Neoschrammeniella moreti (Lévi F Lévi, 1988 )

Schlacher-Hoenlinger, Monika A., Pisera, Andrzej & Hooper, John N. A., 2005, Deep-sea “ lithistid ” assemblages from the Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia), with description of seven new species and a new genus (Porifera, Demospongiae), Zoosystema 27 (4), pp. 649-698 : 673-674

Neoschrammeniella moreti (Lévi F Lévi, 1988)

( Figs 3B ; 13 ; 27 )

Iouea moreti Lévi F Lévi, 1988: 248 , pl. 4: 4, fig. 4.

Neoschrammeniella moreti – Pisera F Lévi 2 002b: 319, figs 12-15.

HOLOTYPE. — New Caledonian Slope ( MNHN DCL 3541 ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (see Table 1). — Introuvable, 562-576 m ( QM G318597).

DESCRIPTION

Growth form

Columnar, erect, cylindrical sponges with an axial cavity, which extends to half the height of the sponge and ends at the conical summit. The summit may bear a single oscule as terminal extension of the axial cavity or may be closed. The examined specimen has an osculum and is about 3 cm high. Colour

Beige with yellow and pinkish areas in etoh.

Oscules

One large apical oscule; ostia 67-83 µm.

Texture

Hard, stony.

Surface ornamentation

Smooth.

Ectosomal skeleton

Ectosomal skeleton contains a layer of very abundant smooth dichotriaenes perpendicular to the surface and abundant microscleres. Microscleres at the surface are numerous, forming a crust and consist of microspinose blunt spiraster streptasters.

Choanosomal skeleton

Skeleton consists of strongly tuberculated, irregular dicranoclones, producing a very dense structure. Within the choanosome microscleres are long pointed spirasters.

Megascleres

Dicranoclone desmas thick, mushroom-shaped tubercules are slightly subdivided into smaller very low callosities and sometimes appear smooth: 650-750 µm/70-100 µm.

Dichotriaenes smooth; conical, straight rhabdome and cladome: 395-617 µm long × 377- 509 µm (diameter of the cladome).

Oxeas large, protruding from the surface, but invariably broken.

Anisoxeas: 169-466 × 3.86-4.66 µm.

Microscleres

Massive (rhabd-like) spirasters: 15.6-19.1 × 7.45- 9.07 µm.

Spirasters with slender arms: 29.3-35.1 × 15.7- 20.1 µm.

REMARKS

This new material conforms closely to the holotype, with the exception of having slightly smaller microscleres.

Schlacher-Hoenlinger M. A. et al.

Figures

FIG. 3. — A, Isabella mirabilis n. gen., n. sp.; B, Neoschrammeniella moreti (Lévi & Lévi, 1988); C, N. norfolkii n. sp.; D, N. castrum n. sp.; E, Anaderma rancureli Lévi & Lévi, 1983. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 13. — Neoschrammeniella moreti Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, outer surface with inhalating pores and ectosomal dichotriaenes; B, detail of same outer surface with pores and ectosomal dichotriaenes, note a dense crust of ectosomal microscleres; C, outer surface of the choanosomal skeleton; D, details of the outer surface of the desmas of choanosomal skeleton; E, morphology and articulation of choanosomal desmas;F, details of articulation between choanosomal desmas. Scale bars: A, D,500 µm; B, E, 200 µm; C, 1 mm; F, 100 µm.

FIG. 27. — Neoschrammeniella moreti Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, choanosomal microanisoxea; B, head of choanosomal microanisoxea; C, tip of choanosomal microanisoxea; D, E, ectosomal dichotriaene; F, cladome of ectosomal dichotriaene; G, ectosomal rhabd-like spirasters; H, choanosomal spirasters with slender arms. Scale bars: A, H, 10 µm; B, C, G, 5 µm; D-F, 200 µm.