Petrosia (Petrosia) weinbergi Van Soest, 1980

Rocha, Lívia, Moraes, Fernando, Salani, Sula & Hajdu, Eduardo, 2021, Taxonomy of Petrosiidae Van Soest, 1980 (Haplosclerida, Porifera) from Brazil, Zootaxa 5004 (2), pp. 251-287 : 263-267

Petrosia (Petrosia) weinbergi Van Soest, 1980

( Fig. 1 , 3 ; Tab. 3, 5)

Petrosia weinbergi, Van Soest 1981: 21 ; Alcolado & Gotera 1986: 2; Hajdu et al. 2011: 96; Alcolado & Busutil 2012: 71. Petrosia (Petrosia) weinbergi, Moraes 2011: 185 ; Rützler et al. 2014: 90 ; Van Soest 2017: 37.

Additional synonymy in Muricy et al. 2011: 106.

Studied material (23 specimens): Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte State, Atoll das Rocas: MNRJ 2917 , Salãozinho Tide Pool (3.87559º S, 33.80881º W), 3 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 1999.7.4; MNRJ 2942 , Deep Fenda crevice (3.85000º S, 33.78333º W), 5 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 1999.12.6; MNRJ 6387 , 6388 , 6389 , 6390 , dos Mapas Tide Pool (3.86945º S, 33.81797º W), 2 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu, M. Ventura & U. Pinheiro, 2002.8.28; MNRJ 6682 , 6683 , 6852 , Deep Fenda crevice (3.85000º S, 33.78333º W), 5 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu, M. Ventura & U. Pinheiro, 2002.8.25. Pernambuco State: MNRJ 7843 , Buraco da Raquel (3.83446º S, 32.39733º W, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago ), 2 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 2003.11.10; MNRJ 8615 , Cordilheira (3.85000º S, 32.41667º W, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago ), 20 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 2004.8.10; UFRJPOR 3916 ( Fernando de Noronha Archipelago ), Col. G. Muricy, 1996.03.01; UFRJPOR 4046, Biquara Reef (8.75000º S, 35.10000º W, Tamandaré), depth not recorded, Col. G. Muricy, 1996.3.9. Bahia State: MNRJ 2602 , West side of quebra-mar, Capitania dos Portos (12.96361º S, 38.51556º W, Port Authority breakwater, Salvador), 15–20 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu, 1999.8.7; MNRJ 2643 , South side of quebra-mar, Capitania dos Portos (12.96361º S, 38.51556º W, Port Authority breakwater, Salvador), 15–20 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu, 1999.8.7; MNRJ 8311 , between Farol da Barra and Porto da Barra, depth not recorded, Col. E. Hajdu, 2004.06.03; MNRJ 10588 , South side of quebra-mar, Capitania dos Portos (12.96361º S, 38.51556º W, Port Authority breakwater, Salvador), 5.8 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu, 2007.12.14; MNRJ 11120 , Cantagalo beach, ‘Blackadder’ Shipwreck (12.93517º S, 38.51181º W, Salvador), 7.9 m depth, Col. E. Hajdu & G. Harfush, 2009.5.31; MNRJ 21014 , Pedra de Leste , Parcel das Paredes (17.80000º S, 38.91667º W, Caravelas, Abrolhos Bank), 6 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 2016.5.5; MNRJ 18141 , Recife das Timbebas (ca. 17.39635º S, 39.02636º W), 10 m depth, Col. F. Moraes, 2014.2.23; UFRJPOR 4723, Parcel das Paredes (ca. 17.76280º S, 38.98045º W), Col. G. Muricy, 1997.10.31. off Espírito Santo State, Trindade Island : MNRJ 7396 , Ponta dos Farrilhões (20.51667º S, 29.31667º W), 28 m depth, Col. G. Muricy, 2003.8.18; MNRJ 7402 , Ilha Sul , 12 m depth, Col. G. Muricy & F. Moraes, 2003.8.18 .

External morphology. Thickly encrusting to massive, up to 20 cm wide. Uneven surface. Oscules rounded (1–4 mm diam.), dispersed at the surface level or slightly elevated (volcaniform), showing lighter color edges. Microhispid texture. Consistency hard and friable. Color in vivo varying from olive-green, with or without red-wine tinges, yellowish-brown, white or beige ( Fig. 3A ).

