Geodioides, var. Ambon

Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & De Voogd, Nicole J., 2010, Skeletons in confusion: a review of astrophorid sponges with (dicho-) calthrops as structural megascleres (Porifera, Demospongiae, Astrophorida), ZooKeys 68, pp. 1-88 : 56

Calthropella Calthropella geodioides var. Ambon

Calthropella geodioides var. Topsent 1897: 438.

Calthropella geodioides ; Desqueyroux-Faúndez 1981: 730, Figs 13-15, 106.

Material examined.

None. According to Desqueyroux-Faúndez (1981) there are several specimens in MHNG (nr. C12/12).

Description

(from Topsent 1897 and Desqueyroux-Faúndez 1981). This is described as a small white sponge, similar to the North Atlantic Calthropella geodioides , but differing by possessing calthrops with a fifth cladus, and by rare microscleres. Calthrops are much smaller than in the North Atlantic material, with cladi length 180-210 µm, whereas the dichocalthrops are much larger than those of Calthropella geodioides proper, being of similar size as the calthrops. There are thick-centred tuberculated asters with truncated rays, 10-12 µm. Further megascleres are oxeas of 750 × 20 µm (not pictured by Desqueyroux-Faúndez).

Habitat.

Shallow reefs.

Distribution.

Ambon Bay, Indonesia.

Remarks.

It is likely that the Ambon material belongs to an undescribed species, as the length of the cladi of the calthrops and the diameter of the tuberculated asters are much smaller than in the type of Calthropella geodioides , and ‘normal’ oxyasters are apparently not present. In addition, the localities and habitats are widely separated (deep sea off Portugal vs. Ambon Bay).