taxonID	type	description	language	source
03FD6D27AA4F3219FF4B2D6ABCBFEA61.taxon	description	Synonyms (Rützler & Smith 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4F3219FF4B2D6ABCBFEA61.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMB 4921, Dry Tortugas, Florida (not seen). Material. ZMBN 81788, fragment collected at Caracol Reef, 15 m depth. Additional material examined. Cinachyrella alloclada, UFBA-POR 2565, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; ZMBN 82980, Sweetings Cay, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, 15 m depth; ZMBN 82981, Key Largo, Florida, U. S. A. Outer morphology (Fig. 2 A). Massive, subglobular orange (ca 10 cm of diameter), hispid. One obvious oscule at the top of the sponge. Covered with algae and sediments.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4F3219FF4B2D6ABCBFEA61.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 2 B). Radial bundles of oxeas cross the choanosome until and beyond the surface. A whitish ectosome layer is visible with the naked eye (ca 0.9 mm), it has less sigmas than in the choanosome. Anatriaenes are tangled with the oxea bundles. The cladomes of anatriaenes are placed in or just under the ectosome layer, or protruding beyond the surface. Anatriaenes outnumber protriaenes. Many brownish crystalline round structures (diameter of 68 – 90 µm) are present in the choanosome, only visible in thick sections. Sediments, foreign spicules, foraminifera and diatoms are fairly abundant in the sponge. Spicules (Fig. 2 C – F). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, large, length: 2054 – 2989.1 – 3666 µm; width: 30 – 40.2 – 50 µm. (b) oxeas II (Fig. 2 C – D), smooth, slightly bent, less common than oxeas I, length: 95 – 147.5 – 170 µm; width: 2 – 5.3 – 10.6 µm. (c) protriaenes, width of rhabdome tends to increase from cladome base, rhabdome length: 3110 – 3486 – 4200 µm (N = 3); rhabdome width: 3.5 – 8.2 – 13.5 µm (N = 17); clad length: 54 – 122.5 – 182 µm (N = 17). (d) anatriaenes (Fig. 2 E), very common, rhabdome length: 1330 – 2208.7 – 2640 µm (N = 8); rhabdome width: 3.5 – 5.3 – 7 µm; clad length: 48 – 73.2 – 95 µm. Microscleres: (e) sigmaspires (Fig. 2 F), spiny, length: 8.2 – 9.8 – 12.4 µm; width: 0.7 – 1 – 1.6 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Reef, 5 – 20 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4F3219FF4B2D6ABCBFEA61.taxon	distribution	Distribution. North and South Carolina, U. S. A. (Wells et al. 1960; Rützler & Smith 1992); Georgia, U. S. A. (Freeman et al. 2007); Florida, U. S. A. (Uliczka 1929; de Laubenfels 1936 b; Little 1963; Rützler & Smith 1992); Bermuda (de Laubenfels 1950); Bahamas (Wiedenmayer 1977; Rützler & Smith 1992); Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Jamaica (Lehnert & van Soest 1998); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Costa-Rica (Cortés 1996); Panama (Collin et al. 2005; Díaz 2005); Colombia (Díaz 2007); Venezuela (Alvarez et al. 1991); Brazil (Mothes de Moraes 1980; Lazoski et al. 1999; Cedro et al. 2007); Azores and Senegal: doubtful identifications because of geographical distance (Barnathan et al. 1992; Moss 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4F3219FF4B2D6ABCBFEA61.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. Our specimen of C. alloclada fitted with the description of the species. We had two size categories of oxeas instead of three, but it has been shown that one size class could be absent (Rützler & Smith 1992). The size of the smallest oxea category is very variable, averaging 147.5 µm in our specimen, 159 µm in South-East Brazil (Mothes de Moraes 1980), 355 µm in South-Eastern U. S. A. (Rützler & Smith 1992) and 837 µm in Bahia, Brazil (Lazoski et al. 1999). The Florida specimen had sigmaspires with a much wider size range (11 – 21 µm). Our specimen had anatriaenes with an oval umbrella shape (Fig. 2 E), just as the ones illustrated by Rützler and Smith (1992). On the other hand, anatriaenes of UFBA 2565 POR (Bahia, Brazil) had a depressed apex and clads that start growing horizontally before bending down.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4C3217FF4B2B31BDC4EB91.taxon	description	Synonyms (Rützler & Smith 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4C3217FF4B2B31BDC4EB91.