Canda alsia Winston, Vieira & Woollacott, 2014

(Fig. 29)

Canda philippinensis: Souza 1989: 497 .

Canda alsia Winston, Vieira & Woollacott, 2014: 164, figs. 15, 16 (cum syn.); Almeida et al. 2015b: 3.

Material examined. UFBA 1192, UFBA 2361–62, Camamu Bay, 13°53’S, 38°59’W, 18–20 m, coll . October 2012 (on sponge Bubaris sp.); UFBA 1663, UFBA 2363–64, Camamu Bay, 13°53’S, 38°59’W, 18–20 m, coll . October 2012 (on sponge Haliclona (Soestella) melana); UFBA 1670, UFBA 2365–67 Camamu Bay, 13°53’S, 38°59’W, 18–20 m, coll . October 2012 (on sponge Tedania ignis).

Remarks. Canda alsia has erect rooted colonies with branches connected by transverse tubular kenozooids, autozooids with one inner distal spine and a narrow mushroom-shaped scutum, short curving vibracula and ooecia with single and large fenestra (Fig. 29) (Winston et al. 2014). Despite the other records of Canda from the Brazilian coast— Canda philippinensis Canu & Bassler, 1929; Canda retiformis Pourtalès, 1867 and Canda simplex Busk, 1884 (Vieira et al. 2008) —Winston et al. (2014) suggested they belong to C. alsia (see Winston et al. 2014 for more information). Some specimens of C. alsia from Brazil were found attached on cable (Winston et al. 2014). Caribbean species of Canda are commonly found in coral reefs (e.g., Winston 1984, 1986; Hughes & Jackson 1992). Here we present the first record of a Canda species associated with sponges.

Distribution. Atlantic: endemic to Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro) (Winston et al. 2014; present study).