Amphimedon caribica (Pulitzer-Finali 1986)

(Fig. 17 A–D)

Selected synonymy: Cribrochalina caribica Pulitzer-Finali, 1986:170 . Amphimedon caribica, Lehnert & Soest 1996:75; Alcolado 2002:68.

Material examined. CNPGG –1211 Alacranes reef (22’43.6”N 89º40’02.8”W), depth 8 m, 2/VIII/2009. CNPGG –212 Alacranes reef (22°22'43.67”N 89°40'2.64”W), depth 12 m, 2/VIII/2009. CNPGG –1287 (22º22’1.4”N 89º40’30.4”W), 3/VIII/2009.

Description. Massive cushion sponge 3.5–5.5 × 2 × 3 cm. Circular and apical oscules 1–4 mm in diameter, occasionally a few oscules are placed towards the base (Fig. 17 A). The consistency is hard and slightly compressible, crumbles easily. The surface has porous appearance and is slightly microhispid. Light purple when alive, beige in alcohol.

Skeleton. The choanosomal skeleton is an irregular reticulation of plurispicular and cored tracts, the latter with 1–10 spicules. Primary fibres 100–130 µm in diameter and connective ones 20–50 µm in diameter (Fig. 17 C, D).

Spicules. Oxeas slightly curved with stepped ends 148–200 × 3–6 µm (Fig. 17 B).

Distribution and ecology. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, 20–30 m depth (Pulitzer-Finali 1986); Jamaica 76 m depth (Lehnert & Soest 1998); Cuba (Alcolado 2002). Collected in coral reef on coral rubble, 8–12 m deep. This is the first record for the species in Mexico and the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Remarks. The material studied match to Amphimedon caribica from Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic (Pulitzer-Finali 1986), except for its thicker oxeas (6.5–10.5 µm) which is not of significant value. Specimens from Jamaica (Lehnert & Soest 1998) occasionally have styles or strongyles which were not found here. The species is reported from Cuba but only cited (Alcolado, 2002).