Subgenus Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) Lundbeck, 1909

Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) patagonica (Ridley & Dendy, 1886)

(Fig. 4)

Material. CILE 70, Canal Jacaf (Islote Carlos) (L) (44.484395°S 72.733093°W), Puerto Cisnes (Chile), 20 m depth, rocky walls ending on detritus bottom, 2014 .

Description. The specimen observed is cushion shaped, almost globular, 6 cm in diameter. The surface is verrucose with ostia in between the warts. Oscules are roundish, elevated by thin rims. The colour in life is a very pale beige (Fig. 4A). The consistence of the live specimen is soft and elastic.

Skeleton. Ectosomal skeleton of styles and tornotes scattered near the surface; choanosomal skeleton an irregular isotropic reticulation of bundles of acanthostyles, echinated by smaller acanthostyles.

Spicules. Megascleres: Styles, almost straight or faintly curved, with small spines concentrated on the head and scattered on the shaft (Fig. 4B), 290 (325) 350 x 12.5 (15.4) 20 μm. Acanthostyles with well- defined heads, straight and entirely spined (Fig. 4D), 90 (119) 160 x 10 (11.3) 15 μm. Straight tylotes with microspined extremities (Fig. 4C), 160 (199) 225 x 2.5 (4.9) 5 μm. Microscleres: Arcuate isochelae with three, regular rounded teeth at each extremity (Fig. 4E), 22.5 (30.8) 42.5 x 2.5 (3.4) 5 μm.

Ecology. This species was previously collected at 448 m depth on muddy bottoms (Ridley & Dendy, 1886). Our specimen was found within a narrow channel between the coast and an island, in an environment characterized by rocky walls ending on debris, in presence of strong currents, at 15 m depth.

Remarks. The species was described by Ridley & Dendy (1886) off the South West coast of Patagonia. This is the second record after the original description and a new finding for the Chilean fjords. Our specimen fits with Ridley & Dendy’s original description although the maximal size of the spicules of the holotype (styles of 420 μm and tylotes of 300 μm) is slightly larger.