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMB 4911, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (not seen). Material. ZMBN 80958, Adriana’s reef, 1 m depth; ZMBN 81785, STRI Point, 1 m depth; 4 other specimens collected. Additional material examined. Cinachyrella apion, ZMBN 81789, Key Largo, Florida; UFBA-POR 2232, Barra / Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 13 ° 00 ' 42 '' S / 38 ° 31 ' 12 '' W, C. Menegola col., intertidal. Outer morphology (Fig. 3 A). Massive, small spherical sponge that can reach 7 cm in diameter. External color alive is orange, as well as the choanosome. In ethanol, color becomes yellowish. The surface is very hispid, which hides the true color of the sponge, and gives it a rather sandy color. Generally one oscule (ca 3 mm of diameter), which can be found in any part of the sponge. Porocalices (2 mm of diameter) are numerous and evenly distributed, especially on the sides. No macro-epibionts were found growing on this species, except filamentous red algae. No budding was observed.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4C3217FF4B2B31BDC4EB91.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 3 B). The skeleton organization is similar to that of C. alloclada except for the presence of trichodragmata. Radial bundles of oxeas cross the choanosome until and beyond the surface. A whitish ectosome layer is visible with the naked eye (ca 0.9 mm), it has less sigmas than in the choanosome. Anatriaenes are tangled with the oxea bundles. The cladomes of anatriaenes are placed in or just under the ectosome layer, or protruding beyond the surface. Protriaenes I and protriaenes II are present only around the oscules and porocalices (Fig. 3 C). Protriaene cladomes were not found in the sponge, but only at its surface. Trichodragmata were common in the choanosome (never in the ectosome), with no particular orientation. Smaller stout oxeas, Haplosclerida-like, dispersed in the choanosome with no particular orientation. A few crystalline round structures (diameter of 91 – 127 µm) are present in the choanosome, only visible in thick sections. In the choanosome there are also some foreign spicules, foraminifera and diatoms. Spicules (measurements of ZMBN 80958) (Fig. 3 D – F). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, large, length: 2088 – 3526.2 – 4800 µm (N = 14); width: 11 – 31.3 – 37 µm (N = 14). (b) oxeas II (Fig. 3 D), foreign?, short, stout, length: 141 – 169.9 – 219 µm; width: 6 – 9.4 – 13.6 µm. (c) protriaenes I, rhabdome length:> 2040 µm (rhabdomes broken); rhabdome width: 4 – 5.2 – 7 µm; clad length: 33 – 74 – 113 µm. (d) protriaenes II, rhabdome length:> 1440 (rhabdomes broken); rhabdome width: 2 – 2.9 – 4 µm; clad length: 8 – 20.7 – 29 µm. (e) anatriaenes (Fig. 3 E), very common, rhabdome with whip – like end, rhabdome length: 2232 – 3708 – 4800 µm (N = 4); rhabdome width: 2 – 4.1 – 7 µm; clad length: 11 – 44.7 – 68 µm. Microscleres: (f) trichodragmata, length: 135 – 203.3 – 248 µm; width: 7 – 14.1 – 30 µm. (g) sigmaspires (Fig. 3 F), spiny, length: 8.7 – 10.4 – 12.5 µm (N = 13); width: 0.9 – 1.2 – 1.4 µm (N = 13). Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Common on very shallow reefs and sand (0.4 – 1.5 m depth), often below mangrove trees. Other reports at Bocas del Toro found it growing on mangrove roots (Collin et al. 2005; Díaz 2005), as it is often found in Belize (Rützler & Smith 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4C3217FF4B2B31BDC4EB91.taxon	distribution	Distribution. North and South Carolina (Rützler & Smith 1992); Bermuda (de Laubenfels 1950; Rützler & Smith 1992); Florida (Rützler & Smith 1992); Bahamas (van Soest & Sass 1981; Rützler & Smith 1992); Virgin Islands (Uliczka 1929); Belize (Rützler & Smith 1992; Rützler et al. 2000); Panama (Wulff 2000; Díaz 2005); Colombia (Wintermann-Kilian & Kilian 1984); Brazil (Lazoski et al. 1999; Cedro et al. 2007).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA4C3217FF4B2B31BDC4EB91.