Reidispongia tuberculata, Schlacher-Hoenlinger & Pisera & Hooper, 2005

Schlacher-Hoenlinger, Monika A., Pisera, Andrzej & Hooper, John N. A., 2005, Deep-sea “ lithistid ” assemblages from the Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia), with description of seven new species and a new genus (Porifera, Demospongiae), Zoosystema 27 (4), pp. 649-698 : 692

Reidispongia tuberculata n. sp.

( Figs 4C ; 19 ; 33 )

HOLOTYPE. — New Caledonian Slope, 22°52’22”S, 167°12’27”E, 340-381 m, RV Alis, 28.VI.2001, Warén dredge, coll. T. Schlacher ( MNHN DCL 3907 , a fragment of the holotype in QM [G318677s). ETYMOLOGY. — Named for the tuberculation of desmas.

DESCRIPTION

Growth form

Massive shallow cup/bowl-shaped with thick walls, round margins and a simple base. The examined specimen is about 3 cm high, 5.5 cm wide and has a 2 cm broad base.

Colour

Light blue to dirty white in etoh.

Oscules

Not visible.

Texture

Hard, stony.

Surface ornamentation

Rough.

Ectosomal skeleton

Smooth dichotriaenes and some long oxeas occur on both surfaces. Microscleres in the ectosome are amphiasters/streptasters with short and massive rays covered by numerous low spines and rounded, blunt tips.

Choanosomal skeleton

The relatively dense choanosomal skeleton consists of strongly tuberculated tetraclone desmas. Microscleres in the choanosome are amphiasters/streptasters which are covered with hook-like spines and have long and slender rays with pointed ends.

Megascleres

Tetraclone desmas are thick, and more or less evenly covered by numerous mushroom-shaped, round, invariably smooth tubercles: 700- 750 µm/35-65 µm.

Dichotriaenes: 350-400 µm long × 150-440 µm (diameter of the cladome).

Oxeas: 1200-1800 µm × 10-15 µm.

Microscleres

Massive amphiasters/streptasters: 12.6-13.8 × 10.1-11.7 µm.

Streptasters with long pointed rays: (very variable) 14.4-37.2 × 12.9-30.4 µm.

REMARKS

This species slightly resembles Reidispongia coerulea in its blue live colouration and microsclere spiculation. Upon closer investigation, however, it is distinguished from that species in differences in morphology (cup-shaped and very thick walled, while R. coerulea has very thin folded walls), and desmas (which are strongly tuberculated, with rounded mushroom-like tubercles [ Fig. 19 Ds as compared to smooth zygomes in R. coerulea [ Fig. 20 Fs).

Figures

FIG. 4. — A, Discodermia proliferans Lévi & Lévi, 1983; B, Homophymia pollubrum n. sp.; C, Reidispongia tuberculata n. sp.; D, R. coerulea Lévi & Lévi, 1988. Scale bars: 1 cm.

FIG. 19. — Reidispongia tuberculata n. sp.; A, detail of outer surface with ectosomal dichotriaenes, oxeas and microscleres; B, detail of the same outer surface with ectosomal dichotriaenes showing thick crust of ectosomal streptaster/amphiasters; C, choanosomal skele- ton; D, detail of choanosomal skeleton composed of branched tetraclone desmas. Scale bars: A, D, 200 µm; B, 50 µm; C, 1 mm.

FIG. 33. — Reidispongia tuberculata n. sp.; A, B, choanosomal streptasters/amphiasters with long pointed rays; C-E, variable choanosomal streptasters/amphiasters with long pointed rays; F-H, massive ectosomal streptasters/amphiasters. Scale bars: A, B, 5 µm; C-E, 10 µm; F-H, 5 µm.

FIG. 20. — Reidispongia coerulea Lévi & Lévi, 1988; A, outer surface with inhalant pores and oxeas; B, detail of outer surface with inhalant pores, ectosomal dichotriaenes, oxeas and dense crust of microscleres; C, surface of the choanosomal skeleton with canal openings; D, choanosomal skeleton; E, F, detail of choanosomal skeleton composed of branched tetraclone desmas. Scale bars: A, D, 200 µm; B, E, F, 100 µm; C, 500 µm.