Axinella aruensis ( Hentschel. 1912 )

Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, Zootaxa 4137 (4), pp. 451-477 : 456-457

Axinella aruensis ( Hentschel. 1912)

( Fig. 2 , 4 )

Phakellia aruensis Hentschel, 1912:420

Axinella aruensis .— Alvarez & Hooper 2009: 19 (and references within); Przeslawski et al. 2014, 2015 (listed only).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE— SMF 953, E side, Aru I., Indonesia, 31 August 1908, coll. Merton, H 2627. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS.— RMNH POR. 2627, Indonesia, Spermonde Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Samalona, 5.1224°S, 119.3394°E, 12m depth, #NV/ 300500 /067, 30 May 2000, coll. N.J. de Voogd. RMNH POR. 5345, Indonesia, Halmahera, Ternate, Batu Angus, 0.8468°N 127.3666°E 3 m depth, 20 October 2009, # TER 11/ 301009 / 0 96. ZMA Por. 0 0 608, Indonesia, Rotti Isl., Cyrus bay, 10.8733°S, 123.0183°E, Lesser Sunda Islands, 34 m depth, 27 January 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 299. ZMA Por. 0 9004, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, E of Melolo, 9.9033°S, 120.725°E, Nusa Tenggara, 50 m depth, 15 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest. ZMA Por. 13282, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Kudingareng Keke, Sulawesi, 5.102°S, 119.286°E ,, 15 m depth, 9 April 1997, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 15138, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Kudingareng Keke NW, 5.1°S, 119.3°E, Sulawesi, 15m depth, 4 June 1997, coll. B.W. Hoeksema.

Remarks. Axinella aruensis and its common morphotypes were re-described by Alvarez & Hooper (2009) based on the type material of the species and an extensive number of specimens from northern Australian populations. The body for of the material examined here shares some similarities with both the typical form and the form ‘I’ described by Alvarez & Hooper (2009). Further illustrations ( Fig.4 ) and spicule measurements ( Table 3) are provided herein to complement the description. We noticed larger styles and oxeas in the specimen of Halmahera, Ternate ( Table 3) than previously reported ( Alvarez & Hooper 2009), and some resemblance of the body surface to Ptilocaulis cf. spiculifer (Fig. 3B).

Specimen Locality Oxeas Styles

ZMA Por. 13282 SW Sulawesi 192.2–307.7µm (245.7±30.2) 216.4–314.3µm (271.6±29.9)

x 7 –15.7µm (11.6±1.8) x 8.4–15.5µm (12.4±1.8)

ZMA Por. 0 0 608 Lesser Sunda, 254.5–329.7µm (290±18.8) 198.6–311.1µm (257±27) x 8.6–17.2µm (13±2.6) x 11.9–15.7µm (13.5±1.6) [9] QM G 301092 * Cartier Is, WA 281.2–450.2µm (360.7±39.9) 242.8–419µm (301.1±36)

x 10.3–19.4µm (15.6±2.2) x 12.6–20.3µm (16.8±1.9)

NTM Z000619* Melville I., NT 236.1–406µm (302.4±39.4) 186–362.8µm (267.2±43.3) [22]

x 9.3–17.5µm (13.9±2.3) x 9.8–17.1µm (14.1±1.9) [22]

NTM Z003141* Parry Shoals, NT 267.1–372.9µm (307.1±23.3) 248.6–294.6µm (270.4±18.8) [4]

x 9.4–17.2µm (13.6±2.3) x 11.1–16.7µm (13.9±2.3) [4] NTM Z005053* Darwin Harbour, NT 297.6–498.6µm (392.1±47) 263.6–417.2µm (342.7±37.6) x 7.3–22.5µm (16.5±3.7) x 12 –23.5µm (17.1±2.9)

NTM Z004465* Wessel Is, NT 194.4–396.4µm (299.5±48.6) [24] 204.6–331.7 (269.7±44.1) [15]

x 5.6–17.4µm (12±3.3) x 8.6–18 (13.8±2.8) [15]

*Data from Alvarez & Hooper (2009)

Distribution. Axinella aruensis is a common species widely distributed through the Central West Pacific. Based on the material examined, its distribution can be extended to the Banda Sea, Sulawesi Sea/Makassar Strait and Lesser Sunda MEOW ecoregions of the Western Coral Triangle province ( Fig. 2 ). It’s been recorded also for Sahul Shelf, Eastern Coral Triangle ( Alvarez & Hooper 2009) and Northwest Australian Shelf provinces (Alvarez & Fromont unpublished results).

The species is found from intertidal down to 50 m depth and even deeper in the Northwest Australian Shelf (Fromont & Alvarez, unpublished results).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map showing the geographical location of the described species.

FIGURE 4. Axinella aruensis. A, ZMA Por. 15138 in situ at Sulawesi. B, RMNH POR. 5345, in situ at Halmahera, Ternate. ZMA Por. 00608: C, dry specimen, collected from Rotti Is, 50 m depth at the Siboga Expedition; D, light microphotograph of skeleton; E, drawing of spicules. Scale bars: C, 4 cm; D, 500 µm; E, 50 µm. Photos A – B: Nicole de Voogd ..