Scalarispongia lenis, Kim & Sim, 2020

Kim, Young A & Sim, Kyung Jin Lee and Chung Ja, 2020, Seven new species of two genera Scalarispongia and Smenospongia (Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida: Thorectidae) from Korea, Journal of Species Research 9 (2), pp. 147-161 : 148

3. Scalarispongia lenis n. sp. ( Fig. 4 )

DZṞḍċflųğãḓậ (ljÿ)

Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000862770), Korea: Seopjikoji, Goseong-ri, Seongsan-eup , Seogwipo-si , Jeju-do, 17 Mar 2003, collected by K.J. Lee, intertidal zone, rocky substrate, deposited at NIBR.

Description. Thick encrusting sponge, size up to 5.5 × 4 × 3 cm. Surface smooth with low conules, covered with thin membrane which can be easily broken. Several oscules, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, open on surface. Color in life, brownish gray outside and ivory inside. Texture firm and compressible.

Skeleton: Primary fibres cored spicules, 50-80 μm in diameter. Secondary fibres, 20-40 μm in diameter. Skeletal structure arranged regularly. Length of bridged secondary fibres between primary fibres, 300-600 μm.

Etymology. The species name, lenis , is named after the smooth surface of the sponge.

Remarks. This new species is similar to Scalarispongia regularis Lee and Sim, 2007 in skeletal structure but the size of fibres in new species is smaller. Numerous skeletal fibres do not come out to the surface. Surface covered with very low conules.

Figures

Fig. 4. Scalarispongia lenis n. sp. A, external morphology; B, surface under the dissecting microscope; C, skeletal structure near conules; D-F, ladder-like skeletal structure; G, light cored primary fibres; H, rare tertiary fibres. Scale bars: A=2 cm, B=0.1 cm, C=200 μm, D-H=100 μm.