Acanthotetilla celebensis, De, Nicole J. & Van, Rob W. M., 2007

De, Nicole J. & Van, Rob W. M., 2007, Acanthotetilla celebensis sp. nov., a new species from North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Porifera: Demospongiae: Spirophorida: Tetillidae), Zootaxa 1397, pp. 25-28 : 26-28

Acanthotetilla celebensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 A­J)

Material examined. Holotype RMNH POR. 2877, Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Bunaken Islands SW, Likuan I, 01º 35.731'N 124º 46.129'E; 14 m., coll. N.J. de Voogd, #MD17/ 220502 /137, 22­05­2002.

Description. Shape: semiglobular, hemispherical, cavernous inside. Size of the holotype is 10 x 12 cm. Surface: hispid bristly, a thin layer of sand covers the surface, obscuring oscules. Only a single porocalyx was observed. Texture: tough, hard, incompressible. Colour: yellow, cream­yellow in spirit

Skeleton. The peripheral skeleton shows cortical specialization conforming to the description of the type species as presented in the Systema Porifera, i.e. consisting of a dense palisade of megacanthoxeas, visibly macroscopically by a white outerzone. The skeleton is radiate, composed of oxeas, rare very thin anatriaenes and even rarer protriaenes intermingled with megacanthoxeas protruding the surface. The skeleton is less dense interiorly, with megacanthoxeas and sigmaspires as the main spicules present.

Spicules. Megascleres: Large smooth oxeas: 1923 (1763–2132) x 31 (20–33) µm. Protriaenes: 1248 x 7 µm (cladi 45 x 4.5 µm). Anatriaenes: 1977 x 22 µm (cladi 52 x 4.5 µm). Two size categories of thickly spined curved megacanthoxeas with spines arranged in irregular whorls; I 405 (300–442) x 25 (20 x 33) µm; II 257 (199–284) x 15 (10–17) µm. Microscleres: Abundant microspined sigmaspires: 10 (8– 12) x 1.5 (1–2) µm Ecology. Reef wall at a depth of 14 m.

Geographic distribution. Only recorded from the type locality

Etymology. Named after the island of Sulawesi, formerly known as Celebes.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Acanthotetilla celebensis sp. nov., in situ photograph of holotype photo N. J. de Voogd; B. Acanthotetilla celebensis sp. nov., preserved specimen of holotype showing the choanosome (scale bar = 3 cm); C. sigmaspire, (scale bar = 2 μm); D. megacanthoxea, (scale bar = 20 μm); E. megacanthoxea, (scale bar = 50 μm); F, G. detail of same, (scale bar = 10 μm); H. oxea, (scale bar = 20 μm); I. protriaene, (scale bar = 10 μm); J. anatriaene, (scale bar = 20 μm).