Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) oxychaetum ( Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012 ) Barros & Cavalcanti & Hajdu & Pinheiro, 2023

Barros, Thales, Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Hajdu, Eduardo & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2023, Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 (Poecilosclerida: Coelosphaeridae) from Brazil: a new species and transfer of Strongylacidon oxychaetum Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012 to the genus Lissodendoryx, Zootaxa 5336 (3), pp. 401-412 : 403-404

Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) oxychaetum ( Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012) , new combination

( Figure 2 )

Strongylacidon oxychaetum Menegola et al., 2012: p. 862 .

Examined material: UFPEPOR 2723, off Boa Viagem Beach (8° 8’ 47.6” S, 34° 34’ 11” W, Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), 56 m depth, dredging, coll. Laboratório de Biologia de Crustáceos— UFPE (Feb/07/2018) . UFPEPOR 4245, Francês Beach (Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas State, Brazil), intertidal, coll. M.D. Correia (Jan/25/2012) . UFPEPOR 4291 Francês Beach (Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas State, Brazil), intertidal, coll. E. Hajdu (Jun/15/2011) . UFPEPOR 4290, Saco da Pedra Beach (Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas State, Brazil), intertidal, coll. M.D. Correia (Jan/27/2012) .

Description: External morphology: Fragmented specimens, with digitiform branches (occasionally absent), measuring 1.6 to 6.2 cm long by 1.0 to 4.2 cm wide Surface varies from composed of polygonal protuberances (honeycomb) separated by shallow grooves to rough or microspinous covered by debris. Compressible and fragile consistency. Tubular oscule observed (occasionally absent). Coloration varies from red to orange; when preserved, it has a beige or whitish color (80% ethanol).

Skeleton ( Fig 2B ): Ectosomal skeleton composed of tangentially arranged strongyles, that may also form brushes piercing the ectosomal surface, and supported by bundles of strongyles enveloped by visible spongin. Choanosome composed of a palisade of strongyles supported by bundles of strongyles enveloped by visible spongin. Microscleres scattered throughout the ectosome and choanosome.

Spicules ( Fig 2C–E ). Strongyles (261– 329.7 –364 / 4.8– 5.1 –6.4 µm): thin, smooth, slightly curved, with rounded tips, rarely of tylote morphology ( Fig 2C ). Oxychaetes (39– 59.9 –90 µm): thin, slightly curved to curved, symmetrically spined, with thin sharp spines, needle-like tips ( Fig 2D ). Arcuate isochelae (23– 23.5 –26 µm): curved axis, short and curved alae ( Fig 2E ).

Ecology: The specimens were collected manually from the sandstone reefs of Francês and Saco da Pedra Beach ( Marechal Deodoro , Alagoas State, Brazil), intertidal zone, and by dredging off Boa Viagem Beach (Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), at 56 m depth, on sandy bottom.

Geographic distribution: A Brazilian endemic, registered from the states of Bahia ( Menegola et al. 2012), and now Alagoas and Pernambuco (present study).

Remarks: Menegola et al. (2012) described Strongylacidon oxychaetum with a spicular set composed of strongyles and arcuate isochelae, in addition to a skeleton organized as bouquets of strongyles. At the time, the authors mentioned that the species had a plumoreticulate skeleton. However, when analyzing the images available in Menegola et al. (2012) and in the material analyzed here, we found that the skeleton is actually reticulate. This characteristic suggests that the species is better allocated to Lissodendoryx instead. Furthermore, because it contains only a single type of megascleres, we assign this species to the subgenus L. (Anomodoryx), as L. (Anomodoryx) oxychaetum ( Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012) comb. nov..

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) oxychaetum (Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012) comb. nov. A, specimen in situ (UFPEPOR 4291); B, cross section showing the choanosome and ectosome; Spicular set: C, Strongyles; D, oxychaetes; E, arcuate isochelae. Scales: B = 375 µm; C = 50 µm; D = 25 µm; E =12.5 µm.