Reidispongia Lévi F Lévi, 1988

Schlacher-Hoenlinger, Monika A., Pisera, Andrzej & Hooper, John N. A., 2005, Deep-sea “ lithistid ” assemblages from the Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia), with description of seven new species and a new genus (Porifera, Demospongiae), Zoosystema 27 (4), pp. 649-698 : 688-692

Genus Reidispongia Lévi F Lévi, 1988

Reidispongia Lévi F Lévi, 1988: 245 , figs 11-14.

TYPE SPECIES. — Reidispongia coerulea Lévi F Lévi, 1988 by monotypy.

DEFINITION. — Lamellar or cup-shaped Phymatellidae (Pisera F Lévi 2002f) .

Reidispongia coerulea Lévi F Lévi, 1988 ( Figs 4D ; 20 ; 34 )

Reidispongia coerulea Lévi F Lévi, 1988: 245 , pl. 2, fig. 2.

HOLOTYPE. — New Caledonian Slope ( MNHN DCL 3538 ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (see Table 1). — Épon ge, 508- 541 m ( QM G318563, QM G318600, QM G318601, QM G318642).

DESCRIPTION

Growth form

Cup-shaped sponges with thin folded walls or contorted lamellae with a smooth surface and a simple base. Cup openings mainly ovoid. This new material is approximately 5 cm high and 8 × 5 cm wide with a 1.5 cm broad base.

Colour

Blue to dark bluish grey in etoh.

Oscules

Not obvious. Canal openings on the surface of t h e c h o a n o s o m a l s k e l e t o n: I s u r f a c e: 1 9 7- 250 µm; II surface: 135-140 µm.

Texture

Hard, but brittle.

Surface ornamentation

Smooth.

Schlacher-Hoenlinger M. A. et al.

Ectosomal skeleton

Smooth dichotriaenes and some long oxeas occur on both surfaces. Microscleres in the ectosome are amphiasters/streptasters with short and massive rays covered by numerous low spines and rounded, blunt tips.

Choanosomal skeleton

The relatively dense choanosomal skeleton consists of smooth branched tetraclone desmas; there is very poor or no terminal articulation resulting in a fragile sponge structure. Microscleres in the choanosome are amphiasters/streptasters which are covered with hook-like spines and have long and slender rays with pointed ends.

Megascleres

Tetraclone desmas: smooth, branched, with poor terminal articulation: 380-420 µm/20-30 µm. Dichotriaenes: 100-190 µm long × 150-300 µm (diameter of cladome).

Oxeas: 500-1000 × 7-8 µm.

Microscleres

Massive amphiasters/streptasters: 9.61-12.8 × 7.46-10.3 µm.

Amphiasters/spirasters with long rays: 19-21.2 × 15.4-16.1 µm.

REMARKS

This new material agrees closely with the holotype in shape and desma geometry. The morphology and size of microscleres is also identical with the type material.

Figures

FIG. 4. — A, Discodermia proliferans Lévi & Lévi, 1983; B, Homophymia pollubrum n. sp.; C, Reidispongia tuberculata n. sp.; D, R. coerulea Lévi & Lévi, 1988. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 20. — Reidispongia coerulea Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, outer surface with inhalant pores and oxeas; B, detail of outer surface with inhalant pores, ectosomal dichotriaenes, oxeas and dense crust of microscleres; C, surface of the choanosomal skeleton with canal openings; D, choanosomal skeleton; E, F, detail of choanosomal skeleton composed of branched tetraclone desmas. Scale bars: A, D, 200 µm; B, E, F, 100 µm; C, 500 µm.

FIG. 34. — Reidispongia coerulea Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A-C, variable choanosomal streptasters/amphiasters with long pointed rays; D-F, massive ectosomal streptasters/amphiasters; G, ectosomal dichotriaene; H, cladome of ectosomal dichotriaene. Scale bars: A-F, 5 µm; G, H, 100 µm.