Halisarca australiensis var. arenacea Carter, 1886

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 13

Halisarca australiensis var. arenacea Carter, 1886

Halisarca australiensis var. arenacea Carter, 1886a: 277 (no illustration); Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: 528.

The variety was described by Carter from Port Phillip Heads, Victoria, Australia, approximate coordinates 38.3°S 114.61°E, collected by J.B. Wilson (wet holotype BMNH 1887.7.11.2). Hooper & Wiedenmayer (1994: 528) took up this variety along with the typical variety under their chapter ‘Species Inquirendae’ because Carter’s descriptions of the Halisarca specimens from SE Australia appear to indicate they could be asidians (Tunicata) rather than sponges. The present variety is stated to differ from the typical variety (syntype BMNH 1887.7.11.1 and 4, collected at the same locality and also by J.B. Wilson) in being lighter colored, presumed to be caused by a cover of crystal sand. The original description of Halisarca australiensis Carter (1885a:197) was expanded in his 1886a paper into four species and the present variety. Apparently these are all similar in shape and size and differ only in minor details. In view of the poor evidence provided by Carter, I propose here to merge the var. arenacea with the typical variety into a single species Halisarca australiensis Carter, 1885a as a taxon inquirendum.