Suberites californiana, Turner & Rouse & Weigel & Janusson & Lemay & Thacker, 2024

Turner, Thomas L., Rouse, Greg W., Weigel, Brooke L., Janusson, Carly, Lemay, Matthew A. & Thacker, Robert W., 2024, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the family Suberitidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in California, Zootaxa 5447 (1), pp. 1-28 : 10-11

Suberites californiana sp. nov. Turner 2024

Figure 4

Material examined. Holotype: P362, Near Anacapa Island , (34.00, -119.39), 223–242 m, 4/3/52.

Etymology. Named for the state of California.

Morphology. Massive, roughly globular, 3 cm across, with a spiral cavity for a hermit crab (figure 4B). Color in life not recorded; beige preserved. Firm and smooth to the touch. A previously described sample was growing on a gastropod shell, but it was not stated whether the shell contained a hermit crab ( Bakus & Green 1987).

Skeleton. Choanosomal skeleton is a confused lattice of single tylostyles and tylostyle bundles (figure 4D). Spiculation becomes denser approaching the ectosome, and while still confused, upright bouquets typical of the genus are also apparent (figure 4C). A few microstrongyles are found scattered in the choanosome, but are much more abundant at sponge surface.

Spicules. Tylostyles in two size classes, with spined centrotylote strongyles as microscleres.

Ectosomal tylostyles are nearly all in the short size class, while choanosomal tylostyles are nearly all in the large size class.

Long tylostyles: usually slightly curved or bent near the center, but occasionally straight or sinuous (figure 4E). Most taper abruptly to a sharp point, but rounded points or strongylote endings present. Heads terminal, round, and symmetrical, but occasionally subterminal. Many are slightly fusiform, with thickest section in center (figure 4E), but others have consistent thickness throughout. 408–574–693 x 10–14–20 μm (n=46).

Short tylostyles: shaped the same as long tylostyles. 155–250–395 x 8–11–16 μm (n=41).

All tylostyles considered together: 155–421–693 x 8–13–20 μm (n=87), modes at approximately 250 and 600 μm.

Centrotylote microstrongyles: microspined, but appearing smooth under light microscopy. Generally tylote in or near the center (figure 4F), but sometimes at one end. Spicules slightly curved or straight. 13–23–52 x 2–3–5 μm (n=55; measurements includes a single much longer spicule, perhaps an aberration, but nearly all are between 13 and 32 μm in length).

Distribution and habitat. Only two samples can be confidently assigned to this species, both from deep water (183 m – 242 m) in Southern California.

Remarks. Suberites latus from the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Washington) have spicules with fairly consistent dimensions. Combined, three previous analyses have found maximum tylostyle lengths between 307 and 409 μm. The two samples analyzed here had maximum tylostyle lengths of 354 and 409 μm; seven additional samples, collected at depths varying from <20 m to 126 m, had maximum lengths between 307 and 394 μm ( Austin et al. 2014); and 60 individuals from Alaska had maximum lengths to 406 μm ( Lambe 1895). In contrast, both samples known from Southern California have much longer spicules. The sample analyzed here had long tylostyles with a maximum length of 693 μm (~70% longer than S. latus ). Quantitative data has been published for one other sample: a Suberites (previously identified as S. ficus ) growing on a gastropod shell at 183 m ( Bakus & Green 1987). This sample had spicules with very similar dimensions as the sample analyzed here, with a maximum length of 680 μm. In addition, the sample analyzed here had microscleres that were abundant in the ectosome, in contrast to the rarity and/or choanosomal distribution in S. latus (the location of the microscleres was not specified in the previously analyzed sample). We therefore designate all Suberites in California with microscleres and tylostyles longer than 500 μm to be Suberites californiana sp. nov. Additional morphological and genetic work on deep Suberites is needed to determine if S. latus is also found in the state.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Suberites californiana. Holotype, post-preservation, from above (A) and the side (B), the latter sectioned to show hermit crab cavity. C: Cross-section showing ectosomal brushes. D: Cross-section showing ecotosomal brushes and confused interior. E: Tylostyle. F: Centotylote microsontrongyles. All photos of holotype.