Psammocinia rana, Kim & Sim, 2018

Kim, Young A & Sim, Kyung Jin Lee and Chung Ja, 2018, Psammocinian sponges (Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida: Irciniidae) from Korea, Journal of Species Research 7 (4), pp. 340-347 : 340-342

1. Psammocinia rana n. sp. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

개구리모래해면 (신칭)

Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000828223), Korea:

Jagenganyeo, Gageodo, Heuksan­myeon , Shinan­gun , Jeollanam-do, 19 Jul 2007, Kim, H.S., by SCUBA , depth 20 m, deposited in the NIBR .

Description. Thick mass sponge, size up to 10 × 7 cm (width) and 4.5 cm (height). Surface with low and sharp conules partly. Strong collagen filamentous membrane mixed with sands and spicules rarely. Oscules, 1-5 mm in diameter, open on top of sponge. Colour in life, black surface and beige inside. Texture very firm.

Skeleton: Primary fibres, 300-700 μm in diameter, cored sands. Secondary fibres, various type, wide fibres like plate with small and large perforation ( Fig. 1H ). Some secondary fibres, 100 μm in diameter in middle part, branch type, or root shape which connected to primary fibres ( Fig. 1G ). All secondary fibres clear ( Fig. 2A ). Filaments, 5­7 μm in diameter, and its terminal knobs, 15 μm in diameter.

Etymology. This new species is named, rana , for resemblance of its shape to a frog.

Remarks. Psammocinia rana is similar to P. bergquistia in wide secondary fibres like plate, but secondary fibres of the new species are mostly wide plate­like shape with large perforation ( Fig. 1H ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Psammocinia rana n. sp. A, entire animal; B, closed surface; C, skeletal structure; D, wide secondary fibres; E, F, cored primary and secondary web; G, bridged secondary fibres; H, large perforated secondary fibres. Scale bars:A=2cm, B=1 cm, C=200μm, D-H=100μm.

Fig. 2. Psammocinia rana n. sp. A, clear secondary fibres; B, skeletal structure; C, terminal knob (arrow); D, filament emerging from the hole on fibre(arrow). Scale bars:A, B=100 μm, C, D=10 μm.