Phyllospongia foliascens (Pallas, 1766)

Putra, Singgih Afifa, Ambo-Rappe, Rohani, Jompa, Jamaluddin & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2024, Preliminary study of marine sponges (Porifera) in the littoral of Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia, ZooKeys 1208, pp. 275-313 : 275-313

Phyllospongia foliascens (Pallas, 1766)

Fig. 26

Diagnostic features.

Specimen form is foliaceous and irregular flabellate branches, pale white color in life and when preserved, <0.5 mm thick. Numerous small oscula (<1 mm) scattered in the surface. Skeleton consists of interconnected reticulate fibers. This species was recently transferred from the genus Carteriospongia Hyatt, 1877 due to molecular phylogenetic analysis showing Carteriospongia foliascens as a clade member of Phyllospongia bergquistae Abdul Wahab & Fromont, 2020 . The original diagnosis describing a verrucose surface is characteristic for Phyllospongia foliascens , but with a fine and meandering surface patterning for Phyllospongia bergquistae ( Bergquist et al. 1988; Abdul Wahab et al. 2021). Phyllospongia foliascens is a phototrophic species that mainly relies on symbiotic cyanobacteria for its nutrient cycle. This species is also able to endure high energy environments ( Cleary et al. 2005).

Distribution and ecology.

Numerous individuals were found during the survey. Phyllospongia foliascens is widely distributed and has a high density in the Spermonde Archipelago ( de Voogd et al. 2006). Our specimen was found at south-west of Samalona Island, reef flat; Gusung Tallang, turbid reef. This species has been recorded from shallow waters of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Australia, and Fiji ( Abdul Wahab et al. 2021).

Figures

Figure 26. Habitus in situ of Phyllospongia foliascens (Pallas, 1766) at Samalona Island, the Spermonde Archipelago (photograph by SAP).