Aplysina solangeae, Pinheiro, Ulisses Dos S., Hajdu, Eduardo & Custódio, Márcio R., 2007

Pinheiro, Ulisses Dos S., Hajdu, Eduardo & Custódio, Márcio R., 2007, Aplysina Nardo (Porifera, Verongida, Aplysinidae) from the Brazilian coast with description of eight new species, Zootaxa 1609, pp. 1-51 : 44-46

Aplysina solangeae sp.n. ( Fig. 22 C, 23C–E, 25, Tab. XII)

Holotype: MNRJ 4173, Salvador ´s Yacht Club ( Salvador, BA, 12º59'58.2'' S - 38º31'54.2'' W), 3–5 m depth, E. Hajdu coll., 4/VII/2001.

Paratype: MNRJ 2578, Porto da Barra, Forte de Santa Maria, ( Salvador, BA, 13º03' S - 38º32' W); E. Hajdu coll., 30/VII/1999.

Additional material: MNRJ 5268–5274, Salvador ´s Yacht Club ( Salvador, BA, 12º59'58.2'' S - 38º31'54.2'' W), U.S. Pinheiro coll., 3 m depth, 29/I/2002). MNRJ 8675, Parque Estadual da Pedra da Risca do Meio (Fortaleza, CE, 03º35'889 S-38º23'481 W), 22 m depth, E. Hajdu coll., 14/VII/2004.

Diagnosis: Predominantly lamellar form in a semi-radial arrangement. Lamellae moderately stout, with very short, slender digitiform projections in their apices, and oscula situated at the top of discrete volcanifom projections. Live colour yellow or yellow with purple stains, turning pinkish-brown or dark-brown after preservation in ethanol. Consistency very soft.

Description of the species:

The specimens have a predominantly lamellar form, with moderately stout lamellae (frequently ca. 1 cm thick) in a semi-radial arrangement, but digitiform processes anastomosed to the main lamella can also be observed. They have a maximum of 11 cm in height and 7 cm in width. In the apex of the lamellae there are several short, slender digitiform projections up to 0.4 cm in height, frequently in tufts, that are released from the sponge after preservation in alcohol ( Figs. 23 D–E, 25A–B). The small oscula of 0.15 cm in diameter are normally restricted to the upper part of the lamella on top of small volcaniform projections, but oscula of this type in the sides of the sponge are not rare. The surface is finely conulose, with small, irregular and shallow depressions. The colour is yellow or yellow with purple stains in vivo, turning pinkish-brown or dark-brown after preservation in ethanol. Consistency is very soft.

Skeleton: Choanosome with a delicate and irregular network of spongin fibers ( Fig. 25C ) with amber coloured bark 37–158 Μm thick (average 77 Μm) and a thick pith that can be black or amber and is 11–55 Μm thick (average 24 Μm; Fig. 25D ).

Distribution: So far endemic from the northeastern Brazilian coast ( Fig. 22 C).

Ecological observations: Bahian specimens were collected in very shallow-waters, with a maximum of 4 m depth. The specimen from Ceará was collected with scuba diving at 22 m depth. In both cases, water temperature is warm, tropical, throughout the year.

Etymology: The specific name solangeae is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Solange Peixinho, for her enthusiastic scientific supervision of EH’s first steps on the taxonomy of sponges, her always warm welcome and priceless logistic support to every collecting trip undertaken in the Salvador area since 1987, her over 30 years teaching Bahian sponges to hundreds of biology students, and a similar time dedicated to the study of varied aspects of sponge biology in the State of Bahia.

TABLE XII: Spongin fibres’ measurement data for Aplysina solangeae sp.n. (in micrometers; S.D. = Standard Deviation and N=30).

Specimens Locality* Fibers Piths

Thinnest Mean Thickest S.D. Thinnest Mean Thickest S.D.

Remarks: Despite the large morphologic plasticity observed in the collected specimens, all share the diagnostic characters (relatively stout lamellar form; short, slender digitiform projections; small oscula spread all over the sponge and soft consistency). Aplysina solangeae sp.n. is the closest species to A. fulva as far as external morphology goes. Aplysina fulva is another species which shows large morphologic plasticity and may have a lamellar shape in a few cases. However, the latter differs from A. solangeae sp.n. because its consistency is only rarely soft, it is typically digitiform and without short, slender digitiform projections (even when lamellate), while the new species described here is predominantly lamellar with short, slender digitiform projections. Lamellate specimens of A. fulva do not show lamellae in a semi-radial arrangement, and their lamellae also tend to be more slender and smooth.

Figures

FIGURE 22: Map showing the distribution of Aplysina along the Brazilian coastline. A. Aplysina orthoreticulata sp. n. B. Aplysina pseudolacunosa sp. n. C. Aplysina solangeae sp. n.. Scale bar = 500 km.

FIGURE 23: A – B. Aplysina pseudolacunosa sp. n. in situ, Holotype – MNRJ 5478 (Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos, BA, Brazil). C – E. Aplysina solageae sp. n. in situ. C. Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). D – E. Salvador (BA, Brazil). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 25: A – D. Aplysina solangeae sp. n. Holotype (MNRJ 4173). A – B. habit after preservation. C. Skeletal architecture. D. Spongin fibres. Scale bars = A – B. 1 cm, C. 500 µm, D. 50 µm.