Prosuberites carriebowensis Rützler, Piantoni, van Soest & Díaz, 2014

Ugalde, Diana, Fernandez, Julio C. C., Gómez, Patricia, Lôbo-Hajdu, Gisele & Simões, Nuno, 2021, An update on the diversity of marine sponges in the southern Gulf of Mexico coral reefs, Zootaxa 5031 (1), pp. 1-112 : 15-16

Prosuberites carriebowensis Rützler, Piantoni, van Soest & Díaz, 2014

Tables 6, 7; Figs. 8A–B , 16G

Synonymy and references: Prosuberites carriebowensis Rützler et al. (2014: 41) , and van Soest (2017: 120).

Type locality. Belize

Material examined. CNPGG-2238, Triangulo Oeste reef (20.96221°N, - 92.31128°W), 16 m depth, coll. Julio Duarte, 08 September 2017 ; CNPGG-2211, Cayo Arcas reef (20.20183°N, - 91.97583°W), 6.9 m depth, coll. Diana Ugalde, 20 August 2018 .

Description. Thinly encrusting habit ( Fig. 16G ), the larger specimen measures 1.5 × 0.8 × 0.1 cm. Surface irregular and hispid with elevated oscules, covered by a translucent membrane. Orange color in vivo, yellowishorange preserved in ethanol. Consistency difficult to discern, highly delicate.

Skeleton. Hymedesmioid skeleton type, tylostyles arranged vertically with their heads positioned into the basal spongin plate—no ectosomal specialization ( Fig. 8A ).

Spicules. Megascleres: tylostyles in two size categories ( Fig. 8B ). Large tylostyles slightly curved to very curved shaft, with a small head, clearly set off, in a large size range, 350– 880 (449.1)–1800/10– 12.4 (2.5)–18 µm, tyle thickness 12– 15.7 (2.6)–20 µm. Small tylostyles, also large, but slightly thicker than the previous category, 200– 536.7 (241.6)–920/6– 15.8 (4.1)–20 µm, tyle 9.6– 20.6 (4.3)–24 µm thick.

Distribution. Mexico (current records), Belize ( Rützler et al. 2014).

Remarks. Our material shows similarities with the original description of P. carriebowensis by Rützler et al. (2014); viz., thinly encrusting habit, irregular surface (slightly rugose) with dispersed and slightly elevated oscules, presence of translucent membrane over the surface, and orange color in vivo. However, the specimens described here have slightly larger and thinner tylostyles; viz., our material with 350–1800/10–18 μm (larger tylostyles) and 200–920/6–20 μm (small tylostyles) vs. material of Rützler et al. (2014) 240–840/15–30 μm (type I) and 230– 1550/9–25 (type II). Besides, we observe a simple hymedesmioid architecture from most of our material’s skeleton, while Rützler et al. (2014) have described bunches of tylostyles. This study presents the first record of Prosuberites carriebowensis for the GoM.

Order Axinellida Lévi, 1953

Figures

FIGURE 8. Prosuberites carriebowensis Rützler, Piantoni, van Soest & Díaz, 2014 (CNPGG-2238), skeleton and spicules: A. transversal section of hymedesmioid skeleton; B. large and small tylostyles. Scale bars: A = 200 µm; B = 250 µm.

FIGURE 16. In situ photographs of species analyzed in the present study: A. Agelas clathrodes (Schmidt, 1870) (CNPGG- 2297); B. Agelas conifera (Schmidt, 1870) (CNPGG-2373); C. Agelas dispar Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (CNPGG-2007); D. Agelas schmidtii Wilson, 1902 (CNPGG-2285);E. Agelas sventres Lehnert & van Soest, 1996 (CNPGG-2285); F. Agelas wiedenmayeri Alcolado, 1984 (CNPGG-2476); G. Prosuberites carriebowensis Rützler, Piantoni, van Soest & Díaz, 2014 (CNPGG-2211); H. Ectyoplasia ferox (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) (CNPGG-2407); I. Ectyoplasia ferox (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) (CNPGG-2240); J. Dragmacidon reticulatum (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) (CNPGG-2283); K. Ptilocaulis walpersii (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) (CNPGG-2171); L. Myrmekioderma rea (de Laubenfels, 1934) (CNPGG-2261); M. Neofibularia nolitangere (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) (CNPGG-2206); N. Desmanthus meandroides van Soest & Hajdu, 2000 (CNPGG-2389); O. Cliona aprica Pang, 1973 (CNPGG-2298). Scale bars, A–O = 1 cm.