Pseudaxinella lunaecharta Wiedenmayer 1977 : 155 Dragmacidon reticulatum López & Green 1984 : 81 Pulitzer-Finali 1986 : 102 Zea 1987 : 195 Gammill 1997 : 5 Gómez 2002 : 73 Dragmacidon lunaecharta Dragmacidon reticulata Díaz 2007 : 47 Mora-Cristancho et al . 2007 : 170 Díaz & Zea 2008 : 34 Dragmacidon reticulatus Valderrama & Zea 2013 : 358 Dragmacidon reticulatum Rützler et al . 2014 : 70 Dragmacidon reticulatum ( Ridley & Dendy, 1886 ) Axinella Taxonomy of the Caribbean sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) (Porifera, Demospongiae, Axinellida), with the description of a new species Zea, Sven Pulido, Alejandra Zootaxa 2016 4114 4 393 408  Rützler et al . 2014 : 70 [151,438,1586,1612] Demospongiae Axinellidae Dragmacidon Animalia Halichondrida 4 397 Porifera species alvarezae sp. nov.     Pseudaxinella lunaecharta;  Wiedenmayer 1977: 155, pl. 31 figs. 7–10; pl. 32 figs. 1–3, textfig. 156 (Bimini, Bahamas; Florida Keys) (in part; some specimens could be  Dragmacidon reticulatum); Gómez  López & Green 1984: 81, fig. 20 (Quintana Roo, Mexico);  Pulitzer-Finali 1986: 102(Bimini, Bahamas; Boca Chica and Boca de Yuma, Dominican Republic);  Zea 1987: 195, fig. 70, pl 12 figs. 3–4 (Continental coast of Colombia; Old Providence Island);  Gammill 1997: 5, photo 5 (Florida Keys; Bahamas; Caribbean);  Gómez 2002: 73, fig. (Gulf of Mexico; Yucatán; Quintana Roo).   Dragmacidon“ lunaecharta”; Zea et al.2014( Bahamas; Florida Keys; continental coast of Colombia).  [Non:  Axinella(?)  lunaecharta Ridley & Dendy, 1886: 481( Cape VerdeIslands); Ridley & Dendy, 1887: 186, pl. 37, figs. 1, 1a, 2 (=  Dragmacidon lunaecharta, valid species from the eastern Atlantic, see Alvarez et al. 1998).]   Pseudaxinella reticulata; Alvarez et al. 1998: 15, figs. 8, 9, table 8 [in part, apparently all specimens but USNM 32847 ( Bermuda) and USNM 42787 (Gulf of Mexico); North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgiashelves; east coast of Florida; Gulf of Mexico; Belize; Nicaragua; Puerto Rico; US Virgin Islands; Curaçao, Tobago, Venezuela].     Dragmacidon reticulata;  Díaz 2007: 47;  Mora-Cristancho et al. 2007: 170, Table 1(Santa Marta, Colombia, antifouling properties);  Díaz & Zea 2008: 34(Guajira, Colombia).    Dragmacidon reticulatus;  Valderrama & Zea 2013: 358(Gulf of Urabá, Colombia; annotated list citing material from Zea 1987).    Dragmacidon reticulatum; Zea et al. 2009( Bahamas, Florida Keys);  Rützler et al. 2014: 70(Carrie Bow Cay, Belize). [Non:  Dragmacidon reticulatum( Ridley & Dendy, 1886)(original under  Axinella; a valid species).]    Typematerial and typelocality. Continental coast of Colombia, Santa Marta, Holotype: INV-POR 0 525, Bahía de Santa Marta, Morro, SW side ( 11°14’57.77” N, 74°13’48.66” W), 15–23 m, coll. Sven Zea, 2 September 1997(voucher for Castellanos et al. 2003, as  Pseudaxinella reticulata).  Paratypes(coll. Sven Zea): INV-POR 0 330, Ensenada Granate, canal de la Aguja ( 11°18’28.40” N, 74°11’31.93" W), 6 m, 23 June 1981(described by Zea, 1987as  Pseudaxinella lunaecharta); ICN-MHN(Po) 0 140, Bahía de Nenguange, in front of Playa Brava ( 11°19’43.96” W, 74° 5’55.24” W), 12 m, 20 April 1982(described by Zea, 1987as  Pseudaxinella lunaecharta); INV-POR 1259, Bahía de Santa Marta, Morro, SW side ( 11°14’57.77” N, 74°13’48.66” W), 20 m, 9 July 1993.  