Tubella variabilis (Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973)

(Figure 12)

Trochospongilla variabilis Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973: 15; De Rosa-Barbosa 1980: 90, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Grosser 1981: 180, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Maciel 1983: 258, De Rosa-Barbosa 1984: 132, Ezcurra de Drago 1993: 120, Tavares et al. 2003: 176, Batista et al. 2007: 620, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Machado 2009: 336, Volkmer-Ribeiro et al. 2010: 346.

Material studied. UFPEPOR943, coll. Nicacio, 12.xii.2009, UFPEPOR951, coll. G. Nicacio, 11.i.2010, UFPEPOR985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, coll. U. Pinheiro, 26.ii.2010, UFPEPOR1088, 1090, 1099, coll. G. Nicacio, 01.iv.2010, Riacho do Prata Stream, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 08°1'9.40"S, 34°56'39.93"W. UFPEPOR892, 893, 894, 895, 1098, 1103, 1141, Gameleira Stream, Reserva Biológica Saltinho, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil, 08°43'21,6"S 35°11'14,0"W, coll. L.R.C. Lima, 09.x.2009.

General morphology. Encrusting thin sponges. Colour beige and green. Consistency of live sponges fragile to moderately soft (Fig. 12 a). Spicules. Megascleres predominantly straight to slightly curved, robust, smooth oxeas (150–288/6–12Μm) (Fig. 12 b). Microscleres absent. Gemmules are minute hemispherical averaging 260Μm in diameter, scattered in the sponge body (Fig. 12 c,d). Gemmuloscleres birotules (9–11Μm), slender shaft (3Μm), unequal rotules (6–15Μm), inner rotules are circular and outer rotules corolla shaped (Fig. 12 e). Gemmular theca made by thin layer consisting of spongin, where gemmuloscleres are embedded radially.

Distribution and ecological notes. Brazil (Muricy et al. 2011). Argentina, Costa Rica (Ezcurra de Drago 1993, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Machado 2009). Specimens were collected in lentic waters from concrete substrate. This species is widespread in the Neotropical Region and commonly found in all Brazilian regions.