Petrosia (Strongylophora) devoogdae, Van, Rob W. M., 2017

Van, Rob W. M., 2017, Sponges of the Guyana Shelf, Zootaxa 1, pp. 1-225 : 38-40

Petrosia (Strongylophora) devoogdae sp. nov.

Figures 24 a–j

Material examined. Holotype RMNH Por. 10542, Suriname, ‘Luymes’ Guyana Shelf Expedition, station 1, 7.1667°N 53.5833°W, depth 104–130 m, bottom sandy calcarenite, 24 August 1970 .

Description. The holotype ( Fig. 24 a) is a massively lamellate holed fragment. Size 5 x 3.5 cm, thickness about 1.5 cm. Surface smooth, but uneven, overgrown with bryozoans. Color (in alcohol) dull yellow with reddish patches. Consistency firm, crumbly.

Skeleton. ( Figs 24 b–c) Choanosomal reticulation ( Fig. 24 c) of thick tracts, 100–150 µm diameter, forming rounded meshes of 200–300 µm. Tracts not consolidated by spongin, many loose spicules. Surface skeleton ( Fig. 24 b) similar to the choanosome, but with a concentration of smaller spicules.

Spicules. ( Figs 24 d–j) Large strongyles, larger and smaller oxeas, toxas.

Strongyles ( Fig. 24 d) smooth, curved, with ends narrower than the middle part of the shaft, rather uniform in length and thickness, 327– 353 –378 x 32 – 36.8 –42 µm.

Oxeas ( Figs 24 e–i) in a wide size range, divisible in five, perhaps slightly overlapping, sizes, (1) long and thick ( Fig. 24 e), in the same length range as the strongyles, usually strongly and often angularly curved, sharp apices, 332– 362 –408 x 16 – 20.7 –28 µm, (2) second largest ( Fig. 24 f), gently curved, with sharp apices, 179– 234 –258 x 9 – 11.7 –14 µm, (3) third largest ( Fig. 24 g), similar in shape to previous size, 111– 129 –147 x 7.5– 9.1 –11 µm, (4) fourth largest ( Fig. 24 h), similar in shape to previous size, 51– 68 – 99 x 4.5– 5.9 –8 µm, (5), smallest ( Fig. 24 i, i1), often curved more angularly than the previous size categories, 27– 33.1 – 40 x 3 – 3.4 –4 µm.

Toxas ( Figs 24 j,j1), thin, with sharp angle and straight wings, 21– 40.7 –61 µm.

Distribution and ecology. Guyana Shelf, sandy bottom, at 104–130 m depth.

Etymology. Named after Dr Nicole de Voogd (Naturalis, Leiden) to recognize her great efforts in sponge biology, including a.o. studies on Petrosiidae and Petrosia (cf. De Voogd & Van Soest 2002).

Remarks. The assignment of the new species to subgenus Strongylophora rather than to subgenus Petrosia is based on the large strongyles and the high number of oxea categories, including angular microxeas. To date, there are nine Petrosia species known from the Central West Atlantic ( Van Soest et al. 2016), and only Petrosia (P.) pellasarca ( De Laubenfels, 1934) (as Haliclona ) has been reported to have rare toxas (see Lehnert & Van Soest’s (1996) record of this species). In other aspects, skeletal structure and sizes and categories of the spicules, P. (P.) pellasarca is very different: a lightly built, almost Haliclona -like skeleton, and only two size classes of strongyloxeas the larger of which is only up to 280 x 10 µm in size.

Worldwide, the possession of toxas is known from only a single other Petrosia species, Petrosia (P.) microxea ( Vacelet, Vasseur & Lévi, 1976) , from Madagascar, originally as Toxadocia , also subsequently reported by Lim et al. 2008 (p. 139) from Singapore.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Petrosia (Strongylophora) devoogdae sp. nov., a, habitus of holotype RMNH Por. 10542, (scale bar = 1 cm), b – c, light microscopic images, b, cross section of peripheral skeleton, c, cross section of choanosomal skeleton, d – j, SEM images of spicules, d, strongyle, e, largest oxea, f, largest but one oxea, g, third largest oxea, h, smallest but one oxea, i, smallest oxea, i 1, smallest oxea enlarged, j, toxas, j 1 toxa enlarged.