Clathrina hirsuta, Klautau & Valentine, 2003

Klautau, Michelle & Valentine, Clare, 2003, Revision of the genus Clathrina (Porifera, Calcarea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 139 (1), pp. 1-62 : 48

CLATHRINA HIRSUTA SP. NOV.

Original identification: Leucosolenia cerebrum ( Haeckel, 1872)

Etymology: Latin hirsutus (= full of bristles). Describing the hispid surface.

Type locality: Stil Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

Type: BMNH 1932.7 .25.8 (holotype /alcohol). Stil Bay , Cape Town, South Africa. Professor T.A. Stephenson Collection (25 January 1932) (Collection number 183) .

The holotype of C. hirsuta sp. nov. is a little fragmented and mixed with sediment.

Colour: Its colour when preserved is light yellow.

Description: The largest fragment is 1.0 ¥ 0.8 ¥ 0.4 cm. Cormus formed of large, irregular and loosely anastomosed tubes ( Fig. 41A ). Water-collecting tubes converge to form conical projections with an osculum. The surface of the tubes is hispid because of the presence of diactines and trichoxea. Cells with granules were not observed. The skeleton comprises equiangular and equiradiate triactines ( Fig. 41B ) and very few tetractines. Actines are conical and straight, with a sharp tip. Diactines are fusiform and slightly curved ( Fig. 41C ). They are projected towards the exterior of the tubes. Trichoxeas are also present, perpendicular to the surface of the tubes.

Length (Mm) Width (Mm)

Triactines 107.5 122.5 ± 8.0 135.0 13.3 ± 0.8 20

Tetractines 100.0 122.3 ± 12.8 155.0 12.5 ± 1.3 20

Apical 57.6 80.9 ± 17.8 100.8 6.5 ± 1.2 03

actine

Diactines 234.6 302.9 ± 49.0 408.0 14.3 ± 1.5 20 Triactines Tetractines Apical actine Diactines

C. panis

L/ W 162.0 /15.5 159.8/14.5 156.8/9.5 474.3/29.6 (Mm)

C. hirsuta sp. nov.

L/ W 122.5 /13.3 122.3/12.5 80.9/6.5 302.9/14.3 (Mm)

Figures

Figure 41. Clathrina hirsuta sp. nov. A, photograph of the holotype (¥ 10). B, triactines. C, diactines at the surface. Scale bar = 100 Mm.