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. C. apion was considered to be rare in Bocas del Toro (Díaz 2005), but we found it to be fairly common, especially in Adriana’s reef. Despite the presence of oxeas II (Fig. 3 D), the morphology of our specimens completely agreed with the description of C. apion. It is interesting to note that the short oxeas II were never previously reported in C. apion, and that they were not observed in our specimens from Florida. Therefore, we cannot rule out the possibility that these oxeas II were foreign. The crystalline structures in the choanosome were previously reported in this species and C. alloclada (Rützler & Smith 1992; Lazoski et al. 1999). These structures have also been observed in other species of Tetillidae: Cinachyrella levantinensis Vacelet et al. (Vacelet et al. 2007), Craniella cranium (Müller) and Craniella zetlandica (Carter) (P. Cárdenas, personal observation). Their function is still unknown, as well as their diagnostic relevance. We nonetheless emphasize the fact that these were never found in C. kuekenthali (in previous records or our specimens). Our COI sequence (FJ 711645) was strictly identical to those of a C. apion from Twin Cays Mangroves, Belize (EF 519601) and from Flatts Inlet, Bermuda (AJ 843895).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	description	Synonyms (Rützler & Smith 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	materials_examined	Material. 3 specimens collected at Caracol Reef and Adriana’s reef, 3 – 15 m depth. Two specimens deposited: ZMBN 81786 – 81787, both from Adriana’s reef, 3 m depth. Outer morphology (Fig. 4 A). Massive, subglobular, it can reach 15 cm of diameter. Strongly hispid. Often covered with sand, green and red algae or more rarely macro-epibionts (ascidians, sponges). It can therefore appear grayish or reddish in the field, while its true surface color is orange. Choanosome is orange when alive, yellowish in ethanol. Few oscules (ca 1 cm), sometimes only one. Porocalices (0.3 – 0.5 cm) are numerous, unevenly distributed but usually not on the top. Oscules and porocalices can contract.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 4 B). The skeleton organization is fairly similar to that of C. apion. Radial bundles of oxeas cross the choanosome until and beyond the surface. The ectosome layer is somewhat larger (1.2 – 1.5 mm). The cladomes of anatriaenes are still placed in this layer or protruding beyond the surface. Protriaenes are less abundant than anatriaenes and mainly placed at the surface. Numerous spiny microxeas are randomly positioned in the choanosome, and in lower densities in the ectosome. Sigmaspires are present throughout the choanosome. Foreign spicules and diatoms are rare in the sponge. No crystalline structures were observed. Spicules (measurements of ZMBN 81786) (Fig. 4 C – D). Megascleres: (a) oxeas, large, length: 2088 – 2853.4 - 3840 µm (N = 15); width: 15 – 39.6 – 58 µm. (b) microxeas (Fig. 4 C), spiny, straight or slightly bent, length: 141 – 184.3 – 215.5 µm; width: 2.7 – 5.1 – 5.3 µm. (c) protriaenes, with rare prodiaenes, width of rhabdome tends to increase from cladome base, rhabdome length: 2200 – 3500 µm (N = 2); rhabdome width: 4 – 8.5 – 11 µm; clad length: 73 – 122.4 – 177 µm. (d) anatriaenes, very common, rhabdome length: 1600 – 2735 – 3600 µm (N = 6); rhabdome width: 3 – 5.7 – 11.4 µm; clad length: 30 – 67.9 – 107 µm. Microscleres: (e) sigmaspires (Fig. 4 D), spiny, with occasional central or terminal bulge, length: 11.1 – 13.8 – 16.5 µm (N = 22); width: 1 – 1.2 – 1.6 µm (N = 22). Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Common on reef and coral rubble, 3 – 18 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. North Carolina and Florida, U. S. A. (Rützler & Smith 1992); Bahamas (Wiedenmayer 1977; van Soest & Sass 1981); Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Virgin Islands (Uliczka 1929; Rützler & Smith 1992); Jamaica (Rützler & Smith 1992; Lehnert & van Soest 1998); Barbados (Uliczka 1929; van Soest & Stentoft 1988); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Belize (Rützler & Smith 1992); Panama (this study); Colombia (Rützler & Smith 1992; Valderrama 2001; Díaz 2007); Brazil (Rützler & Smith 1992).