Kaliapsis cf. cidaris Bowerbank, 1869

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 : 54

Kaliapsis cf. cidaris Bowerbank, 1869

(Figure 30)

Synonymy and references. Kaliapsis cidaris Bowerbank, 1869 : Pisera & Lévi (2002): 381, fig. 1.

Material. USNM 1228998, Carrie Bow Cay South reef, underside of coral-rubble plates in exposed zone behind reef crest, 0.5 m; K. Ruetzler col. 6 Mar. 2006. USNM 1228999, Carrie Bow Cay South reef, underside of coralrubble plates in exposed zone behind reef crest, 0.5 m; K. Ruetzler col. 13 Mar. 2009.

External morphology. A thin crust (1–2 mm thick) covering 20–30 cm 2 area. Surface smooth but with fine, star-like canal patterns leading toward minute openings (oscula); slightly rough to the touch. Color grayish white.

Skeleton structure. Discotriaenes support the ectosome, desmas occur throughout the choanosome and are accompanied by microxeas.

Spicules. Discotriaenes are microspined, with more or less strongly incised margins; the rhabd appears like a short thorn. Perpendicular disk diameters: 125 x 100 to 260 x 200 Μm (209 x 159 Μm, n=10). Desmas (triders) are broken but intact pieces measure up to 280 Μm in diameter.

Microxeas, microspined, a few having stylote modifications (one end rounded): 21– 60 x 2–5 (46 x 3) Μm. Raphids, with one sharp and one dull point, microspined, with spines pointing saw-like from the sharp toward the dull end (only seen loose on SEM preparations): 80– 83 x 1.1–1.3 µm (n=5).

Ecology. Both specimens occurred on the underside of coral rock in a high-energy habitat behind the reef crest, 0.5 m.

Distribution. The type locality of Kaliapsis cidaris is Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific.

Comments. K. cidaris is not a very well known species but spicule morphology and measurements agree well with Pisera and Lévi’s (2002) redescription, except that the microspined micro-“strongyles” of our material are more oxeote than strongylote and that we observed saw-toothed raphids. Because of these details and the geographic separation we are presenting our identification with some hesitation.