Demosponge diversity from North Sulawesi, with the description of six new species

Barbara Calcinai,Daisy M Makapedua,Santiago Bueno Horcajadas,Carlo Cerrano,Marco Bertolino,Giorgio Bavestrello,Azzurra Bastari,Maurizio Pansini

doi:10.3897/zookeys.680.12135

Abstract

Sponges are key components of the benthic assemblages and play an important functional role in many ecosystems, especially in coral reefs. The Indonesian coral reefs, located within the so-called “coral triangle”, are among the richest in the world. However, the knowledge of the diversity of sponges and several other marine taxa is far from being complete in the area. In spite of this great biodiversity, most of the information on Indonesian sponges is scattered in old and fragmented literature and comprehensive data about their diversity are still lacking. In this paper, we report the presence of 94 species recorded during different research campaigns mainly from the Marine Park of Bunaken, North Sulawesi. Six species are new for science and seven represent new records for the area. Several others are very poorly known species, sometimes recorded for the second time after their description. For most species, besides field data and detailed descriptions, pictures in vivo are included. Moreover, two new symbiotic sponge associations are described.This work aims to increase the basic knowledge of Indonesian sponge diversity as a prerequisite for monitoring and conservation of this valuable taxon.

Highlights

Tedania (Tedania) coralliophila Thiele, 1903 Figure 11(23) Encrusting sponge growing on a specimen of Agelas nakamurai Hoshino, 1985
Thoosa letellieri Topsent, 1891 Figure 15 The species is characterised by nodulose amphiasters typical of Thoosa, with numerous intermediate forms 12.5-(16.7±1.5)-1.5 μm (Fig 15A, B); amphiasters with eight thin rays ending with group of spines 25-(28.2±2.7)-32.5 μm (Fig. 15B); oxeas straight, with spines at the extremities 127.5-(143.9±8.9)-157.5 μm (Fig. 15A); toxas 75-(88.3±8.5)-μm (Fig. 15A); thin raphides, curved in the middle 25-(28.2±32.5)-μm (Fig. 15A)
Van Soest et al 2016 consider the status of this species as "taxon inquirendum" and report its distribution for the Celtic Sea

Summary

Introduction

Tedania (Tedania) coralliophila Thiele, 1903 Figure 11(23) Encrusting sponge growing on a specimen of Agelas nakamurai Hoshino, 1985. Surface is smooth and consistency quite hard in dried state. Stelletta clavosa Ridley, 1884 Figure 11(32) This species, very common in the Marine Park of Bunaken, is always associated to polychetes living inside the sponge.

Results

Conclusion