A Revision of the Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the Central-West Atlantic Region

Abstract

Alvarez, Belinda, Rob W.M. van Soest, and Klaus Rutzler. A Revision of Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the Central West Atlantic Region. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 598,47 pages, 23 figures, 18 tables, 1998.—Twenty-one species of the family Axinellidae (sensu Levi) reside in the central West Atlantic region, from the Carolinas to the southern Caribbean. They are distributed in seven genera, and five are new species: Axinella pomponiae, A. meandroides, PseudaxinellaC?) zeai, Dragmaxia undata, and Auletta tuberosa. A taxonomic diagnosis of these genera and species indicates that the nominal genera Teichaxinella de Laubenfels and Homaxinella Topsent previously recorded from the region are invalid and that in the study area their species can be allocated to Axinella. Acanthella and Ptilocaulis, traditionally grouped with the Axinellidae but recently allocated to the families Dictyonellidae and Desmoxyidae of the Order Halichondrida (sensu van Soest et al., 1990), are included in this revision because the scope of the other families has not yet been established. Ptilocaulis, at least, is shown to be closely related to Axinella. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Annals of the Smithsonian Institution. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Alvarez, Belinda. A revision of Axinellidae (Porifera : Demospongiae) of the Central West Atlantic region / Belinda Alvarez, Rob W.M. van Soest, and Klaus Rutzler. p. cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 598) Includes bibliographical references (p. 45) and index. 1. Axinellidae—Atlantic Coast (U.S.)—Classification. 2. Axinellidae—Caribbean Sea—Classification. I. Soest, R. W. M. van. II. Rutzler, Klaus. III. Title. IV. Series. QL1.S54 no. 598 [QL373.D4] 590 s—dc21 [593.4'6] 98-16422