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. This is the first record of C. kuekenthali in Panama although it had already been studied at Bocas del Toro, as Cinachyrella sp. (Erwin & Thacker 2007). Most descriptions state that C. kuekenthali is characterized by a depression on top (Wiedenmayer 1977; Rützler & Smith 1992; Díaz 2007). We did not observe this, as in some Colombian specimens (Valderrama 2001). This character difference is not considered of great importance since variability of shape with respect to different environment conditions is well documented in the Tetillidae (McDonald et al. 2002; Meroz-Fine et al. 2005). We found it very difficult to distinguish the two categories of oxeas previously observed in C. kuekenthali (van Soest & Stentoft 1988; Rützler & Smith 1992) and therefore considered only one size in our measurements. The microxeas were always very numerous, so their absence in a record from Venezuela (Amaro & Liñero-Arana 2002) makes this identification doubtful. There was a 42 bp. difference between the COI Folmer fragment of C. apion and C. kuekenthali from Bocas. Contrary to C. apion, there was high intra-specific genetic polymorphism of COI for C. kuekenthali in the Caribbean. Four COI sequences are now known from Florida, Belize and Panama; they group in 3 haplotypes (Table 2). C. kuekenthali from Bocas del Toro had the most diverging sequence with four to five base pair differences with specimens from Florida and Belize. Therefore, the Folmer partition of COI would possibly be a suitable mitochondrial marker for future population studies of C. kuekenthali. Genbank accession number Locality 51 144 237 264 573 EU 237479 Tennessee Reef, FL, USA C G T T C EF 519603 * Delta Reef, Keys, FL, USA? G G T C EF 519602 * Patch Reef, Belize? G T T C FJ 711646 * Bocas del Toro, Panama T A T C Y * in Sponge Barcoding Database: www. spongebarcoding. org? = missing data; Y = T / C. C. alloclada, C. apion and C. kuekenthali are sympatric species in Bocas del Toro. Often covered by sediments and algae, they can be challenging to differentiate in the field without careful spicule observation. C. apion is usually small (ca 4 cm in diameter) and found near mangrove areas, in very shallow waters (0 – 1 m). C. kuekenthali is fairly large (ca 10 – 20 cm in diameter) and found deeper in the reefs (2 – 18 m). C. alloclada is ca 8 – 10 cm in diameter and also found in reefs (> 5 m).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA423215FF4B2AE9BD9CECA3.taxon	description	SEM observations showed that all three species of Cinachyrella have similar spiny sigmaspire morphologies. The main difference concerned the size of these miscroscleres: the sigmaspires of C. kuekenthali were, on average, longer than in C. apion and C. alloclada.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA413210FF4B2D78BCD4E8D7.taxon	description	Synonyms.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA413210FF4B2D78BCD4E8D7.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. INVPOR 1148, Bahia Nenguange, Colombia, 3 m depth. Material. 5 specimens, from STRI Point, Solarte Island and Bastimento Island, 0.4 – 20 m depth. Two specimens deposited: ZMBN 81782 – 81783. Additional material examined. Ecionemia megastylifera, INVPOR 1148, holotype, Bahia Nenguange, Colombia, 3 m; ZMAPOR 7772, Bahamas; ZMAPOR 14265, off Slangebaai, Curacao, 3.8 m. Ecionemia dominicana (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986), MSNG 47679, holotype, Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, 15 – 25 m. Ecionemia demera (de Laubenfels, 1934), MNHN DNBE- 17, slide of holotype, Puerto Rico, 60 – 73 m; ZMAPOR 0 3512, Puerto Rico. Outer morphology (Fig. 5 A – D). Thickly encrusting to massive lobate sponge. One very large specimen found on coral rubble in Solarte south was sub-circular, 8 cm high and with a diameter of 15 cm (Fig. 5 B); it had cemented and integrated coral rubble pieces. Other specimens had an elongated shape and were 20 cm long (Fig. 5 C). Surface is rugose. Slightly compressible. Choanosome has a hairy aspect due to the high density of large oxeas. External color on living specimen and in ethanol is light brownish to black. Internal color on living specimen is whitish to cream, whitish in ethanol. Oscules are 3 – 10 mm of diameter and distributed on the top surface of the sponge (Fig. 5 A – C). There is a thin contractile membrane around the oscule. Oscules lead into one or more cloacae chambers where uniporal exhalant openings are present. Pores are cribriporal (Fig. 5 D) and evenly distributed over large surfaces of the sponge, there is no separation between pore plates. A single pore plate has a diameter of around 0.5 mm. Macro-epibionts (e. g. sponges, algae) can be found growing on large specimens. Gammarid amphipods were found living in an oscule.