Desmacella microsigmata, Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Santos, George Garcia & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2015

Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Santos, George Garcia & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2015, Desmacella Schmidt, 1870 from Brazil: Description of two new species and a review of records (Desmacellida: Demospongiae: Porifera), Zootaxa 4034 (2), pp. 364-374 : 366-367

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4034.2.8

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C08231F-2280-4FF8-A042-F94F04466AE3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6112717

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B2565B-FD69-FFE8-9EBB-FCC1FF87FA0A

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Desmacella microsigmata
status

sp. nov.

Desmacella microsigmata sp. nov.

( Figures 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 , Table 1)

Type locality: Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte State, Potiguar Basin.

Type specimens: Holotype. UFPEPOR 1759, Bacia Potiguar (04° 36.6848’ S; 036° 46.6926’ W), Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, depth 157 m, trawl, coll. Petrobrás, (21/V/2011).

Diagnosis. Desmacella microsigmata sp. nov. is an encrusting sponge, characterized by the presence of tylostyles (286.3 x 3.9 µm, length x width) with elliptical tyles situated at varied positions at their bases, and small sigmas with microspined ends (14.6 µm, chord length).

External morphology ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A). Encrusting sponge, 1 x 1.5 cm (length x width) ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A). Hispid surface, consistency is fragile, oscules were not seen, colour in situ is unknown, brownish-purple in ethanol. The specimens were collected in the same dredge as Aiolochroia crassa ( Hyatt, 1875) and stored in the same container. It is possible that the A. crassa pigments stained the Desmacella specimens ( Cavalcanti et al. 2014).

Skeleton ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B). The ectosomal skeleton consists in terminations of the ascending choanosomal tracts. Choanosomal skeleton is composed of poor spongin fibres and tylostyles forming bouquets of spicules projecting through the surface. Sigmas are randomly distributed.

Spicules ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C–F). Tylostyles (177– 286.3 –425 x 2 – 3.9 –7 µm, length x width): long, thin, smooth, straight to slightly curved, with elliptical tyles situated at varied positions at their bases ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, F); Sigmas (12– 14.6 –19 µm, chord length): small, thin, abundant and with microspined ends ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, E).

Ecology. The specimens of Desmacella microsigmata sp. nov. was found associated with the bryozoan Canda alsia Winston, Vieira & Woollacott, 2014 .

Distribution ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Brazil: Northeastern Region: Rio Grande do Norte State: off Potiguar Basin.

Etymology. The species name refers to the small size of the sigma.

Remarks. Desmacella microsigmata sp. nov. belongs to the genus by the possession of tylostyles and sigmas, and a skeleton consisting of plumose bundles of tylostyles. Desmacella microsigmata sp. nov. differs from other Atlantic species by its elliptical tyles with variously located along the basal part of the shaft of the megasclere and dimensions of the spicules. The new species differs from D. annexa , D. digitata , D. polysigmata , D. pumilio and D. vicina by having just one category of sigmas. Desmacella grimaldii , D. informis , D. inornata , D. suberitoides , D. topsenti , D. vagabunda and, D. vestibularis are distinguished by the possession of larger tylostyles and sigmas bigger than those of D. microsigmata sp. nov. (see Table 1). The new species differs from D. infundibuliformis , D. jania and D. meliorata , by the encrusting growth form of the new species and its tiny sigmas (see Table 1). Desmacella peachi sensu Ferrer-Hernandez (1914) is distinguished from D. microsigmata sp. nov. by the presence of raphides, sinuous tylostyles and lacking sigmas. Finally, in spite of D. corrugata ’s description ( Bowerbank, 1866, from Azores) not having included the dimensions of its spicules, it can still be differentiated from D. microsigmata sp. nov. due to the former’s tylostyles lacking variously located subterminal tyles.

TABLE 1. Comparative micrometric data on the spicules, shape, colour and overview of distribution of the living species of Desmacella Schmidt, 1870 from Atlantic Ocean. Values are in micrometres (µm), expressed as follows: minimum–maximum or minimum– mean –maximum length/width. References are numbered in parentheses and listed after the table.

Desmacella tylovariabilis sp. nov. Rio de Janeiro State ( Brazil) Massive / Beige (fixed) 315– 616.0 –1050/ 6–11.0–16 25– 34.2 –48 - -

/ 1130

inornata ( Bowerbank, 1866) 1,4 Aegean Sea, Alboran Sea, Amorphous / Dirty gray 190–1000 / 6–18 20 –45 - -

Azores, Western (dried) Mediterranean / 100–270

jania Verrill, 1907 1,10 Bermuda, Caribbean Sea, Massive and irregularly 220–250 (styles to tylostyles) 37–40 - -

Mexico / not recorded lobulate / White (dried)

meliorata Wiedenmayer , Bahamas, Caribbean Sea / Lobular / Crimson red 210–230 / 3.5–4.5 37 / 2 - - 1,11 not recorded

......continued on the next page TABLE 1. (Continued) References: (1) Lehnert et al. (2005); (2) Topsent (1936); (3) van Soest & Stentoft (1988); (4) Bowerbank (1866); (5) Lévi, (1960); (6) Topsent (1890); (7) Stephens (1916); (8) Vosmaer (1885); (9) Fristedt (1887); (10) Verril (1907); (11) Wiedenmayer (1977); (12) Ferrer-Hernandez (1914); (13) Van Soest (1984); (14) Schmidt (1870); (15) Burton (1932); (16) Burton (1930); (17) Wilson 1904).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Porifera

Class

Demospongiae

Order

Poecilosclerida

Family

Desmacellidae

Genus

Desmacella

Loc

Desmacella microsigmata

Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Santos, George Garcia & Pinheiro, Ulisses 2015
2015
Loc

jania

Verrill 1907
1907
Loc

inornata (

Bowerbank 1866
1866
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