Pleraplysilla sp. nov. 1

Diaz, Maria Cristina, Nuttall, Marissa, Pomponi, Shirley A., Ruetzler, Klaus, Klontz, Sarah, Adams, Christi, Hickerson, Emma L. & Schmahl, G. P., 2023, An annotated and illustrated identification guide to common mesophotic reef sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida, and Homoscleromorpha) inhabiting Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and vicinities, ZooKeys 1161, pp. 1-68 : 1

Pleraplysilla sp. nov. 1

Fig. 55

Diagnostic features.

Very thin crust, pale pink color. The surface is smooth with irregularly distributed small conules (<1 mm high). Oscula with a collar membrane and thick canals that run towards the oscula. The conules are produced by single or branching fibers that depart from a spongin basal plate.

Similar species.

Very similar in external appearance to Vansoestia caribensis , a skeleton-less sponge of the family Ianthellidae , Order Verongiida. This species has abundant single or dendritic fibers, dark in color with an apparent pith, and some foreign spicules inside. This sponge is very similar to the species of Pleraplysilla depicted by Zea et al. (2014). It is currently an undescribed species.

Distribution and abundance.

Reported by Zea et al. (2014) from the Bahamas and possibly Boynton Beach, FL. At FGBNMS the species is found at seven sites with an abundance ranging from rare to low (1-10) at six sites, to common (11-100) at one site.

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs, lower mesophotic reefs.

Identification.

KR, SK, CA, MCD.

Reference.

Zea et al. 2014.

Figures

Figure 55. In-situ photo of Pleraplysilla sp. 1, 79 m deep. Sample DFH 9 - 14 C.