Dercitus Stoeba

Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & De Voogd, Nicole J., 2010, Skeletons in confusion: a review of astrophorid sponges with (dicho-) calthrops as structural megascleres (Porifera, Demospongiae, Astrophorida), ZooKeys 68, pp. 1-88 : 30

Dercitus Stoeba

Stoeba sp.? Vacelet and Vasseur 1971: 70, fig. 14.

Material examined.

None.

Description

(from Vacelet and Vasseur 1971). Encrusting the underside of coral blocks, 2-3 cm2 in expansion; consistency soft; live colour yellow, white in alcohol.

Spicules: calthrops, sanidasters,?strongyles.

Calthrops with irregular cladi, 50-250 × 15-25 µm.

Sanidasters short and fat, 12.5 × 2.5 µm.

Strongyles, probably foreign, long and thin 375-400 × 3-5 µm.

Habitat.

Shallow reefs.

Distribution.

Known only from the Tuléar area, Madagascar.

Remarks.

Live colour and the details of the spicules make it likely that this is an undescribed species. The strongyles are considered foreign as the authors themselves suggested.