Caminus carmabi, 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 : 416

Caminus carmabi new species

Figures 9a–g

Material examined. Holotype: RMNH Por. 9245, Caribbean Netherlands, Bonaire, Kralendijk Pier (Dive 2), 12.1469°N 68.2821°W, in the sand and on rock walls, at 120–137 m, coll. L.E. Becking & E. Meesters, field nr. BON1/ BDR023 , 30 May 2013.

Paratype: RMNH Por. 9249, Caribbean Netherlands, Bonaire, Curoil Dock, (Dive 3), 12.137°N 68.286°W, on a coral rock wall at 198 m, coll. L.E. Becking & E. Meesters, field nr. BON1 / BDR035 , 31 May 2013 .

Description. Spherical pink-colored sponge ( Figs. 9a–b ) with central oscule with raised rim, supported at lower parts by small side projections (‘feet’). Surface smooth, with mosaical pattern, with lighter polygones separated by darker pink grooves. Size of both specimens approximately 15 cm in diameter, oscule 1 cm. Of the holotype three fragments were preserved, the largest of which measured 7 x 4 x 4 cm, of the paratype two fragments were preserved the largest being 5 x 2 x 2 cm. Consistency hard, inside pulpy but likewise hard.

Skeleton. Cortical skeleton a dense layer of sterrasters carried by subcortical calthrops-like short-shafted triaenes. Choanosomal skeleton a confused mass of strongyles and microscleres.

Spicules. Calthrops, strongyles, sterrasters, spherules, oxyasters.

Calthrops-like short-shafted triaenes ( Fig. 9c, 9c 1 ), with cladome 820– 1050 – 1250 µm, cladi 250–650–1020 x 18– 24 – 30 µm.

Strongyles, ( Figs. 9d, 9d 1 ), curved, faintly polytylote, 600– 860 –936 x 14– 21 – 25 µm.

Sterrasters ( Figs. 9e, 9e 2 ), large, oval, 140– 190 –210 x 125– 144 – 162 µm, juvenile forms small and spined ( Fig. 9e 1 ).

Spherules ( Fig. 9f ), microspined, somewhat variable in size, 3.5– 5 – 6.5 µm.

Oxyasters ( Fig. 9g ), rays spined especially at the apices, diameter 51– 65 – 81 µm, with 4–8 rays.

Ecology and distribution. On rockwalls and rubble at the edge of or below the mesophotic zone off the southwest coast of Bonaire.

Etymology. Named after the Car aibisch Ma rien Bi ologisch Instituut at Piscadera Baai, Curaçao, center for biological investigations of the Caribbean Netherlands.

Remarks. The only other species of Caminus in the Central West Atlantic is C. sphaeroconia Sollas, 1886 , originally reported from Brazil, but subsequently also found in Puerto Rico ( Wilson 1902), the Virgin Islands ( Uliczka 1929) and Barbados ( Van Soest & Stentoft 1988). This differs clearly from our new species in the size and shape of the sterrasters, which are rounded and only 45–90 µm in diameter, and by the absence of oxyasters. Our material is most similar to Mediterranean Caminus vulcani Schmidt, 1862 , but in that species sterrasters are smaller (105–115 x 85–88) and calthrops have also shorter and thinner cladi. Elsewhere, several species of Caminus occur in East and South East Asia ( C. chinensis Lindgren, 1898 , C. awashimensis Tanita, 1969 , C. strongyla ( Hoshino, 1981) and C. albus Pulitzer-Finali, 1996 ) ( Van Soest et al. 2014), but these also have smaller sterrasters and smaller oxyasters.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map showing the positions of Bonaire and Klein Curaçao (Southern Caribbean), where the present collections were obtained. Insets show details of locations and course of dives 2–4 of the Curasub.

FIGURE 2. Plakinastrella stinapa n. sp., holotype RMNH Por. 9252, a. habit of holotype in situ on limestone rockwall W of Bonaire, b. preserved fragments, c. light microscope image of surface skeleton, d. light microscope overview of the spicule complement.

FIGURE 9. Caminus carmabi n. sp., a. habit in situ of the paratype RMNH Por. 9249, b. habit on deck of holotype RMNH Por. 9245, c–g. SEM images of the spicules of the holotype RMNH Por. 9245, c. calthrops, c1. detail of cladus of calthrops, d. strongyle, d1. details of strongyle, e. sterraster, e1. juvenile sterraster, e2. detail of surface of sterraster, f. spherules, g. oxyasters.