Scleritoderma camusi Lévi F Lévi, 1983

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 : 661-663

Scleritoderma camusi Lévi F Lévi, 1983

( Figs 2C ; 8 ; 22C, D )

Scleritoderma camusi Lévi F Lévi, 1983: 125 , pl. VI, 2, pl. VIII, 7-9, fig. 13.

HOLOTYPE. — New Caledonian Slope ( MNHN DCL 2787 ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED ( Table 1). — Jumeau-East, 278- 410 m ( QM G318549, QM G318706).

DESCRIPTION

Growth form

Massive vase-shaped and pedunculate, 3 cm high, 2 cm wide at vase opening and 1.5 cm broad at base.

Colour

Blue to light grey in etoh.

Oscules

Not visible.

Schlacher-Hoenlinger M. A. et al.

Texture

Hard, stony.

Surface ornamentation

Smooth, slightly sculptured at the rim of the vase.

Ectosomal skeleton

E c t o s o m a l s p i c u l e s a r e a c a n t h o s t r o n g y l e s/ rhabds which form a tangential layer on the surface.

Choanosomal skeleton

Extremely dense choanosomal skeleton of rhizoclone desmas.

Megascleres

Desmas branched, thorny rhizoclone, with numerous short, blunt rays: 250-300 µm/20-40 µm.

Microscleres

Microrhabds (acanthose): 43.7-68.3 × 5.5-6.46 µm. Sigmaspires (curved, not very abundant): 9.1- 11.3 × 1.27-1.65 µm.

REMARKS

Our specimens agree well with the holotype, in morphology as well as geometry and size of spicules. The species has been previously recorded from the slope off New Caledonia.

Family CORALLISTIDAE Sollas, 1888 DEFINITION. — Polymorphic lithistids with dicranoclone choanosomal desmas and ectosomal dichotriaenes; microscleres are spirasters (usually two types), streptasters/amphiasters, microxeas and microstrongyles (Pisera F Lévi 2002b).

Figures

FIG. 2. — A, Aciculites orientalis Dendy, 1905; B, Scleritoderma sp.; C, S. camusi Lévi & Lévi, 1983; D, S. flabelliforme Sollas, 1888; E, Corallistes australis n. sp.; F, Herengeria vasiformis n. sp.; G, H. auriculata Lévi & Lévi, 1988. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 8. — Scleritoderma camusi Lévi & Lévi, 1983; A, outer surface of the choanosomal skeleton with canal openings; B, details of the outer surface of the choanosomal skeleton; C, details of choanosomal skeleton of rhizoclones; D, details of choanosomal skele- ton of rhizoclones. Scale bars: A, 1 mm; B, 500 µm; C, 200 µm; D, 100 µm.

FIG. 22. — A, B, Scleritoderma flabelliforme Sollas, 1888; A, acanthorhabds; B, sigmaspires; C, D, S. camusi Lévi & Lévi, 1983; C, acanthorhabds; D, sigmaspires. Scale bars: A, C, 20 µm; B, D, 2 µm.