Lithobubaris tenens Vacelet, 1969

(Fig. 3A)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Holotype, Cassidaigne, 250 m (MNHN DJV 7).

DISTRIBUTION. — Western Mediterranean, encrusting corals at 250 m.

DESCRIPTION

Thin, small, circular crusts of 1-2 cm diameter, whitish in alcohol. Protruding styles make the surface look hairy.

Skeleton

A basal crust of monocrepid desmas of 300 µm thickness, difficult to separate from the substrate. Styles long and robust, their heads encircled by the branches of the desmas (arrows in Fig. 3A).

Spicules

Apparently monocrepid desmas with outgrowths proliferated to form circular holes, smooth but provided with tubercles and swellings, dimensions: 200-300 µm in diameter with branches 15- 35 µm in thickness. Styles: long straight or curved at the blunt end, robust, dimensions: 1250-3000 × 45-60 µm.

REMARKS

The species was recorded also from the Caribbean (Van Soest & Stentoft 1988), but spicule sizes in this specimen differ so much that conspecificity is now judged to be unlikely. Accordingly, this material is described as a new species below.