Cinachyrella sp. 1

Fig. 45

Diagnostic features.

Globular sponge (12 cm wide). Neon yellow in and out, covered by sediment obscuring the sponge color. The surface appears smooth, rough to the touch; microhispid microscopically. Few apical oscula (6-8 mm wide). Dense in consistency. This specimen was initially identified as Tetilla sp. However, an 18S barcoding study shows this species is 99.9% Cinachyrella sp. (Iris Segura, pers. comm., 2022). The specimen studied lacks protrienes and anatrianes found in all Cinachyrella species from the region. This specimen has long oxea: 2500-3000 × 10-50 µm, small oxea: 130-170 × 5 µm, and sigma (c-, and s-shaped), 20-30 µm long × <1 µm wide. The determination of this species requires further comparative work and the analyses of other genetic markers.

Similar species.

Globular yellowish species of the genera Cinachyrella, Cinachyra, or Tetilla .

Distribution and abundance.

At FGBNMS this species is rare, appearing once at one site.

Ecology.

Coralline algal reefs.

Identification.

Iris Segura, MCD.

Reference.

van Soest and Rützler 2002.