Mycale (Grapelia) menylloides Hajdu, 1995

Van, Rob W. M., Aryasari, Ratih & De, Nicole J., 2021, Mycale species of the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Porifera, Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida), Zootaxa 4912 (1), pp. 1-212 : 91-93

Mycale (Grapelia) menylloides Hajdu, 1995

Figs 57 a–f

Mycale (Grapelia) menylloides Hajdu, 1995: 87 , figs 6.44–51.

Material examined. Holotype ZMA Por. 01597, Indonesia, Maluku, Kai Islands, Duroa Strait , 5.5859°S 132. 6953°E, depth 0–52 m, Blake dredge, coll. Siboga Expedition stat. 257, 11 December 1899.

Summary description (Partially after Hajdu 1995). Thinly to massively encrusting ( Fig. 57a ) on dead branches of a Homotrema -like foraminifera. Size 3 x 1.5 x 0.2 cm. Color in preserved condition beige brown. Surface microconulose. No apparent oscules. Consistency compressible. Skeleton plumoreticulate, with spicule tracts up to 120 µm, thinning out towards the surface, ending in surface tufts of single spicules. The tangential ectosomal skeleton is thoroughly confused. Spicules ( Figs 57 b–f) mycalostyles ( Figs 57b,b 1 ) straight and comparatively long and slim, 408– 466.5 –486 x 6– 11.9 – 15 µm, anisochelae I ( Figs 57c ) with curved shaft, upper alae unguiferate, upper median ala often bifid, lower alae squarish with smooth rims, 34– 37.7 – 44 µm (arranged in rosettes of 95–111 µm in diameter), anisochelae II ( Fig. 57d ) contracted-globular, free part of shaft almost absent, with upper alae smaller and fused with teethed rim and lower alae larger with serrated rims, 6– 8.4 – 10 µm (arranged in rosettes of 28–35 µm in diameter), anisochelae III ( Fig. 57e ) larger than anisochelae II, palmate, conventional in shape with short spur, 10– 11.6 – 15 µm, sigmas ( Fig. 57f ) 29– 40.2 –48 x 1–3 µm.

Distribution. Indonesia, depth 0– 52 m.

Remarks. The species name was duplicated from the manuscript name used by Burton for this species in his unpublished manuscript of the sponges of the Siboga Expedition. As Hajdu (1995: 87) suggested, the name menylloides probably refers to the genus name Menyllus Gray, 1867 , a junior synonym of Iophon Gray, 1867 , caused by the similarity of anisochelae II to bipocilla. The name Menyllus was taken from Ancient Greek history, as it was the name of a commander of one of the armies in the Lamian War of 322 BC (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Menyllus ).

So far the species has been reported only from the Indonesian type locality. The anisochelae II are the defining character for this species, although M. (G.) trichophora Dendy & Frederick, 1924 has probably rather similar, but larger anisochelae II. So far no SEM images of anisochela II of that species have been published. M. (G.) trichophora differs from M. (G.) menylloides in lacking sigmas and having trichodragmata.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Numbers of available specimens for the present study from the collections of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center distributed over Indo-West Pacific Marine Ecoregions (MEOWS, cf. Spalding et al. 2007). B. Ditto for type specimens and additional specimens from other institutions consulted for this study.

FIGURE 57. Mycale (Grapelia) menylloides Hajdu, 1995, holotype ZMA Por. 01597, from Indonesia, a, preserved habitus (scale bar = 1 cm), b–f, SEM images of spicules, b, mycalostyle, b1, details of mycalostyle, c, anisochelae I, d, globular anisochela II, e, spurred anisochelae III, f, sigma.