Skeleton. Ectosomal, detachable, with scarce spongin, showing a tangential anisotropic reticulation, where stout primary tracts formed by oxeas I and II surround irregular polygonal meshes (415–580 μm wide) of pauci- to multispicular tracts (95–195 μm thick). Thinner, secondary to tertiary tracts, also formed by oxeas I and II, delimit smaller irregular polygonal meshes (50–240 μm wide), formed by uni- to paucispicular tracts (15–100 μm thick). Oxeas III are found along the spicule tracts, single or in bundles, varying in density among specimens ( Fig. 3B–C ). Some specimens (e.g. MNRJ 6388) showed a nearly isotropic ectosomal reticulation of paucispicular tracts, with considerably reduced numbers of oxeas III attached to these tracts. Choanosomal, a loose lamellate-isotropic reticulation with rounded meshes (145–630 μm wide), formed by multispicular tracts (50–165 μm thick) in variably welldefined layers parallel to the surface. Rounded or elongated canals (100–1,100 μm wide) are commom between these parallel tracts ( Fig. 3C ). Dispersed, slender oxeas I and II confer a disorganized aspect to the choanosome, these being rare in the ectosome. Single rare oxeas III are also found dispersed in the choanosome.

Spicules ( Table 3). Oxeas in three size classes. Oxeas I ( Fig. 3F, I ), larger, smooth, slightly curved, with mucronate, rounded, conic, hastate and acerate ends 194–229 (16.6)–334/ 5–9 (2.4)– 15 µm. Oxeas II ( Fig. 3G, J ), intermediate, resembling the former, but smaller 63–109 (27.4)–189/ 5–7 (2.1)– 15 µm. Oxeas III ( Fig. 3H, K ), smaller, smooth, straight to slightly curved, with conic, mucronate and hastate ends, 19–37 (8.6) 59/ 5–5 (0.7) 15 µm. Specimens Oxea (length/ width)

Atoll das Rocas

MNRJ 2917 I: 194–215 (19)–242/ 10–9 (0.6)–15

II: 63–107 (24.3)–189/ 5–7 (2.3)–10

III: 24–34 (9.9)–58/ 5–6 (1.7) 10

MNRJ 2942 I: 194–210 (14)–252/ 5–9.3 (1.7)–15

II: 63–123 (36.7)–189/ 5–8 (2.4)–10

III: 24–37 (14.8)–53/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 6387 I: 194–224 (13.2)–252/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

II: 63–114 (31.4)–189/ 5–5 (0.7)–10

III: 19–30 (8)–53/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 6388 I: 194–226 (17.5)–257/ 5–8 (2.4)–10

II: 73–106 (24.4)–174/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

III: 24–36 (12.8)–58/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 6389 I: 194–212 (11.3)–232/ 5–6 (1.9)–10

II: 68–121 (37.4)–189/ 5–5 (1)–10

III: 24–34 (5.7)–44/ 5–5 (1.1)–10

MNRJ 6390 I: 194–216 (26.6)–261/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

II: 63–108 (31.3)–179/ 5–5 (0)–5

III: 19–30 (9.9)–58/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 6682 I: 194–227 (14.9)–257/ 5–9 (2)–15

II: 63–103 (25.6)–184/ 5–6 (2.5)–15

III: 24–34 (9.5)–58/ 5–5 (1.1)–10

MNRJ 6683 I: 194–221 (20.9)–252/ 5–7 (2.5)–10

II: 63–103 (25.3)–160/ 5–5 (0)–5

III: 24–33 (7.4)–48/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 6852 I: 194–235 (14.6)–266/ 5–9 (2)–15

II: 63–107 (32.6)–184/ 5–6 (1.9)–10

III: 19–36 (9.8)–48/ 5–5 (0)–5

Pernambuco, Fernando de Noronha

MNRJ 7843 I: 194–233 (15.1)–266/ 5–8 (2.7)–15

II: 68–103 (18.9)–145/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

III: 24–33 (12)–58/ 5–5 (0)–5

MNRJ 8615 I: 194–236 (19.3)–266/ 5–9 (2.1)–15

II: 63–103 (27.4)–189/ 5–6 (2.3)–10

III: 29–41 (10.6)–58/ 5–5 (0)–5

UFRJPOR 3916 I: 208–253 (15.6)–290/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

