Geodia japonica var. spherulifera Wilson, 1925

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 55-56

Geodia japonica var. spherulifera Wilson, 1925

( Fig. 5M )

Geodia japonica var. spherulifera Wilson, 1925: 317 , pl. 38 fig. 1.

The variety was described by Wilson from Palawan Island, North Balabac Strait, Bugsuk Island, Albatross Exped. 5355, 8.1361°N 117.321°E, depth 80 m (wet holotype USNM 21266). The main difference of the variety with the typical variety from Japan described by Sollas (1888: 256 as Cydonium japonicum , dried holotype BMNH 1894.7.6.5, probably from Sagami Bay, but no further locality data) is the habitus, which is a large cup in Sollas’ specimen whereas the var. spherulifera is small and globular with a central depression. Other authors reporting specimens of G. japonica described various shapes, including small and globular (e.g. Alaskan specimens of Lehnert & Stone 2016: Fig. 2a ). There are discrepancies in the spiculation between the varieties, e.g. Sollas does not mention mesotriaene spicules in his type description, found in modest quantities in Wilson’s material (called ‘promesotriaenes’ by Wilson, but likely to be orthomesotriaenes). Other authors describing G. japonica, Thiele (1898: 7) , Von Lendenfeld (1903: 111), and Sim (1982: 2) likewise did not mention mesotriaenes, but Von Lendenfeld (1910: 235) and Lehnert & Stone (2016: 366) do report them. Sphere-like cortical ‘pycnasters’ in Japanese specimens of G. japonica appear comparable to the small cortical strongylasters reported for Wilson’s variety. Lehnert & Stone (2016: Table 2) compared the various G. japonica descriptions but omitted to include the var. spherulifera .

The conclusion is that Sollas’ description is likely incomplete making the distinction with the present variety and identifications of subsequent authors uncertain. I propose to merge for the time being the varieties into a single wide-spread species Geodia japonica ( Sollas, 1888) (Alaska, Korea, Japan, Philippines).

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.

FIGURE 5. A. Axinella profunda var. kurushima Tanita, 1961: pl. IV fig. 14, B. Raspailia fruticosa var. tenuiramosa Dendy, 1905: pl. VIII fig. 5, C. Acanthella aculeata var. inconspicua Thiele, 1898: 54, pl. III fig. 6, D. Hymeraphia geniculata Topsent, 1892: 115, pl. I fig. 13, E–F. Ancorina radix f. nanosclera Lévi, 1967, E. habitus pl. XVIII fig. 3, F. spicules text-fig. 13, G–H. Craniella cranium f. microspira Lévi, 1967, G. habitus pl. XIX fig. 2, H. spicules text-fig. 19, I. Craniella globosa var. anamonaena Tanita, 1968: text-fig. 15, J. Discodermia emarginata var. lamellaris Wilson, 1925: pl. 43 fig. 5, K. Geodia ataxastra var. angustana Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 44 fig. 25, L. Geodia hilgendorfi var. granosa Thiele, 1898: pl. VI figs. 4i–k, M. Geodia japonica var. spherulifera Wilson, 1925: pl. 38 fig. 1, N. Geodia megastrella var. laevispina Carter, 1876: pl. XVI fig. 47.