Niphates lutea Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999

Campos, Maurício, Mothes, Beatriz, Eckert, Rafael, Van, Rob W. M. & Soest, 2005, Haplosclerida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the coast of Maranhão State, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic, Zootaxa 963, pp. 1-22 : 9-11

Niphates lutea Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999

Figs. 6 A–D

Niphates lutea Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999: 161 , Figs. 41–43.

Examined material. MCNPOR 5320, 5350, 72 m, 00°22’N – 44°52’W, 17.VII.2001 (MCNPOR 5320: fragment deposited in ZMAPOR xxxxx)

Material studied for comparison. Niphates alba Van Soest, 1980 : Holotype ZMAPOR 3942, Puerto Rico (material deposited in MCNPOR 2590).

Description. Massive, with cylindrical projection, possibly ramose sponge (not entire specimen) ( Fig. 6 A); measurements of an entire projection: 13.5 cm long (since the base), 3.5 cm in diameter (MCNPOR 5320). Smooth surface, rough to the touch; inner body with branches that grow up toward the surface, where a thin dermis cover it. The dermis also cover the oscules, whose are circular and distributed all over the surface (0.1–0.7 cm in diameter). Preserved material compressible but firm consistency, colour light­brown.

Skeleton. Ectosome a confused arrangement of single spicules, tangential reticulation ( Fig. 6 B); some vague tracts may occur. Choanosome a reticulation with multispicular tracts, somewhat dense and connected by seconday fibres, forming rounded to polygonal meshes ( Fig. 6 C); loose spicules are present between the meshes. Primary fibres 70–110 µm in diameter, secondary fibres 30–60 µm in diameter. Meshes 90–710 µm in diameter.

Spicules. Strongyles ( Fig. 6 D): somewhat curved, some almost straight, rarely strongyloxea­like. Measurements: 160– 210. 2 –250 / 2.5– 4. 9 –7.5 µm (MCNPOR 5320); 162.5– 194. 5 –237.5 / 3.8– 4. 8 –5 µm (MCNPOR 5350).

Remarks. Besides N. lutea , the only Niphates from the West Indies which bears strongyles is N. alba Van Soest, 1980 . However, this species has a markedly white colour even preserved, and our samples differ in having a light­brown colour and also a subtle difference in regard to spicules and skeletal features in comparing to N. alba (holotype examined).

Distribution. Caribbean: Jamaica (Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999). Brazilian coast: Maranhão State (present study).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Niphates lutea Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999. A, sample (scale: 3 cm). B, tangential view of ectosome (scale: 300 µm). C, perpendicular section of choanosome (scale: 300 µm). D, line drawings of strongyles (scale: 50 µm).