Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884)

Fig. 17

Spirastrella vagabunda Ridley, 1884: 468, pl. 43 figs e, e’.

Material examined

PONTA DO OURO • 1 small portion, preserved dry; Blacks; 18 m deep; 13 Nov. 2015; Torsani leg.; PdO14 .

Description

The sample, preserved dry, is a fragment collected from a sponge in the γ-stage (Fig. 17A); this and other observed specimens, very common in the area, are attached by a broad base, with one or more large

vents and numerous digitate protuberances; it is brown, with a smooth surface and a cavernous body; the consistence is tough and incompressible.

SKELETON. In the papillae, tylostyles are organized in palisade, in other parts the skeleton is more confused.

SPICULES. Big and straight styles (Fig. 17B), 450–(536.8, 48.8)–620 ×9–(10.7, 1.5)– 13 µm, rare tylostyles with slightly pointed tips; smaller styles (Fig. 17C), 240–(284.3, 30.3)– 310 µm × 5–(5.7, 1.3)– 8 µm, with acerate tips and, sometimes, tylostyle modifications; spirasters (Fig. 17D) are stout, with average length of 12.5 µm and in several shapes: straight with spines at the extremities (amphiasters like), S-shaped wrapped with spines and slightly curved C-shaped spirasters.

Remarks

This species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Already recorded in the area (Pulitzer-Finali 1993; Barnes & Bell 2002; Samaai et al. 2019).