Chalinula molitba

Ugalde, Diana, Gómez, Patricia & Simões, Nuno, 2015, Marine sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Gulf of México, new records and redescription of Erylus trisphaerus (de Laubenfels, 1953), Zootaxa 3911 (2), pp. 151-183 : 175

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3911.2.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C32A1B4-E4AB-4BC3-8E8A-1BF435587D17

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5678308

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BB0249-607D-FFCF-FF54-D76B842DBC6A

treatment provided by

Plazi (2016-04-18 00:45:36, last updated 2024-11-26 07:20:03)

scientific name

Chalinula molitba
status

 

Chalinula molitba View in CoL (de Laubenfels, 1949)

( Figs. 19 View FIGURE 19 A–B, 22C)

Selected synonymy: Haliclona molitba de Laubenfels, 1949:9; Wiedenmayer 1977:81 (as H. (Haliclona) molitba ); van Soest, 1980:9; Alcolado 2002:67.

Reniera carmabi View in CoL van Soest, 1980:14.

Chalinula molitba View in CoL ; de Weerdt 2000:55 (with more synonymy).

Material examined. CNPGG –121 Sisal Banks reefs (21°26’16.59”N, 90°16’39”W), depth 9 m, 9/VI/2011; CNPGG –1214 Sisal Banks reefs (21°26’24”N, 90°28’25.39”W) depth 15 m 13/VI/2011.

Description. Variable in morphology, usually a cluster of small tubules of 3 cm length and 5 cm width. Apical oscules, 3–9 mm in diameter ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 C). The consistency is soft, fluffy and easily compressible. The color is dark pink when alive and pink or beige in alcohol. Surface is smooth.

Skeleton. Ectosomal skeleton absent. Choanosomal skeleton is an anisotropic network, consisting of paucispicular primary fibres 10–14 µm in diameter and cored by 1–5 spicules, connected by secondary unispicular fibres or tracts 5.6–10.2 µm in diameter ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 A). The skeleton is dominated by spicules, but still covered by plain spongin.

Spicules. Oxeas mostly fusiform but with a trend toward strongyloxeas ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 B), 60–134 × 0.5–2.8 µm.

Distribution and ecology: Florida and throughout the Caribbean ( Rützler et al. 2009), Belize, Bermuda , North Carolina, Florida, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Venezuela, Colombia, Bonaire (de Weerdt 2000); Cuba (Alcolado 2002). Chalinula molitba has been described from mangrove environments and Thalassia meadows, although it has also been reported from deeper habitats, to 18 m depth (de Weerdt 2000). However, its distribution is mainly in shallow water. In the present work the specimens were collected in coral reef environments, associated with coral rubble in depth ranges between 9 to 15 m. This is the first record for Chalinula molitba in Mexico and the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Remarks. The present material exactly matches the features described for Chalinula molitba . Even when main traits such as growth form, spicule sizes, and skeletal architecture are notably variable, a series of intermediate forms are found, for which de Weerdt (2000) is commended for details. However its color varies from bright-dark pink, to intense violet, light brown or sometimes brown with yellowish cream tinges. The blue color mentioned by van Soest (1980) is enigmatic and may have been caused by local or other conditions (de Weerdt 2000).

Rutzler, K., Soest, R. W. M. van & Piatoni, C. (2009) Sponge (Porifera) of the Gulf of Mexico. In: Felder, D. L. & Camp, D. K. (Eds.) Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Biodiversity. Texas A & M University Press, Texas, pp. 1019 - 1104.

Soest, R. W. M van (1980) Marine sponges from Curacao and other Caribbean localities. Part II. Haplosclerida. In: Hummelinck, P. W. & Van der Steen, L. J. (Eds.), Studies on the Fauna of Curacao and other Caribbean Islands. Uitgaven van de Natuurwetenschappelijke Studiekring voor Suriname en de Nederlandse Antillen, No. 104, pp. 1 - 173.

Weerdt, W. H. de (2000) A monograph of the shallow-water Chalinidae (Porifera, Haplosclerida) of the Caribbean. Beaufortia, 50, 1 - 67.

Wiedenmayer, F. (1977) Shallow water sponges of the Western Bahamas. Experientia Supplementum, 28, 1 - 287. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 0348 - 5797 - 0

Gallery Image

FIGURE 19. Chalinula molitba (de Laubenfels, 1949): A. Choanosomal skeleton anisotropic type consisting of paucispicular tracts connected by unispicular. B. Common oxeas in LM.

Gallery Image

FIGURE 22. Sponges in situ: A. Dragmacidon reticulatum. B. Agelas tubulata. C. Chalinula molitba. D. Dysidea variabilis.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Porifera

Class

Demospongiae

Order

Haplosclerida

Family

Chalinidae

Genus

Chalinula

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Porifera

Class

Demospongiae

Order

Haplosclerida

Family

Chalinidae

Genus

Haliclona

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Porifera

Class

Demospongiae

Order

Haplosclerida

Family

Chalinidae

Genus

Reniera

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Porifera

Class

Demospongiae

Order

Haplosclerida

Family

Chalinidae

Genus

Chalinula