Strongylacidon bermuda

Ugalde, Diana, Gómez, Patricia & Simões, Nuno, 2015, Marine sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Gulf of México, new records and redescription of Erylus trisphaerus (de Laubenfels, 1953), Zootaxa 3911 (2), pp. 151-183 : 163

Strongylacidon bermuda (de Laubenfels 1950)

( Fig. 9 A–C)

Selected synonymy: Fibulia bermuda de Laubenfels, 1950:52.

Material examined. CNPGG –1166 Alacranes reef (22º23’9.05”N 89º40’49.71”W), depth 5 m, 1/VIII/2009 CNPGG –1192 Alacranes reef (22º23’9.05”N 89º40’49.71”W), depth 5 m, 1/VIII/2009.

Description. Massive rounded sponge with low mounds ( Fig. 9 A), 5 cm in diameter and 3 cm in height. Surface is markedly conulose. These protuberance-like conules are mainly round and evenly distributed all over the surface, 0.5–1.5 mm in height, 1–2 mm apart. Several oscules mainly on top of the sponge are 3–5 mm in diameter. Consistency is firm but slightly compressible. A not so easily detachable thin dermis is visible; with a reticulate pattern of pigmented granules enclosing the pore fields. Color in vivo is black with green subectosomal veins, dark violet or black in alcohol.

Skeleton. Without ectosomal skeleton. The choanosomal skeleton consists of poorly defined reticulation made by densely packed tracts of spicules outlining round to irregular meshes ( Fig. 9 B). Ill-defined tracts 150–300 µm in thickness, several of which conform a trellis work towards the surface, making up those conules or tuberculate protuberances of the surface. Connective tracts 30–70 µm thick, with abundant but loose single strongyles.

Spicules. Abundant straight, uniform and slender strongyles, with isodiametric endings 158.6–218 × 1.3–2.8 µm ( Fig. 9 C), some with rod shaped, and loop shaped ends. Microscleres are absent.

Distribution and ecology. Bermuda (de Laubenfels 1950). Inhabits reef environments and reported up to 15 m in depth. This is the first record for the Gulf of Mexico.

Remarks. Strongylacidon bermuda has not been recorded again since its original description by de Laubenfels (1950) in Harrington Sound, Bermuda , where it was fairly common. The features described for S. bermuda are consistent with the present material. The massive habit is rather common for S. bermuda , although some differences emerge: 1) massive with a tendency to grow up into rounded lobes, hardly called digitate (de Laubenfels 1950); 2) massive with rounded lobes or low tubes ( Rützler 1986:Fig.32; as Ulosa ) and 3) massive with low mounds (present work).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Strongylacidon bermuda (de Laubenfels 1950): A. Specimen preserved in alcohol. B. Detail of densely packed tracts of strongyles forming a round mesh. C. Common strongyles in LM.