Calthropella Corticellopsis recondita Pulitzer-Finali, 1972

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

Calthropella Corticellopsis recondita Pulitzer-Finali, 1972

Calthropella recondita Pulitzer-Finali 1972: 342, fig. 3.

Material examined.

None. Apparently the material that is left consists only of slides, of which the holotype is in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH 1971.7.23.1b).

Description

(from Pulitzer-Finali 1972). Thin encrustations on coral holdfasts, thickness a few mm. Consistency fleshy, compact. Colour white.

Spicules: calthrops, oxeas, strongylasters (called ‘chiasters’), oxyasters.

Calthrops in a large size variation and many showing abnormal or assymmetrical cladi (the latter distinguished as a separate category by Pulitzer), cladi 85-220 × 7-17 µm.

Oxeas straight or curved, in a large size range, 100-1200 × 7.5 µm.

Strongylasters, 8-12 rays, variable, 9-16 µm.

Oxyasters, six thin rays, 40-50 µm.

Habitat.

Collected at 12 m.

Distribution.

Mediterranean (Naples region).

Remarks.

The oxeas are explicitly stated as part of the spicule complement, but were not represented in the spicule drawings. It remains doubtful whether they are proper. Pulitzer-Finali (1972) admits that his species is similar in most aspects to Calthropella (Corticella) stelligera . By its possession of oxeas, assuming they are proper, this species would appear to be valid, but the possibility that it is Calthropella (Corticella) stelligera cannot be excluded.