II: 68–112 (23.3)–155/ 5–5 (0.8)–5

III: 29–38 (6.4)–48/ 5–5 (0)–5

Pernambuco, Tamandaré

URRJPOR 4046 I: 194–207 (12.5)–232/ 5–7 (3.3)–15

II: 63–98 (21.2)–145/ 5–7 (2.4)–10

III: 24–31 (6.1)–48/ 5–5 (0)–5

Bahia

UFRJPOR 4723 I: 194–27 (21.6)–334/ 10–14 (1.1)–15

II: 68–113 (31.3)–179/ 10–12 (2.4)–15

III: 29–42 (8.4)–59/ 5–7 (2.5)–10

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Ecology. Petrosia (P.) weinbergi specimens here studied were recorded from several habitats, including coastal reefs, bays, and volcanic, as well as biogenic (atoll) oceanic islands, at 2–28 m depth, which fits its previously known depth range (1.5–184 m depth; Zea 1987; Campos et al. 2005). One specimen agglutinated debris (MNRJ 2602) and another was found over polychaete tubes and cirripeds (MNRJ 11120).

Distribution. Tropical Atlantic. Brazil: Maranhão State ( Campos et al. 2005); Rio Grande do Norte State ( Muricy et al. 2008); Pernambuco State ( Muricy & Moraes 1998); Bahia State ( Hajdu et al. 2011); off Espírito Santo State (Trindade Island) ( Moraes et al. 2006; Moraes 2011). Caribbean ( Van Soest 1980, 1981; Pulitzer-Finali 1986; Zea 1987; Lehnert & Van Soest 1998; Díaz 2005; Alcolado & Busutil 2012; Rützler et al. 2000, 2014). Suriname ( Van Soest 2017).

Remarks. The specimens of Petrosia (P.) weinbergi studied here, including those reported upon by Moraes (2011) and Hajdu et al. (2011), which were reanalysed, resemble the original description of the species, including massive morphology, occasional green color in vivo, rounded oscules (2–5 mm wide) scattered on the surface, reticulated ectosome and choanosome, and a smaller category of oxeas concentrated in the ectosome ( Van Soest 1980; see Table 5 below). Morphological and anatomical similarities were also observed in the studied specimens when compared to the redescriptions by Zea (1987), Campos et al. (2005), Rützler et al. (2014) and Van Soest (2017; see Table 5 below). The tubular external morphology observed by Pulitzer-Finali (1986) in the material from La Parguera ( Puerto Rico) differentiates it from the specimens studied here, but the skeletal architecture, and the three size categories of oxeas are shared characters. Despite the obvious anatomical specialization of the smallest category of oxeas, we decided to double check the number of categories through aplication of the Sturges Algorithm ( Sturges 1926). Our bar graphs (not shown) clearly point to the existence of three size categories of oxeas. This is in contrast to Alcolado & Gotera (1986), who did not separate size classes of oxeas in their study, but mentioned instead that there was a wide size variation, and the resemblance of the smallest oxeas to microxeas. Pulitzer-Finali (1986) reported specimens with wide variation in a single category of oxeas ( Puerto Rico), and others with three, more clearly distinguishable categories ( Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic). Zea (1987), on the other hand, mentioned only two size categories of oxeas, highlighting the presence of a wide variation in their sizes.

