Forcepia

Van, Rob W. M., 2009, New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae), Zootaxa 2107, pp. 1-40 : 29

Key to the Forcepia species of the Western Atlantic.

Sponges considered here must have some form of forceps.

1 Spicules include acanthostyles erect on the substrate .................................................................................................. 2

- No acanthostyles .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Sigmas present ........................................................................................................................ F. (L.) microlabis n. sp.

- No sigmas .......................................................................................................................................... F. (L.) vermicola

3 Chelae with peculiarly twisted alae in varying quantity; sigmas may be present ..................................................... 4

- All chelae of symmetrical shape; no sigmas................................................................................................................. 5

4 Sigmas up to 200 µm; tylotes only up 300 µm............................................................................ F. (F.) grandisigmata

- Sigmas, if present <40 µm or absent; tylotes> 400 µm .............................................................. F. (F.) fistulosa n. sp.

5 Forcipes up to 260 µm; chelae partly with reduced alae .................................................................... F. (F.) colonensis

- Forcipes up to only 92 µm; chelae normal .................................................................................... F. (F.) minima n. sp.