Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus, Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Santos, George Garcia & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2014

Cavalcanti, Thaynã, Santos, George Garcia & Pinheiro, Ulisses, 2014, A new species of Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) Burton, 1934 (Porifera: Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida) from deeper waters off the Atlantic coast of Brazil, Zootaxa 3884 (5), pp. 497-500 : 497-499

Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus sp. nov.

Holotype. UFPEPOR 1647, Bacia Potiguar (04º 44.8945' S, 36º 25.4571' W), Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, depth 108 m, trawl, col. Petrobras, (23.V.2011).

Description of preserved specimen ( Fig. 1 A–C). Massive or volcano-shaped, 16 x 15 x 4 cm (length x height x width) ( Fig. 1 A), elastic and compressible consistency. Warty surface, with papillae (2.7mm high) covering the sponge. Two big membranaceous circular oscules (approximately 2 cm in diameter) at the top ( Fig. 1 A–C). The sponge exudes copious mucus when handled. Color in life is unknown and it is brownish-purple in ethanol. The specimens were collected in the same drag as Aiolochroia crassa ( Hyatt, 1875) and stored in the same container. It is possible that the A. crassa pigments discoloured the Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) specimen.

Skeleton: The ectosomal skeleton consists of some strewn tylotes, with abundant fibres, sigmas and arcuate isochelae also concentrated in this region ( Fig. 1 D). The choanosomal skeleton is a system of anastomosing spongin fibres without any regular architecture ( Fig. 1 B), the primary (trabeculae) and secundary fibres are cored by tylotes. Raphides are present throughout the mesohyl.

Spicules ( Fig. 1 E–I; Table 1 ). Tylotes (263– 397.8 –550 / 5 – 7.4 –11 µm): large, smooth, straight to sinuously curved, head oval ( Fig. 1 E, G); Arcuate isochelae (16– 23.5 –28 µm): smooth, lightly curved, abundant ( Fig. 1 I); Sigmas (21– 30.7 –41 µm): thin, smooth, abundant ( Fig. 1 H); Raphides (287– 343.3 –419 / 0.5– 0.64 –1 µm): long, smooth, lightly curved, very thin ( Fig. 1 F).

Distribution and ecology. Known only from the type locality: Off Bacia Potiguar, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil), at 108 m depth. No data regarding the habitat were recorded; the relatively deep distribution (below 100 m) is so far unusual for members of the subgenus.

Etymology. The species name, from the Latin vulcanus , refers to its volcano-shape.

Discussion. Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the subgenus by the combination of its volcano-shape, presence of mucus and combination of microscleres arcuate isochelae (16–28 µm), sigmas (21–41 µm) and raphides (287–419 µm) ( Table 1 ). It is the only species in the subgenus that possesses both sigma and raphide microscleres. In comparison with Atlantic species: Lissodendoryx (A.) amphispinulata Rützler et al., 2007 from the Caribbean can be distinguished by the presence of two categories of tylotes and by the absence of raphides; Lissodendoryx (A.) coralgardeniensis Samaai & Gibbons, 2005 from South Africa is an encrusting to massive sponge and does not have sigmas; Lissodendoryx (A.) recife has strongyles and lacks sigmas and raphides; and Lissodendoryx (A.) tylota does not have sigmas or styles and its arcuate isochelae (50 µm) are bigger than those of the new species (28 µm). The most similar species to L. (A.) vulcanus sp. nov. is L. (A.) dendyi (Whitelegge, 1901) which also has a massive shape, but differs by having smaller tylotes (see Tab. 1 ) and absence of raphides. Finally, L. (A.) dendyi is known only from Australia, making conspecificity highly improbable.

References: (1) Rützler et al. (2007); (2) Samaai & Gibbons (2005); (3) Boury-Esnault (1973); (4) Topsent (1892b); (5) Van Soest (2002).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus sp. nov. (UFPEPOR 1647). A, specimen preserved in lateral view showing oscules (arrows); B, detail of trabecular spongin fibres; C, detail of oscule; D, thick section showing the ectosome and choanosome; E, tylote; F, raphides; G, tylote end; H, sigmas; I, arcuate isochelae. Scale bars: A = 3 cm; B = 1 cm; C = 1 cm; D = 120 µm; E = 150 µm; F = 100 µm; G = 5 µm; H = 10 µm; I = 7 µm.

Tables

TABLE 1. Comparative micrometric data on the spicules, color, shape, and overview of distribution of the living species of Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx). Spicule dimensions are in micrometres (µm). References are numbered in parentheses and listed after the table.

Species	Distribution / Depth (m)	Shape / Color	Tylote	Arcuate isochelae	Sigma	Other Spicules
Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus sp. nov.	Rio Grande do Norte State (Brazil) / 108	volcano-shaped / brownish-purple (ethanol)	263– 397.8 –550 / 5– 7.4 –11	16– 23.5 –28	21– 30.7 –41	287– 343.3 –419 / 0.5– 0.64 –1 (raphides)
L. (A.) amphispinulata Rützler et al., 2007 1	Caribbean / 54–71	thickly encrusting / grey (ethanol)	I - 259.2–273.1 / 5–7.2 II - 213.7–240.5 / 5.9–7.4	22.2–29.8	10.8–19.8	–
L. (A.) coralgardeniensis Samaai & Gibbons, 2005 2	South Africa / 12	massive to thickly encrusting / yellow-orange	273 / 14	32	–	82 / 0.5 (raphides)
L. (A.) recife (Boury-Esnault, 1973) 3	Paraíba and Pernambuco States (Brazil) / 33–45	massive / not recorded	430–500 / 6–12 (strongylote)	26–31	–	–
L. (A.) tylota (Boury-Esnault, 1973) 3	Sergipe State (Brazil) / 34	fragmented / purple brown	538–620 / 9–12	37–50	–	650–115 / 3–15 (styles)
L. (A.) cavernosa (Topsent, 1892b) 4	Western Mediterranean / not recorded	massive cavernous / brown	300 / 6–10	not recorded	–	–
L. (A.) dendyi (Whitelegge, 1901) 5	Australia / not recorded	massive / yellowish grey	150–250 / 2.5–9	18–25	35–40	–