Stylocordyla borealis var. acuata Kirkpatrick, 1908

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 85

Stylocordyla borealis var. acuata Kirkpatrick, 1908

( Fig. 9D )

Stylocordyla borealis var. acuata Kirkpatrick, 1908: 22 , pl. XVI figs. 6-10; Hentschel 1914: 54.

The variety was described by Kirkpatrick from Antarctica, off Mount Erebus, near Winter Quarters, approximate coordinates 77.8333°S 166°E, depth 900 m (holotype BMNH 1908.2.5. 123). It differs from the typical variety described by Loven (1868: 99, pl. II) (as Hyalonema , from Norway, lectotype SMNH-8152, from Hammerfest, Finmarken, North Norway, approximate coordinates 70.72°N 23.55°E, depth 360 m, the paralectotype from Storegge, Southern Norway, approximate coordinates 60.98°N 5.18°E, no depth provided) by the absence of microxeas in the stalk and instead there are microstyles in the stalk and the microxeas in the head lack a centrotylote swelling. The present variety resembles the Antarctic Stylocordyla chupachups Uriz et al. (2011: 247, from 70°50.6 S 10°35.40’W, depth 247-269 m, holotype ZMH P3730) in shape and in the absence of a palisade of microxeas/microstyles in the surface of the body, but the oxeas of the stalk in that species are two-three times as long. Although the sizes of the oxeas of the stalk given by Kirkpatrick appear unusually small and similar to the sizes of oxeas of the body of other Stylocordyla , there was corroboration of the small spicules of the stalk by Hentschel’s (1914: 54) report of similar specimens from Gauss Station in East Antarctica. Hentschel cited the same small stalk spicules, thus confirming that a second Stylocordyla species in shape (rounded head) and skeletal features (absence of palisade of microstyles/ microxeas in the body) similar to the species Stylocordyla chupachups does exist in Antarctic waters. I propose to recognize the variety at the species level as Stylocordyla acuata Kirkpatrick, 1908 .

Figures

FIGURE 9. A–B. Reniera velamentosa Hansen, 1885, A. habitus pl. I fig. 10, B. spicules pl. VI fig. 3, C. Spuma borealis var. velamentosa Miklucho-Maclay, 1870: pl. II fig. 30, D. Stylocordyla borealis var. acuata Kirkpatrick, 1908: pl. XVI figs. 6–10, E. Stylocordyla borealis var. irregularis Hentschel, 1914: pl. IV fig. 2, F–G. Stylocordyla stipitata var. globosa Ridley & Dendy, 1886; Ridley & Dendy, 1887, F. habitus pl. XLIII fig. 10, G. skeleton of body text-fig. 9, H. Suberites carnosus depressus Topsent, 1900: pl. VII fig. 4, I. Suberites hirsutus; Topsent, 1928: pl. VI fig. 5, J. Suberites hirsutus sensu Johnston, 1841: pl. XVI fig. 1, K. Suberites hirsutus sensu Fleming, 1828: from Cordiner, 1788: fig. 27.