Additional material. Bahamas: voucher 189 (tissue slide, 10 m, 19 June 2004), voucher 286 ( 12 m, 26 June200,), Stirrup Cays, N Berry Islands ( 25°49’39.2” N, 77°53’497.9” W), coll. Sven Zea.  USA, East side of Florida: USNM30384 (fragment INV-POR 1261), Florida Keys, Looe Key, west patch reef, coll. S. Pomponi, 14 June 1984(originally identified as  Pseudaxinella lunaechartaby K. Rützler and S. Pomponi, 1994).  USA, Florida west coast, Gulf of Mexico: USNM39859 (fragment INV-POR 1262), Florida west coast, Sta 0 7 ( 26°16’49” N, 82°44’01” W), 30.4 m, 19 July 1981(originally identified as  Pseudaxinella rosacea). Southwestern Caribbean, Old Providence Island: INV-POR 0 331, Blue Hole ( 13°24’16.80” N, 81°23’37.11” W), 27 m, coll. Sven Zea, 8 December 1980(material described by Zea 1987). Continental coast of Colombia, Gulf of Urabá: INV-POR 0 327, 328, Peñón Napú ( 08°25’10” N, 77°07’14” W), coll. INVEMARExpedition, October 1977(described by Zea 1987as  Pseudaxinella lunaecharta; listed by Valderrama & Zea 2013as  Dragmacidon reticulatus); Cartagena: INV-POR 0 329, Banco Salmedina ( 10°22’24.59” N, 75°39’58.59” W), 24 m, coll. Sven Zea, 19 July 1980(described by Zea 1980); ICN-MHN(Po) 0 139, Islas del Rosario, IslaTesoro, north side ( 10°14’3.93” N, 75°44’25.22” W), 15 m, coll. Sven Zea, 1 February 1983(described by Zea, 1987as  Pseudaxinella lunaecharta); Santa Marta: INV-POR 881, Bahía de Santa Marta, Morro, SW side ( 11°14’57.77” N, 74°13’48.66” W), 24 m, coll. Sven Zea & Marisol Santos-Acevedo, 18 November 2003(voucher for Mora-Cristancho et al.2007, as  Dragmacidon reticulata). Guajira: INV-POR1097, 10 m, coll. INVEMAR-CORPOGUAJIRA Expedition on board R/V Ancón, station 215, Bahía Honda ( 12°23’33” N, 71°45’40” W), 30 March-9 April 2005(material described by Díaz 2007as  Dragmacidon reticulata).   Description. Shape, color and consistency.Encrusting, massive, or erect with lobed, fan- or club-shaped projections; the latter sometimes divided; large specimens can be arborescent, with flattened branches thickened at the tips. Size from a few cm in height and thickness up to 25–30 cmor more in height when erect. At Santa Marta, continental coast of Colombia, it is always encrusting, up to 2–3 cmthick and up to 20–25 cmin maximum diameter. Surface smooth to slightly hispid, sometimes more so in elevated portions; oscules even or slightly elevated, scattered, or aligned on ridges or fanned projections, where these occur, 1–5 mmin diameter. Live color scarlet red to orange; interior orange; cream when preserved. Consistency toughly compressible; erect specimens more compressible and flexible. Abundant mucus is exuded upon handling.  Skeleton.Vertically elongated reticulation of ascending and diverging plumose spicule tracts, 100–500 µm thick, up to 300 µm apart, interconnected every 175–1225 µm by thinner, 50–350 µm tracts. At the surface, ascending tracts end in non-projecting spicule brushes. Spicules are: (1) Styles, slightly curved, with smooth heads and acute to slightly telescopic ends, 170–390 µm by 4.5–28 µm. (2) Oxeas, slightly curved, usually slightly asymmetric, with pointed to slightly telescopic ends, 210–420 µm by 5–17.5 µm. Specimen measurements are given in Table 1.   