Haliclona hoshinoi Van Soest & Hooper, 2020

(Figs. 4A–B)

Haliclona digitata Tanita & Hoshino, 1989: 152, pl, 15 fig. 5, text–fig. 97.

Haliclona hoshinoi Van Soest & Hooper, 2020: 23 .

(Not: Haliclona hoshinoi Ise, 2017: 352).

The species was described by Tanita & Hoshino from two localities in Japan, Sagami Bay, W part of Kamegisho, approximate coordinates 35.197°N 139.584°E, depth 15–16 m, and from Koiso, Izu-Susaki, approximate coordinates 34.64°N 135.28°E, depth 5–6 m (syntypes BLIH Porifera 317 and 335). The combination was erected by Van Soest & Hooper (2020: case nr. 29) to remove the homonymy of Haliclona digitata Tanita & Hoshino, 1989 and Haliclona digitata (Von Lendenfeld, 1887 as Chalinorhaphis), but the nomen novum turned out to be preoccupied by Haliclona hoshinoi Ise, 2017, and the junior name must be replaced (ICZN art. 57.2). To remove the homonymy, I propose here Haliclona senjitanitai nom.nov., named after Senji Tanita.

Possibly, the species here renamed Haliclona senjitanitai nom.nov. is not a proper member of genus Haliclona as its seondary fibers are polyspicular, indicating membership of more elaborate genera such as Amphimedon or Niphates . Re-examination of the type material is necessary.