Drulia cristata ( Weltner, 1895 )

Nicacio, Gilberto & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2015, Biodiversity of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) from northeast Brazil: new species and notes on systematics, Zootaxa 3981 (2), pp. 220-240 : 222-223

Drulia cristata ( Weltner, 1895)

( Figure 2 )

Parmula cristata Weltner, 1895: 143 ; Penney 1960: 55. For other synonyms see Muricy et al. (2011).

Material studied. UFPEPOR1117 (in part), 1118 (in part), São Francisco River (III), Petrolândia, Pernambuco, Brazil, 09°08'37.1"S 38°17'48.9"W, coll. E.L.R. Lima, 19.v.2010. UFPEPOR1300, São Francisco River (II), Santa Maria da Boa Vista, Pernambuco, Brazil, 08°48'31.5"S 39°49'59.5"W, coll. L.R.C. Lima, 07.x.2011.

General morphology. Encrusting sponge measuring 1cm de diameter, brown colour. Spicules. Megascleres slightly curved (372–468/35–48µm), robust, smooth strongyles ( Fig. 2 a,b). Microscleres microspined straight, acanthoxeas (78–123/3–6µm), middle spines (3–6µm) tapered ( Fig. 2 c,d). Gemmules are hemispherical raging 384–540µm in diameter ( Fig. 2 e). Gemmular theca made by thin layer consisting of spongin, where gemmuloscleres are embedded tangentially ( Fig. 2 e).

Distribution and ecological notes. Brazil ( Muricy et al. 2011); Venezuela ( Volkmer-Ribeiro & Pauls 2000). Specimens were found on rocky substrate in running waters along with Uruguaya corallioides ( Bowerbank, 1863) , Corvospongilla seckti Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1966 and Oncosclera navicella ( Carter, 1881) .

Remarks. We provide here, the second record of Drulia cristata for São Francisco River basin, where it was previously recorded for Sergipe State ( Volkmer-Ribeiro & Tavares 1995).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Drulia cristata: (a, b) megasclere strongyles; (c, d) microsclere oxeas; (e) detail of gemmule surface with gemmuloscleres embedded. Scale bars: 50 µm.