Distribution. Bahamas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, Central America, north coast of South America. Its presence in Bermudaand Brazilis possible, but needs to be confirmed.  Ecology.It inhabits rocky littorals and reefs, from shallow to deep, generally exposed to light, but sometimes cryptic ( Rützler et al. 2014). Depth range 1– 31 m.   Etymology.Named in honor of Venezuelan spongologist Belinda Alvarez, now at Lund University, Sweden, for her contributions to systematics and taxonomy of sponges, especially of the order Halichondridasensu lato.   TABLE 1.Spicule sizes, length x width in μm. values are minimum- mean-maximum οf 25-50 spicules. St=st"les# Οx=οxeas.     Locality̸Specimen  Dragmacidonreticulatum    Dragmacidon alvarezae n. sp.   BermudaUSNM 32847(INv-PΟR 1260)2 St∶ 280 -364.9-450 x 7.5- 11.2-15 Οx∶ 320- 373.2-490 x 7.5- 10-12.5  BMNH1948.8.6.37 St∶ 250- 330.8-400 x 7.5- 11.5-15 Οx∶ 320- 351.3-460 x 7.5- 11.2-15     BahamasPBH04 St∶ 250- 381.2-450 x 12.5-16.3- 22.5 Οx∶ 320- 413.8-520 x 12.5- 14.9-17.5 286 St∶ 260- 281.5-320 x 10- 12.1-15 Οx∶ 270- 303.5-390 x 10- 12.1-15   North Carolina USNM 33354 1 St∶ 220- 266.0-310 x 7.5- 10.7-15 Οx∶ 240- 273.6-310 x 7.5- 9.7-12.5   South Carolina USNM 33349 1 St∶ 210- 272.0-390 x 7.5-12.0-17.5 Οx∶ 210- 282.0-340 x 5- 8.3-15   Georgia USNM 33350 1 St∶ 200- 282.8-330 x 7.5- 12.3-15 Οx∶ 220- 268.0-320 x 7.5- 10.0-15   Florida!eys PFL8 St∶ 271- 372.0-513 x 9.5 -15.3-19 Οx∶ 247- 330.0-413 x 8.6- 13.0-19 USNM 30384 (INv-PΟR 1261) St∶ 233 -278.4-318 x 7.1 -12.4-15.2 Οx∶ 299- 322.0-347 x 9.5 -12.4-14.3   Florida, Gulf coast USNM 42787 1 St∶ 260- 343.0-400 x 15- 18.2-22.5 Οx∶ 310- 386.0-440 x 12.5- 16.2-20 USNM 39859 St∶ 260- 322.0-350 x 17.5- 21.0-25 Οx∶ 285- 331.0-420 x 17.5- 19.7-22   Puerto Rico USNM 30136 1 St∶ 260- 303.0-340 x 10- 15.3-20 Οx∶ 310- 354.0-410 x 12.5- 15.2-17.5   US Virgin Islands USNM 31552 1 St∶ 230- 282.8-330 x 10- 12.5-15 Οx∶ 290- 331.6-370 x 7.5- 11.3-12.5   Belize USNM 32987 1 St∶ 210- 302.4-330 x 10- 16.0-20 Οx∶ 330- 362.8-400 x 12.5- 16.0-17.5   Nicaragua USNM 31452 1 St∶ 240- 287.6-350 x 7.5- 12.1-15 Οx∶ 310- 342.4-400 x 10- 12.8-15   ……continued on the next page   TABLE 1.(Cοntinued)      Locality̸Specimen Dragmacidonreticulatum    Dragmacidon alvarezae n. sp.   Old Providence, Colombia INv-PΟR 0 331 St∶ 238- 277.0-328 x 4.3- 14.4-19 Οx∶ 285- 332.0-356 x 9.5- 13.1-15.2   Gulf of Uraba, Colombia INv-PΟR 0 327 St∶ 280- 306.5-350 x 16.5- 22.3-28 Οx∶ 270- 300.0-350 x 10- 15.6-23   Islas del Rosario, Colombia INv-PΟR 0 329 St∶ 300- 325.0-400 x 12.5- 16.3-20 Οx∶ 310- 343.0-400 x 12.5- 15.4-17.5  ICN-MHN(Pο) 0 139 St∶ 204- 267.0-318 x 5.7- 16.3-22.3  Οx∶ 313- 335.0-352 x 12.8- 16.0-19   Santa Marta, ColombiaINv-PΟR 1257 St∶ 242- 349.0-442 x 6.2- 12.9-18.1 Οx∶ 328- 376.0-456 x 4.3- 10.5-18.1 INv-PΟR 0 525  Holotype St∶ 260- 313.0-340 x 7- 17.2-21.3 Οx∶ 300- 326.0-350 x 12.5- 17.0-20  INv-PΟR 0 526 St∶ 