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA413210FF4B2D78BCD4E8D7.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 5 E). Small acanthostrongylasters lay on a paratangential layer of acanthomicrorhabds, thus forming a very thin cortex (ca 140 – 170 µm thick) supported by bundles of long – shafted robust dichotriaenes. Thin microxeas, sometimes in bundles, cross the cortex. In certain parts where the sponge is hispid, large oxeas, dichotriaenes, anatriaenes and protriaenes also cross the cortex. Sub-cortical canals cross transversely this layer of triaenes. Under the triaenes, large oxeas paratangentially positioned form a dense layer (ca 1.2 mm thick). Deeper, this arrangement becomes looser and more irregular; oxeas II, some dichotriaenes and rare anatriaenes can be found there also. Acanthoxyasters are found dispersed in the choanosome, and are abundant around canals. Large granular cells (diameter: 16 – 27 µm) are especially abundant in the cortex but are also present, albeit in lower density, in the choanosome. The cortex of cloacae chambers is somewhat different. It has fewer acanthomicrorhabds and is not supported by triaenes; it is mainly tangential large oxeas that stretch and support the acanthostrongylaster layer. It is only crossed by a few microxeas. Spicules (measurements of ZMBN 81782, except for protriaenes, only found in ZMBN 81783) (Figs. 6 – 7). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, very large, slightly bent, sometimes modified to styles, length: 1332 – 1524 – 1764 µm; width: 56 – 64.9 – 70 µm. (b) oxeas II, straight or slightly bent, length: 520 – 815.2 – 1260 µm; width: 14 – 22.9 – 42 µm. (c) microxeas, usually straight but can be slightly bent, length: 182 – 215.4 – 317 µm; width: 2.5 – 4 – 5 µm. (d) dichotriaenes to orthotriaenes, stout, rare in some specimens, the rhabdome can be slightly bent, and in some rare cases extra spines are present, thus becoming acanthotriaenes, rhabdomes can have an oxeote or strongylote end, rhabdome length: 790 – 997.6 – 1222 µm; width: 50 – 64.7 – 80 µm; clad length: 120 – 151.7 – 180 µm (some young triaenes observed, rhabdome length: 400 – 530 – 651 µm; width: 18 – 27 – 41 µm; clad length: 53 – 76.2 – 104 µm). (e) anatriaenes, rare, rhabdome slightly inflated, rhabdome length: 228 – 278.3 – 334 µm (N = 3); rhabdome width: 1 – 1.3 – 2 µm (N = 6); clad length: 3 – 4 – 5 µm (N = 6). (f) protriaenes, rare, sometimes modified to mesoprotriaenes, rhabdome length: 417 µm (N = 1); rhabdome width: 2.5 – 3.75 – 5 µm (N = 2); clad length: 27 – 32.5 – 38 µm (N = 2). Microscleres: (g) acanthomicrorhabds (Fig. 6 A), with oxeote or strongylote ends, sometimes centrotylote, length: 59 – 98.6 – 138.3 µm; width: 4.5 – 8.2 – 10.6 µm. (h) acanthoxyasters (Fig. 6 B), 6 – 9 actines, a characteristic spike at the end of each actine, diameter: 9 – 13.1 – 19 µm. (i) acanthostrongylasters (Fig. 6 C), 4 – 11 actines, diameter: 4 – 6.7 – 10 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Common in coral rubble or in sheltered areas of reefs (such as small cavities). Usually sciophilous 1 – 25 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA413210FF4B2D78BCD4E8D7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Bahamas (this study); Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Dominican Republic (Pulitzer-Finali 1986); Belize (Rützler et al. 2000); Costa Rica (Cortés 1996); Panama (this study); Colombia (Wintermann-Kilian & Kilian 1984; Valderrama 2001; Díaz 2007); Curaçao (this study).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA413210FF4B2D78BCD4E8D7.