Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) curacaoensis

Rützler, Klaus, Piantoni, Carla, Van, Rob W. M. & Díaz, Cristina, 2014, Diversity of sponges (Porifera) from cryptic habitats on the Belize barrier reef near Carrie Bow Cay, Zootaxa 3805 (1), pp. 1-129 : 65-66

Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) curacaoensis van Soest, 1984

Synonymy and references. Hymedesmia curacaoensis van Soest, 1984a: 84, fig. 32.

Material. USNM 1229057, Carrie Bow Cay forereef, low spur and groove zone, on lower surface of Agaricia coral rubble, 8–9 m; K. Ruetzler col. 7 May 1973. USNM 1229058, Carrie Bow Cay forereef, inner reef slope, cave ceiling, 20 m; K. Ruetzler col. 14 May 1975. USNM 1229059, Carrie Bow Cay, South reef, lower surface of Acropora coral plates in exposed zone behind reef crest, 1 m. K. Ruetzler col. 6 Mar 2006.

External morphology. Thinly encrusting, patches of 16–40 cm 2 area; smooth surface, without openings visible to the unaided eye. Color in life, bright red to orange.

Skeleton structure. Acanthostyles in two size classes, positioned perpendicular to the substratum; tornotes and microscleres mainly located in the ectosome.

Spicules. Tornotes, with one end slightly swollen: 220–330 x 2–3 (255 x 2) Μm; acanthostyles I: 210–351 x 12–18 (233 x 15) Μm; acanthostyles II: 50–130 x 6–18 (89 x 11) Μm; chelas: 30–38 (32) Μm.

Ecology. Encrusting lower surfaces of platy coral rock on the forereef, 8– 9 m.

Distribution. Netherlands Antilles and Belize, probably Caribbean-wide.

Comments. Macrosclere dimensions are somewhat longer (tornotes) or thicker (acanthostyles) than those reported for the holotype, but agree well morphologically.