280- 390.0-450 x 15- 16.8-20 Οx∶ 370- 401.0-430 x 12.5- 16.0-17.5 INv-PΟR 0 330  Paratype St∶ 260- 309.0-340 x 15- 20.2-25 Οx∶ 310- 338.0-390 x 12.5- 17.6-20  INv-PΟR 1259 St∶ 213- 288.0-347 x 8.1- 13.7-17.6   Guajira, Colombia Tobago  ParatypeINv-PΟR 1097 3 USNM 42791 1 Οx∶ 232- 303.0-347 x 8.6- 13.9-17.6 St∶ 264- 295.0-342 x 8- 13.0-15 Οx∶ 271- 322.0-399 x 11.5- 13.0-16 St∶ 170- 260.0-320 x 7.5- 13.6-20 Οx∶ 230- 282.0-330 x 5- 11.1-17.5   Bahia, BrazilBMNH 87.5.2.11 2 St∶ 240- 347.0-416 x 7.5- 14.2-21.4 HolotypeΟx∶ 340- 396.0-470 x 10- 12.4-17.5 Frοm Alvarez et al. (1998). Data cοmbined frοm Alvarez et al.1989 and additiοnal οwn measurements. Frοm Diaz (2007).   FIGURE 3.Light micrographs of the skeleton; cross sections at the surface and the choanosome. A)  Dragmacidon reticulatum(voucher 216, Bahamas). (B)  Dragmacidon alvarezae  n. sp.(voucher 286, Bahamas). Large scale bar 1000 µm; smaller scale bar 300 µm.  Remarks.Although  D. reticulatumand  D. alvarezae  n. sp.share many characteristics such as both being encrusting, exudating mucus, having the same color, same spicule types, and overlapping size range of spicules and skeletal tracts, they can also be distinguished as different species from a combination of characteristics ( Table 2). We confirmed these differences by detailed examination of co-occurring specimens from the Bahamasand from Santa Marta, Colombia(see also Plate 1). While  D. reticulatumis predominantly encrusting and massive, D.   alvarezae  n. sp.can grow fan or club shaped projections, sometimes even becoming arborescent (excepting at Santa Marta, where both species are always thickly encrusting); erect specimens of  D. alvarezae  n. sp.can be more flexible and compressible than encrusting forms of both species. The surface of  D. reticulatumis rugose, often with hispid projections, while  D. alvarezae  n. sp.has a more even and smoother surface, usually without or with fewer and lower hispid projections. The skeletal architecture is also distinctive. In  D. reticulatumthe ascending tracts are usually thicker, more widely spaced, and protrude above the surface to form the hispid projections, while in  D. alvarezae  n. sp.the reticulation is elongated vertically, more compact and uniform, and although at the surface there are dense bouquets of spicules, these do not project as much to form spines. Although spicule sizes overlap in the two species and oxeas always reach larger sizes than styles in both species, maximum sizes are always smaller in  D. alvarezae  n. sp.than in  D. reticulatum( Tables 1and 2, Fig. 4); in  D. alvarezaeonly rarely a specimen may have a few spicules that surpass 400 µm in length (max measured 420), while in  D. reticulatummany spicules within a specimen reach larger sizes ( Fig. 4). Statistical comparison of spicule length (mean per specimen) in localities where there was available data for both species ( Bahamas, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico, Santa Marta) confirmed that  D. reticulatumstyles and oxea are significantly larger (p<0.05) than those of  D. alvarezae  n. sp.(two-way ANOVA with factors being species, locality and species*locality).