Smenospongia gageoensis, Sim & Lee & Kim, 2016

Sim, Chung Ja, Lee, Kyung Jin & Kim, Young A, 2016, Twelve new species of two genera Smenospongia and Cacospongia (Demospongia: Dictyoceratida: Thorectidae) from Korea, Journal of Species Research 5 (1), pp. 31-48 : 42-43

10. Smenospongia gageoensis n. sp. ( Fig. 10 )

Type specimen. Holotype ( NIBRIV0000321374 ), Korea: Jeollanam-do, Shinan-gun, Heuksan-myeon, Gageodo Island (Jakeunganyeo), 14 Oct 2013, Kim HS, by SCUBA diving, Depth 28 m, deposited in the NIBR.

Description. Thick encrusting, size up to 6 × 3.5 × 2 cm. Surface with conules and distinct honeycomb pattern. Several oscules, 1-3 mm in diameter open on top of sponge. Colour in life pale beige turns to black soon after exposure to air. Texture soft and compressible. Surface has thick slimy membrane. Choanosome cavernous.

Skeleton: Primary fibres near surface, 200-300 μm in diameter, dark colour and fasciculated primary fibares, 600 μm in diameter. Choanosomal primary fibares, 220- 300 μm in diameter. Secondary fibres near surface, 40- 100 μm in diameter. Choanosomal secondary fibres, 60- 150-200 μm in diameter, irregularly arranged.

Etymology. The specific name, gageoensis , is named after locality Gageodo Island, Korea.

Remark. This new species is similar to Smenospongia spinulosa , but differs in surface and skeletal structure. This new species have distinct honeycomb shape on the surface and have rare protruding spine in the fibres.

Figures

Fig. 10. Smenospongia gageoensis n. sp. A, entire animal; B, closed surface; C, surface skeletal structure; D, choanosome skeletal structure; E, closed primary fibres; F, closed secondary fibres. Scale bars:A =1 cm, C, D=200 μm, E, F=100μm.