Calthropella digitata Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & De Voogd, Nicole J., 2010, Skeletons in confusion: a review of astrophorid sponges with (dicho-) calthrops as structural megascleres (Porifera, Demospongiae, Astrophorida), ZooKeys 68, pp. 1-88 : 65-66

Calthropella digitata Pulitzer-Finali, 1993

Calthropella digitata Pulitzer-Finali 1993: 252, Figs 2-3.

Material examined.

None. Holotype MSNG 48290

Description.

Branching mass of 5 × 3 cm. Confused skeleton in which giant oxeas (2700 × 9 µm) predominate. Next to this there are large dichotriaenes with cladomes of 400-550 µm wide and similar sized rhabdomes of 400-650 × 35-45 µm. Spherasters of 8-14 µm comprise the microscleres.

Habitat.

Deep water, 120 m.

Distribution.

North Kenya Banks, E Africa.

Remarks.

This is in all probability not a Calthropella as it has a dense skeleton with confusedly arranged oxeas. This species is best assigned to Stelletta s.l..