Lithobubaris leviorum, Van Soest & Hajdu, 2000

Van Soest, Rob W. M. & Hajdu, Eduardo, 2000, New species of Desmanthus (Porifera, Demospongiae) with a discussion of its ordinal relationships, Zoosystema 22 (2), pp. 299-312 : 310

Lithobubaris leviorum n. sp.

( Fig. 3B, C )

Lithobubaris tenens – Van Soest & Stentoft 1988: 72, fig. 35 (not: L. tenens Vacelet, 1959 )

HOLOTYPE. — Off Paynes Bay . Barbados, 216 m ( ZMA POR5265 ).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after Claude and Pierrette Lévi in recognition of their contributions towards the elucidation of deep-water sponges.

DISTRIBUTION. — Barbados, Caribbean, encrusting dead lithistids and corals in deep water.

DESCRIPTION

Thinly encrusting, round patches on dead corals and lithistid remains, appearing as a “hairy” crust; size several cm 2. Colour (dry) grey.

Skeleton

Huge single styles erect on a basal interlocked mass of desmas which overlies the substratum. Desmas arranged loosely, zygosis not well-developed. Style bases fit into the circular outcrops of branches of the desmas.

Spicules

Desmas with circular side holes ( Fig. 3B, C ), covered with smoothly rounded swellings and tubercles, dimensions: diameter of desma 150- 200 µm, thickness of branches 20-35 µm, diameter of holes 50-60 µm. Styles, robust, dimensions: only up to 1500 µm in length and 48-63 µm in thickness.

REMARKS

The Barbados specimen differs clearly from Mediterranean L. tenens in the size of the styles which are about half as short in the longest sizes. In view of the geographic separation it is likely the Caribbean material represents a separate species.

Figures

FIG. 3. — A, Lithobubaris tenens, from type specimen MNHN DJV 7, styles encircled by desmas (arrows); B-C, Lithobubaris leviorum n. sp., from holotype; B, broken desma showing tuberculated surface and hole in which style head is lodged; C,detail of desma hole; D, Monocrepidium vermiculatum, overview of surface and basal mass of vermiform spicules. Photo J. Vacelet. Scale bars: A, B, D, 100 µm; C, 10 µm.