Mycale (Aegogropila) kolletae sp. n. from the SE Atlantic, with comments on the species of Mycale Gray with raphidotoxas (Mycalidae, Demospongiae, Porifera)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A new species of Myca/e Gray, 1867 bearing raphidotoxas is described from the Namibian coast (SE Atlantic). Myca/e (Aegogropi/a) kolletae sp. n. is characterized by having raphidotoxas up to 590 !1m long, three distinct categories of anisochelae, two categories of sigmas, velY small raphides, and most of all , by toxas serrated in an unusual pattern (on the inner parts of all three bends) . Myca/e magllirhaphidifera Van Soest, 1984 is redescribed from the Brazilian coast, based on a population from the northern Sao Paulo State coastline. The remaining two species with raphidotoxas, viz. Myca/e rhaphidotoxa Hentschel, 1912 and M. mannarensis Thomas, 1968 are revised. LEV I'S ( 1963) record of Carmia maci/enta (Bowerbank, 1866) for the South African coast was reevaluated and found conspecific with M. ko lletae sp. n. It has both raphidotoxas as well as toxas with bends which are serrated on their inner surfaces . An identifi cation key for all the Myca/e with raphidotoxas is given, and a discussion on possible phy logenetic interpretations for the OCCUll'ence of raphidotoxas is advanced.

A revision of the genus Mycale (Poecilosclerida: Mycalidae) from the Mexican Pacific Ocean

“…Distribution. The species is widespread in the Tropical western Atlantic and Pacific Ocean (Carballo and Hajdu, 2001;Cruz-Barraza and Carballo, 2008) (Fig. 1).…”

“…The species is distinguished from other species belonging to the subgenus Carmia because of the presence of long toxas (55 μm, in average) and raphides up to 150 μm long. Other two Mycale (Carmia) with long raphides are, M. (C.) magnirhaphidifera Van Soest, 1984, which has longer raphides (from 315 to 367 μm) and shorter sigmas, and does not have toxas, and M. (C.) rhaphidotoxa Hentschel, 1912 from Arafura Sea (Indonesia), which has also larger raphides (200-400 μm), sigmas over 60 μm long, and in addition has not toxas (Carballo and Hajdu, 2001). Other two species with long raphides are M. (Aegogropila) mannarensis Thomas, 1968 from the Gulf of Mannar (India), and Mycale (A.)…”

“…Other two species with long raphides are M. (Aegogropila) mannarensis Thomas, 1968 from the Gulf of Mannar (India), and Mycale (A.) kolletae Carballo and Hajdu, 2001, from the Atlantic coast of Africa, both clearly different to M. (C.) contax by their typical Aegogropila ectosomal skeleton. M. (Zygomycale) parishi also has long raphides (from 30 to 160 µm), but the spicular complements of this species, and the ectosomal skeleton, are very different to those in M. (C.) contax (see Remarks in M. (Zygomycale) ramulosa).…”

“…escarlatei from the tropical Western Atlantic (Hajdu et al, 1995), Mycale (A.) lilianae also from the tropical Western Atlantic, and Mycale (C.) urizae from the African coast (Carballo and Hajdu, 2001). M. ramulosa sp.…”