dicranoclone desmas; b, dichotriaene; c, bottom view of dichotriaene’s cladome; d, upper view of dichotriaene’s cladome; e, microrhabds; f, microxea; g, microxeas; h, amphiasters. Scale bars: a = 200 μm; b = 500 μm; c = 100 μm; d = 200 μm; e = 2 μm; f = 20 μm; g = 20 μm; h = 9 μm.