We noticed a marked variation in the density of the ectosomal skeleton in Brazilian specimens, which varied from obviously anisotropic, including rather stout, to paucispicular or even unispicular tracts; to nearly isotropic, with no stout multispicular tracts. These lighter arrangements also implied considerably reduced numbers of oxeas III attached to the tracts. It is tempting to associate this dichotomy to the distance from sources of continental silica, Atoll das Rocas and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago being over 250 km offshore. Nevertheless, both skeletal arrangements are found in coastal, as well as in oceanic sites. For example, MNRJ 2917, 2942, 6387, 6390 and 6682 exhibit an anisotropic ectosome and came from Atoll das Rocas, while MNRJ 6388 and 6389, from the same locality, exhibit an isotropic arrangement. The same occurred in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, with UFRJPOR 3916 and MNRJ 7843 being anisotropic, and MNRJ 8615, isotropic. In Bahia State ( Salvador City), again, specimens MNRJ 2643, 10588 and 11120 exhibit an anisotropic ectosomal architecture, while MNRJ 2602 and 8311 have an isotropic reticulation instead. Remarkably, this variation in skeletal density does not appear to be matched by a similar variation in spicule thickness. Both Fernando de Noronha and Bahia ( Salvador) showed equally thick spicules (up to 15 µm) to be present in aniso-, as well as isotropic ectosomal skeletal arrangements. In Atoll das Rocas, specimens with isotropic arrangements appeared not to possess spicules thicker than 10 µm (MNRJ 6388, 6389), while those with anisotropic arrangements had them similarly only as thick as 10 µm (MNRJ 6387, 6390), or as thick as 15 µm (MNRJ 2917, 2942, 6682). Petrosia (P.) weinbergi might benefit from an integrative taxonomic approach, to figure if there is any genetic diversity hidden underneath this apparent morphologic plasticity.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A, off Amapá State - NHo ‘Cruzeiro do Sul (AP); B, N.O.A.S. Station 1773A (Amazon River mouth, AP); C, R/V ‘Atlantis’ AMZ–4 Stn. (Amazon River mouth, PA); D, R/V ‘Victor Hensen’ Stn. 47 (off São Luis, MA); E, Acaraizinho de Amontada (CE); F, Flecheiras beach (Trairi, CE); G, Dois Coqueiros beach (Caucaia, CE); H, Maracajaú (Maxaranguape, RN); I, Deep Fenda crevice (Atoll das Rocas, RN); J, Salãozinho tide pool (Atoll das Rocas, RN); K, dos Mapas tide pool (Atoll das Rocas, RN); L, Rata Isl. (Cagarras Rasas and Cagarras Fundas, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, PE); M, Buraco da Raquel (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, PE); N, Lage Dois Irmãos (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, PE); O, Cordilheira (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, PE); P, Ponta das Caracas (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, PE); Q, Recife Biquara (Tamandaré, PE); R, Ponta Verde beach (Maceió, AL); S, Cabeço da Pequena (Marechal Deodoro, AL); T, 2nd Boião (off SW Maré Isl., BA); U, Ribeira beach (Salvador, BA); V, ‘Blackadder’ Shipwreck off Cantagalo beach (Salvador, BA); W, Capitania dos Portos (Port Authority, Salvador, BA); X, Quebra mar Norte (northern breakwater, Salvador, BA); Y, ‘Germânia’ Shipwreck off Farol da Barra (Salvador, BA); Z, REVIZEE R4 Stn (off Salvador, BA); AA, REVIZEE R2 Stn (Ponta de Castelhanos, Morro de São Paulo, Cairu, BA); AB, REVIZEE R7 Stn (Royal Charlotte Bank); AC, Recife das Timbebas (Abrolhos Marine National Park, BA); AD, Rodger Bank (BA); AE, Pedra de Leste (off Caravelas, Parcel das Paredes, BA); AF, Parcel das Paredes (off Caravelas, BA); AG, Hotspur bank (BA); AH, REVIZEE R17 Stn (off Itaúnas, ES); AI, REVIZEE 20R Stn (off Barra Seca, ES); AJ, REVIZEE 25R Stn (off Linhares, ES); AK, REVIZEE 28R Stn (Besnard Bank, Vitória–Trindade Seamounts Chain, ES); AL, REVIZEE 23R Stn (Jaseur Bank, Vitória–Trindade Seamounts Chain ES); AM, REVIZEE 42R Stn (Columbia Seamount, Vitória–Trindade Seamounts Chain, ES); AN, Ponta dos Farrilhões (Trindade Isl., ES);AO, REVIZEE 34R and 45R Stns (off Vila Velha, ES); AP, REVIZEE C44 Stn (Guarapari, ES);AQ, REVIZEE C61 Stn (Congress Bank, Vitória–Trindade Seamounts Chain, ES); AR, Campos Basin (RJ); AS, REVIZEE Y2 Stn (Almirante Saldanha Seamount, RJ). Marine Ecoregions: I, Amazonia; II, Northeastern Brazil; III, Fernando de Noronha and Atoll das Rocas; IV, São Pedro and São Paulo Islands; V, Eastern Brazil; VI, Trindade and Martim Vaz Islands; VII, Southeastern Brazil; VIII, Rio Grande. α, entire Brazilian coast; β, Atoll das Rocas; γ, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; δ, Todos os Santos Bay (BA); ε, Vitória-Trindade Seamounts Chain and proximities.

FIGURE 3. Petrosia (Petrosia) weinbergi van Soest, 1980. In situ image of specimen (A) MNRJ 11120, (B–C) tangential section and morphological variation of the ectosomal architecture, (D–E) perpendicular sections through the choanosome, (F) oxeas I, (G) oxeas II, (H) oxeas III, (I) details of the apices of oxeas I, (J) details of the apices of oxeas II, (K) details of the apices of oxeas III. B, D, F–K, MNRJ 10588; C, E, MNRJ 6388. Scale bars, (A) 1 cm, (B–E) 100 µm, (F–K) 10 µm.