Stelletta validissima, Thiele, 1898

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 62

Stelletta validissima f. orthotriaena Koltun, 1966

( Fig. 6M )

Stelletta validissima f. orthotriaena Koltun, 1966: 45, textfig. 20, pl. VII figs. 1–2.

Stelletta orthotriaene (sic); Tanita & Hoshino 1998: 21, pl. 2 fig. 3, text-fig. 10.

The forma was described by Koltun from Hokkaido, Japan, Japanese Sea, approximate coordinates 44°N 140°E, depth 93 m. Type material is assumed to be kept in ZIN-RAS .

According to Koltun, it differs from the typical forma described by Thiele (1898: 13, pl. 1 fig. 5, pl. 7 fig.1, from the Sagami Bay, Japan, holotype ZMB 7009, cf. below) in virtually lacking dichotriaenes (but these were indicated as sparsely present), but no further spicule differences were apparent and the habitus of both formas pictured by Koltun look exactly the same. The name is unavailable as it was erected later than 1960 making it an infrasubspecific name (ICZN art. 15.2). In view of the inconvincing differences of the specimens of both formas they are proposed to be merged in a single species Stelletta validissima Thiele, 1898 .

Tanita & Hoshino (1998) elevated Koltun’s forma to species and misspelled the name as ‘ orthotriaene ’. This action is prohibited under ICZN art. 45.5.1. Their specimen from Sagami Bay (approximate coordinates 34.8°N 139.37°E, depth 86 m) seems different from Koltun’s specimen because it is much smaller in habit, and the spicules are considerably less long (e.g. orthotriaenes 600 µm vs 6700 µm in Koltun’s specimen). The status of Tanita & Hoshino’s specimen needs to be studied further, and if indeed different from Koltun’s material should receive a new name.

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Geodia variospiculosa var. aapta Lebwohl, 1914: pl. II figs. 63–77, B. Geodia variospiculosa var. clavigera Thiele, 1898: pl. VI fig. 7b, C–D. Geodia variospiculosa var. intermedia Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 figs. 39–40, E. Geodia variospiculosa var. micraster Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 fig. 41, F–G. Poecillastra compressa var. parvistellata Topsent, 1913: pl. IV figs. 1–2, H. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. siliquariae; Pattanayak 2009: pl. VI fig. E, I. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi; Pattanayak, 2009: pl. VI fig. F, J. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi Annandale, 1911b: pl. IX figs. 1–15, K. Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912: pl. 17 fig. 5, L. Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909: fig. 7, M. Stelletta validissima f. orthotriaena Koltun, 1966: pl. VII fig. 1, N. Thenea grayi var. lateralis Thiele, 1898: pl. V fig. 4, O–P. Theonella swinhoei var. verrucosa Wilson, 1925, O. habitus pl. 43 fig. 1, P. Spicules pl. 49 fig. 10.