Clathrina quadriradiata, Klautau & Borojevic, 2001

Klautau, Michelle & Valentine, Clare, 2003, Revision of the genus Clathrina (Porifera, Calcarea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 139 (1), pp. 1-62 : 35-36

CLATHRINA QUADRIRADIATA KLAUTAU & BOROJEVIC,

2001

Type locality: Arraial do Cabo , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil .

Type: BMNH 1999.9 .16.30 (holotype /alcohol). Arraial do Cabo , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Collected by G. Muricy (18 March 1990) .

attached to a Mytilus shell (the syntype), which we analysed. Together with the syntype, we also analysed the lectotype, which is indeed very different from the syntype (Dendy mentioned that he received a specimen of C. procumbens , but he did not say that it was a type). The lectotype is probably a specimen of L. protogenes , and thus not a clathrina. On the other hand, the syntype evidently corresponds to the specimen described by von Lendenfeld as Ascetta (Clathrina) procumbens .

The specimens BMNH 1886.6.7.1–2 (syntypes attached to the Mytilus shell) match the description and the drawing of the cormus made by von Lendenfeld. However, the description of the shape of the actines is not the same. He wrote that ‘The rays are pretty stout, conic and slightly rounded at the ends’, while we consider the same spicules to be conical, with sharp tips.

We consider C. procumbens to be a true species of Clathrina , the syntypes of which are BMNH 1886.6.7.1–2. The proposed lectotype of this species ( BMNH 1886.6.7.3) does not correspond to even the same genus as the syntypes of procumbens , being probably a specimen of L. (Ascaltis) protogenes .

Colour: Cormus is white in life and when preserved.

Description: The specimen studied is very small. Formed of very thin, regular and tightly anastomosed tubes. Oscula are simple openings located on the top of conical projections, which receive the excurrent water from water-collecting tubes.

The skeleton comprises tetractines ( Fig. 28A ) and a few triactines. Actines are straight and conical, with blunt tips. The apical actine of the tetractines ( Fig. 28B ) is only a little thinner than the facial ones at the base. It is also shorter, conical, sharp and smooth. Only one specimen of this species was collected.

Although the tetractines are more abundant in relation to the triactines, this species is very different from C. tetractina . Triactines, although few, can still be found, while the spicules are shorter.

Remarks: This species is also very similar to C. aspina and C. brasiliensis . However, it has no tripods and tetractines are more abundant than triactines, while in C. aspina and C. brasiliensis , triactines are the main spicule. A less evident characteristic concerns the cormus, which is less regularly anastomosed in this species than in the other two.

Figures

Figure 28. Clathrina quadriradiata. A, tetractine. B, apical actine of a tetractine (arrow). Scale bar = 100 Mm.