Neopetrosia dutchi, Van Soest & Meesters & Becking, 2014

Van Soest, Rob W. M., Meesters, Erik H. W. G. & Becking, Leontine E., 2014, Deep-water sponges (Porifera) from Bonaire and Klein Curaçao, Southern Caribbean, Zootaxa 3878 (5), pp. 401-443 : 427

Neopetrosia dutchi new species

Figures 17a–h

Xestospongia cf. rosariensis sensu Van Soest & Stentoft, 1988: 130 , pl. 12 fig. 3, text-fig. 63 (not Zea & Rützler, 1983)

Material examined. Holotype: RMNH Por. 9253, Caribbean Netherlands, Bonaire (Dive 4), 112.08°N 68.2938°W, depth 217 m, in the sand, coll. L.E. Becking & E. Meesters, field nr. BON4/ BDR058 , 1 June 2013.

Description. Thick clump of large lobes ( Figs. 17a–c ), each with prominent central oscule of 0.8–1.5 cm in diameter; color pale beige alive and in preserved state. Size 35 x 35 x 30 cm, with individual lobes up to 14 cm high and 9 cm in diameter. Preserved holotype consists of two fragments, one small lobe of 3 cm diameter and 2 cm high, and one fragment of a lobe of 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm. Surface optically smooth, provided with starshaped subdermal spaces ( Fig. 17d ) connected by thin subdermal grooves into a characteristic subsurface network.

Skeleton ( Figs. 17e–f ). No special ectosomal skeleton; the choanosome is dominated by a heavily spiculated anisotropic skeleton forming squarish meshes, on average 200–250 µm in diameter, with 3–8 spicules on the sides (mostly 3 or 4 spicules in the cross connections and up to 8 in the ascending tracts).

Spicules. Oxeas.

Oxeas ( Figs. 17g –h ), smooth, relatively robust, usually curved, with abruptly pointed or mucronate ends, rather uniform in shape, but with a large size range 165– 235 –264 x 11– 14 – 18 µm.

Ecology and distribution. In the sand at 217 m off the SW coast of Bonaire; at 90–153 m off Barbados.

Etymology. The name is given to acknowledge Adriaan (‘Dutch’) Schriers, the owner of the ‘Curasub’ for making it available for our scientific sponge studies.

Remarks. This species was previously reported from Barbados as Xestospongia cf. rosariensis Zea & Rützler, 1983 by Van Soest & Stentoft (1988). We compared that material with our new species and concluded that this is not Neopetrosia rosariensis . That species has a dark brown colour and is tube-shaped, unlike the pale beige color and lobate shape of the present species. Besides N. rosariensis four additional species of Neopetrosia have been reported from the Western Atlantic, viz. N. carbonaria (Lamarck, 1814 as Spongia ), N. dominicana (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986 as Xestospongia ), N. proxima ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 as Thalysias , with junior synonym Densa araminta De Laubenfels, 1934 ), and N. subtriangularis ( Duchassaing, 1850 as Spongi a, with junior synonyms Haliclona doria De Laubenfels, 1936 , H. longleyi De Laubenfels, 1932 , Thalysias rugosa Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 and Schmidtia aulopora Schmidt, 1870 ) ( Van Soest et al. 2014). N. carbonaria is a black massive species, whereas N. subtriangularis is brown ramose; both are common shallow-water species, clearly different from our new species in habit and color. N. dominicana differs from our new species in the shape of the spicules, which are strongyles. N. proxima is encrusting, orange-brown, and has a much denser skeleton (see also below in the comparison with Neopetrosia ovata n. sp. and Neopetrosia eurystomata n. sp.).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Neopetrosia dutchi n. sp., holotype RMNH Por. 9253, a. view of submarine with collected holotype, b. habit in situ, c. habit shortly after collection, d. detail of surface, e. tangential view of ectosomal skeleton, f. cross section of peripheral skeleton, g–h. SEM images of spicules, g. larger oxea, g1. detail of apex of larger oxea, h. smaller oxea.