Two new species in the family Axinellidae (Porifera, Demospongiae) from British Columbia and adjacent waters

William Austin,Neil Mcdaniel,Bruce Ott,Henry Reiswig,Paula Romagosa

doi:10.3897/zookeys.338.5535

Abstract

Two new species of Demospongiae are described for British Columbia and adjacent waters in the family Axinellidae, Auletta krautteri sp. n. and Dragmacidon kishinensis sp. n. They represent range extensions for both of these genera. Both are fairly commonly encountered, Auletta krautteri below diving depths (87 to at least 300 m) and Dragmacidon kishinensis in shallow water (intertidal to 30 m). We propose an amended genus diagnosis for Auletta to account for the variability among species in principal spicules that form the ascending tracts to be either oxeas, styles or strongyles rather than just oxeas.

Highlights

A brief history of surveys and publications from 1878 to 1966 including sponges in British Columbia is presented in Austin et al
Of the approximately 200 demosponge species recorded for this region (Austin 1985, Austin et al 2012), six species were regarded as members of the family Axinellidae (Austin 1985, Austin and Ott 1987)
Stylissa stipitata de Laubenfels, 1961 is not a Stylissa and not an axinellid; It is considered to be a synonym of Semisuberites cribrosa (MickluchoMaclay, 1870) by van Soest et al (2012)

Summary

Introduction

A brief history of surveys and publications from 1878 to 1966 including sponges in British Columbia is presented in Austin et al (in prep.). Of the approximately 200 demosponge species recorded for this region (Austin 1985, Austin et al 2012), six species were regarded as members of the family Axinellidae (Austin 1985, Austin and Ott 1987). N. Alvarez and Hooper (2002) provided a discussion of the history, definition and scope of the Axinellidae. Alvarez and Hooper (2002) provided a discussion of the history, definition and scope of the Axinellidae They reviewed the literature and concluded that among 92 nominal genera, only 10 were valid (Auletta, Axinella, Cymbastela, Dragmacidon, Dragmaxia, Pararhaphoxya, Phakellia, Phycopsis, Ptilocaulis, and Reniochalina)

Materials and methods

Conclusions