Niphates luizae sp. nov.

(Figures 1, 4, 5; Table 1, 3)

Type Locality: Brazil, Bahia State, Maraú, Taípus de Fora (near Camamu Bay).

Type Specimens: Holotype— UFPEPOR 690, Taípus de Fora (13º53’49”S, 38º55’45”W), Maraú (near Camamu Bay), Bahia State, Brazil, intertidal 0.5 m depth, col. U. Pinheiro, 20.V.2007. Paratype—UFPEPOR 694, Taípus de Fora (13º53’49”S, 38º55’45”W), Maraú (near Camamu Bay), Bahia State, Brazil, intertidal 0.5 m depth, col. M. Amorim, 25.XI.2007.

Diagnosis. Niphates luizae sp. nov. is the unique Niphates in the Atlantic with robust spicules (270 / 18 µm) that might be oxea (majority) or vary in strongyles to styles.

External morphology of holotype. Massive, with volcano-shaped oscular projections (Fig. 4 A), 2.2 x 1.1 cm (height x length). With terminal spiculo-spongin fibers forming minute conulose projections on the surface microconulose. Texture easy to compress but difficult to tear. Oscules apical usually 3 to 4 mm in diameter. Beigepink color in vivo and after preservation (ethanol 80%) is dark beige.

Paratype. Massive, with volcano-shaped oscular projections, 3.5 x 2.0 cm (height x length). Surface microconulose, oscules apical 3 mm (diameter) and beige-pink color in vivo and after preservation is dark beige.

Skeleton. Ectosome rather regular quadrangular or circular meshes of secondary multispicular fibers, surface protruded by upright spicule brushes originating from the choanosomal primaries (Fig. 4 B–C). Choanosome with irregular reticulations of primary multispicular fibers with irregular branches ascending to surface. In some parts, primary fibers connect to secondary ones forming rounded to irregular meshes (Fig. 4 D). Meshes average between 152–400 µm in largest diameter. Primary fibers are 60–144 µm in diameter, cored by 10–30 spicules. Secondary or interconnecting fibers are 35–60 µm in diameter, cored by 6–15 spicules. Abundant spongin may cover the spicules.

Spicules. Oxeas (155–270 / 7–18 µm). Slightly curved, smooth, stylote and strongylote forms are present (Fig. 5). Juveniles may be smaller and thinner (100 / 3 µm).

Ecology. The species is sciophilous and it was collected at 0.5–1 m deep.

Distribution (Fig. 1). Northeastern coast of Brazil, Bahia State, Brazil. The distributions of others species of Niphates from Brazilian coast are available in Muricy et al (2011).

Etymology. The chosen specific name honors the senior author’s daughter Maria Luíza Alagão Pinheiro.

Remarks. The new species described here belongs to the genus Niphates as it is defined (see Desqueyroux- Faúndez & Valentine 2002). Niphates luizae sp. nov. differs from all four species recorded from Brazil ( N. alba; N. amorfa; N. erecta and N. lutea) by the presence of long and robust oxeas which can vary for strongyles or styles. The beige-pink color in Niphates luizae sp. nov. is not found in other Brazilian species (see Table 3). The absence of microscleres differ Niphates luizae sp. nov. from the four species recorded in the Atlantic Ocean: N. amorfa; N. caycedoi (Zea & van Soest, 1986); N. erecta and N. recondita (Wiedenmayer, 1977) . Among these sponges, N. erecta is the one that most resembles Niphates luizae sp. nov. in the size of megascleres (Tab. 3). However, N. erecta has a blue-green color, erect ramose shape, presence of sigmas and predominance of strongyles (Tab. 3).

Species Locality Depth(m) Color Spicules(µm) References: (1) van Soest (1980); (2) Muricy et al. (2011); (3) Wiedenmayer (1977); (4) Zea & van Soest (1986); (5) de Laubenfels (1936); (6) Muricy et al. (2008); (7) Campos et al. (2005); (8) Zea 1987).

The presence of sigmas, even rare, is diagnostic of some Niphates (e.g.: N. amorfa, N. digitalis (Lamarck, 1814), N. erecta and N. recondita). In the case of N. erecta and N. digitalis, the rarity or non-existence of microsclera is normal (van Soest 1980). This presence or absence of sigma microscleres in Niphates is considered an unreliable generic character (see van Soest 1980; Fromont 1993). In this matter, the proposal of Niphates luizae sp. nov. is not only based on absence of this character, but it considers the difference in shape, color and spicule morphology, as well as the size of spicules among others species as discussed above.

This description of Niphates luizae sp. nov. increased to eight the number of Niphates for the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the more diverse ocean to this genus.