Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882)

Van, Rob W. M., 2017, Sponges of the Guyana Shelf, Zootaxa 1, pp. 1-225 : 15-16

Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882)

Figures 6 a–b

Restricted synonymy:

Luffaria cauliformis Carter, 1882a: 268 (in part).

Aplysina cauliformis ; Wiedenmayer 1977: 68, pl. 7 figs 1–3 (with further synonyms); Pinheiro et al. 2007: 8 , figs 1B–C, 3B, 4A–C (with additional synonyms).

Material examined. RMNH Por. 9334, Suriname, ‘ Luymes O.C.P.S. II’ Guyana Shelf Expedition, station I115, 7.21°N 54.8617°W, depth 81 m, triangular dredge, 24 April 1969 .

Description. Thin-branched, ramose sponges (two specimens were obtained, Fig. 6 a). Size of largest specimen about 25 cm high, individual branches up to 1.5 cm diameter. Surface finely conulose. Color in alcohol dark pink. Consistency firmly compressible.

Skeleton. ( Fig. 6 b) An isotropical reticulation of pithed spongin fibres, 35–100 µm diameter, forming meshes of 200–600 µm diameter. Pith occupies 30–75 % of the fiber diameter.

Distribution and ecology. Guyana Shelf, Greater Caribbean, E and NE Brazil, from 3–100 m depth. Remarks. The present material matches quite closely with Pinheiro et al. ’s (2007) review of the species. The identification is made with confidence, despite the absence of live color information.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882), RMNH Por. 9340, a, habitus of two specimens (scale bar = 1 cm), b, light microscopic image of skeleton of pithed fibers.