Spongia equina subsp. cerebriformis var. obscura Hyatt, 1877

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 24

Spongia equina subsp. cerebriformis var. obscura Hyatt, 1877

( Figs. 2F–H )

Spongia equina subsp. cerebriformis var. obscura Hyatt, 1877: 521 , pl. 16 fig. 29.

Spongia obscura Wiedenmayer, 1977: 56 , pl. 2 fig. 3, pl. 3 (with additional synonyms); Van Soest, 1978: 14, pl. II fig. 3, text-fig. 3.

Hyatt’s name is not an available name (as it has a fourth name, ICZN art. 45.5), and elevation in rank as Wiedenmayer and Van Soest have attempted is similarly invalid (ICZN art. 45.5.1). Since the synonyms listed by Wiedenmayer do not contain an available species name, I assign Wiedenmayer’s material from Nassau, Bahamas and Key West, Florida to Spongia (Spongia) obscura Wiedenmayer, 1977 (allowed under ICZN art. 45.5.1), with dried holotype USNM 30097, fieldnr. O651 (depicted in Wiedenmayer 1977: pl. 2 fig.3), locality W of Andros Island, Bahamas, approximate coordinates 24.21°N 78.04°W, depth 2 m. Unavailable names of several Hyatt (1877) varieties of S. e. subsp. cerebriformis (divisa, mexicana, plana and typica ) are also attributable to this species.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Spongia dubia Hyatt, 1877: pl. 17 fig. 9, B–C. Spongelia dubia var. excavata Hyatt, 1877: pl. 17 figs. 10–11, D. Spongelia spinosa Hyatt, 1877: pl. 16 fig. 32, E. Leiosella compacta Von Lendenfeld, 1889: pl. 13 fig. 7, F–H, Spongia (Spongia) obscura Wiedenmayer, 1977, F. habitus in situ pl. 3 fig. 1, G. dried habitus, pl. 3 fig. 2, H. skeleton pl. 3 fig. 3, I. Cacospongia linteiformis sensu Topsent, 1933: pl. I fig. 8, J. Spongia linteiformis Esper, 1797: pl. LVIII, figs. 1–2.