Leucaltis corticata Lopes & Klautau, 2023

Lopes, Matheus Vieira & Klautau, Michelle, 2023, Phylogeny and revision of Leucaltis and Leucettusa (Porifera: Calcarea), with new classification proposals and description of a new type of aquiferous system, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198, pp. 691-746 : 702-703

LEUCALTIS CORTICATA ( HAECKEL, 1872) COMB. NOV.

( FIG. 6; TABLE 2 )

Synonyms: Leucetta corticata – Haeckel, 1872: 129; Poléjaeff, 1883: 29; Aphroceras corticata – Haeckel, 1872: 130; Leucettusa corticata – Dendy & Row, 1913: 739; Burton, 1963: 550; Borojević et al., 1990: 259; 2002: 1148.

Type specimen: No type material designated. The specimen used in the original description was not found.

Type locality: Cuba, Caribbean Sea (21°58ʹ N, 77°23ʹ W; inaccurate coordinates). Greater Antilles MEOW ecoregion .

Material examined: Original description.

Description: Sponge formed by a mass of anastomosed tubes ( Fig. 6A). Tubes are mostly cylindrical, compressed in few parts. Colour brown after fixation. Outer and atrial surfaces smooth. Osculum not apparent. Aquiferous system described as formed by elongated choanocyte chambers, occasionally fusing

REVISION OF LEUCALTIS AND LEUCETTUSA 703

a Haeckel (1872) did not mention which category had these measurements.

with each other ( Haeckel, 1872: 235; Poléjaeff, 1883: 10), which matches the kladonoid type.

Skeleton ( Fig. 6B): Cortical skeleton well developed, comprised of several layers of tangential triactines. Choanosomal skeleton reduced, with triactines sparse around the canals. These spicules are also present in the atrium, laying tangentially.