Aplysina cauliformis ( Carter, 1882 )

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 : 87

Aplysina cauliformis ( Carter, 1882)

Tables 6, 7; Figs. 80A–B , 88C

Synonymy and references: Luffaria cauliformis Carter ( Carter 1882) , other references compiled in Widenmayer (1977: 68), and Muricy et al. (2011: 173); Aplysina longissima , Luffaria cauliformis var. elongo-reticulata, Luffaria cauliformis var. rufa , Luffaria fulva and Verongia longíssima : see references compiled in Wiedenmayer (1977: 68); Luffaria fulva: Pinheiro et al. (2007: 8) ; Aplysina cauliformis, Wiedenmayer (1977: 68) , Gómez & Green (1984: 71), Gómez (2002: 101), Pinheiro et al. (2007: 8), Rützler et al. (2009: 307), Hajdu et al. (2011:224), Muricy et al. (2011: 173), Rützler et al. (2014: 97), and van Soest (2017: 15).

Type locality. Antigua .

Material examined. CNPGG-2380, Triangulo Este reef (20.90°N, 92.234°W), 10 m depth, coll. Omar D. Dominguez, 11 September 2017.

Distribution. Mexico ( Gómez & Green 1984; Gómez 2002; González-Gándara et al. 2009; De la Cruz-Francisco & Bandala-Pérez 2016; current records), Bahamas ( Wiedenmayer 1977); US (Florida, de Laubenfels 1936); Brazil ( Pinheiro et al. 2007), Bermuda, other countries in Caribbean Sea, Brazil ( Rützler et al. 2014), Guyana ( van Soest 2017).

Remarks. At least three species of Aplysina in the western Atlantic have branched morphology, Aplysina orthoreticulata Pinheiro, Hajdu & Custódio, 2007 , Aplysina fulva ( Pallas, 1766) , and Aplysina cauliformis ( Carter, 1882) . However, each of these species have particular external characteristics that allow their identification. For example, Aplysina orthoreticulata has branches with regular diameter with a surface covered by shallow depressions, and is beige with purple spots in vivo ( Pinheiro et al. 2007). Aplysina fulva has single or a cluster of branches with irregular diameter, repent or erect, and most commonly is ochre or brown ( Zea, 1987; Pinheiro et al. 2007). In contrast, Aplysina cauliformis has slender and cylindrical branches with regular diameter and a finely conulose surface. A particular characteristic of the species is the purple color that is conserved after its preservation in ethanol.

Aplysina cauliformis is a common species of the coral reefs in the GoM. Aside Triangulo Reef, we have recorded (not collected) the species in Cayo Arcas, Alacranes, and Bajos del Norte reefs. The species is also recorded in Quintana Roo reefs ( Gómez & Green 1984; Maas-Vargas 2004).

Figures

FIGURE 80. Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882) (CNPGG-2380), skeleton and fibers:A. transversal section of the skeleton; B. detail of fibers and pith. Scale bars: A = 500 µm; B = 100 µm.

FIGURE 88. In situ photographs of species analyzed in the present study: A. Aiolochroia crassa (Hyatt, 1875) (CNPGG 2250); B. Aiolochroia crassa (Hyatt, 1875) (CNPGG 2205); C. Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882), specimen from Alacranes reef (Campeche Bank), not collected; D. Aplysina fistularis (Pallas, 1766) (CNPGG-1235); E. Aplysina fistularis (Pallas, 1766) (CNPGG-1381); F. Aplysina fulva (Pallas, 1766) (CNPGG-2361); G. Aplysina fulva (Pallas, 1766) (CNPGG-1961); H. Aplysina insularis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) (CNPGG-2255); I. Aplysina lacunosa (Lamarck, 1814) (CNPGG-1395); J. Suberea flavolivescens (Hofman & Kielman, 1992) (CNPGG-2169), arrows indicating specimens and surface detail zoomed in; K. Chondrilla caribensis Rützler, Duran & Piantoni, 2007 (CNPGG-2405); L. Chondrosia collectrix (Schmidt, 1870) (CNPGG- 2228). Scale bars, A–L = 1