ASCANDRA MASCARENICA SP. NOV.

(FIGS 9, 10; TABLE 4)

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: 774A6B27-B4E3-4A85-830F-4BCFB2869574.

Diagnosis: Ascandra whose cormus is loosely anastomosed and has apical water-collecting tubes. Skeleton composed of diactines with one lanceolated tip, triactines and two size categories of tetractines. Apical actines are conical.

Etymology: The species name refers to ecoregion of the type locality, the Mascarene Islands.

Type locality: Passe de l’Hermitage, La Réunion, Indian Ocean .

Ty p e m a t e r i a l: H o l o t y p e – U F R J P O R 8 9 3 6 (= 171109- PAE2 - TP12), Passe de l’Hermitage Reef, La Réunion, Indian Ocean, coll. T. Pérez, 9 November 2017, 18– 20 m depth .

Colour: White in life and light brown to white in ethanol (Fig. 9A, B).

Morphology and anatomy: Sponge formed by loosely anastomosed tubes (Fig. 9A, B). Large water-collecting tubes are present at the apical region (Fig. 9B). Surface hispid (Fig. 9C). Aquiferous system asconoid. Skeleton composed of tetractines of two sizes, diactines and few triactines (Fig. 9D). The diactines are perpendicular to the tubes.