Spongelia spinosa Hyatt, 1877

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 21

Spongelia spinosa Hyatt, 1877

( Fig. 2D )

Spongelia spinosa Hyatt, 1877: 535 , pl. 16 fig, 32.

The species was decribed by Hyatt from Mauritius, approximate coordinates 20°S 57.833°E (syntypes MCZ PORa-7040 and 6497). Hyatt also distinguished two varieties (cf. below), codmani originating from Tenerife, and rigida from Florida. Since the species and its two varieties are unlikely to belong to the same species, it is technically necessary to distinguish the Mauritian material as the nominotypical variety (even though Hyatt did not name it as such). Judged from Hyatt’s description and photo of the habitus the species is probably a Dysidea , to be named for the time being Dysidea spinosa Hyatt, 1877 , but its status as an accepted species distinct from other Western Indian Ocean Dysidea species needs to be established by study and comparison of the type material.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Spongia dubia Hyatt, 1877: pl. 17 fig. 9, B–C. Spongelia dubia var. excavata Hyatt, 1877: pl. 17 figs. 10–11, D. Spongelia spinosa Hyatt, 1877: pl. 16 fig. 32, E. Leiosella compacta Von Lendenfeld, 1889: pl. 13 fig. 7, F–H, Spongia (Spongia) obscura Wiedenmayer, 1977, F. habitus in situ pl. 3 fig. 1, G. dried habitus, pl. 3 fig. 2, H. skeleton pl. 3 fig. 3, I. Cacospongia linteiformis sensu Topsent, 1933: pl. I fig. 8, J. Spongia linteiformis Esper, 1797: pl. LVIII, figs. 1–2.