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. This species possesses true spiny microrhabds (Fig. 6 A) (not sanidasters) so it does not belong to the Ancorina genus. The original description by Wintermann – Kilian and Kilian (1984) mentions only one size class of euasters, but after reexamination of the holotype it is quite obvious that there are two kinds of euasters: the small strongylasters placed in the ectocortex and the larger oxyasters in the choanosome. Wintermann – Kilian and Kilian (1984) note the presence of microstrongyles, but these are simply variations of microrhabds. They also overlooked the presence of microxeas present in the holotype (Fig. 6 E). Furthermore, we observed in the Bocas material and the holotype two size classes of oxeas that had not been identified before. There were some differences between the Bocas del Toro specimens and the holotype. The holotype had smaller oxeas, smaller triaenes (Fig. 6 D), thinner and smaller microrhabds (Fig. 6 E) (length: 48 – 69.2 – 92, width: 2 – 3.1 – 5), smaller microxeas, asters with thinner actines (Fig. 6 F), and more oxeas II (most of them found under the oxea I layer) (Fig. 5 F). Anatriaenes and protriaenes observed in the Bocas del Toro specimens were not found in the holotype. The holotype of E. dominicana had also two size classes of euasters and the microxeas, both of which had been overlooked by Pulitzer-Finali (1986). The microrhabds’ measurements in the E. dominicana holotype were very similar to those found in the holotype of E. megastylifera. As a result of these observations, E. dominicana becomes a junior synonym of E. megastylifera. Lehnert (1993) also described a Stelletinopsis sp. in Cozumel (Mexico) which resembles E. megastylifera. However, the vase shape, the blue and yellow colors and the absence of triaenes do not match with our species. The other Caribbean species of Ecionemia, E. demera from Puerto Rico differs from E. megastylifera in having plagiotriaenes, much larger anatriaenes, smaller acanthomicrorhabds (ca 7 µm) and only one kind of euasters. The dark color of E. megastylifera is due to large pigmented cells, more or less present with respect to light conditions. These pigments may serve for light protection since their abundance is greater in light environments; this has been suggested in other sponges (Renouf 1934; Bandaranayake et al. 1996; Cavalcanti et al. 2007; Valderrama et al. 2009). This is the species collected in Bocas del Toro by Nichols (2005) and identified as Ecionemia sp. We sequenced three of our specimens and obtained strictly identical COI sequences as Nichols (2005).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA45320CFF4B282ABCD6E830.taxon	description	Synonyms.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA45320CFF4B282ABCD6E830.taxon	materials_examined	Material. ZMBN 81784, Caracol Reef, 15 m depth. Additional material examined. Stelletta fibrosa, MCZ 8020, holotype, Tortugas, Florida, dry; ZMAPOR 04585 a, Blauwbaai, Curaçao, 10 m; ZMAPOR 12608, Santa Marta, Colombia, 5 m. Stelletta cf. anancora Sollas, 1886, INVPOR 1061, La Guajira, Colombia, 50 m. Outer morphology (Fig. 8 A – C). Massive, sub – globular sponge, 9 cm of diameter. Color alive is whitish with dark – purple tiny spots mainly concentrated around the oscules. Bottom of the sponge is pure white (Fig. 8 C). Choanosome color alive is cream. In ethanol, cortex and choanosome are whitish. Slightly compressible. Rugose surface. The cortex is thick (3 mm) and lighter than the choanosome. One large oscule (diameter: 1.5 cm) is placed at the top with a brown contractile membrane with whitish spots on it; the oscule leads into a cloaca 5 cm deep where uniporal excurrent canal openings meet (Fig. 8 A – B). Smaller oscules (1 – 5 mm) are generally surrounded by an elevated thick margin, they are unevenly distributed on the sides; the underlying cloacae are around 2 cm deep (Fig. 8 A – B). Pores are covered with cribriporal plates (ca 1 mm) and are evenly distributed. A few short root – like structures (ca 1 cm) are present at the base of the sponge (Fig. 8 C). The green sponge Amphimedon erina (de Laubenfels) is growing on it. Ophiuroids were found living in the cloacae of the small oscules.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA45320CFF4B282ABCD6E830.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 8 D). The cortex is composed of radially and densely arranged plagiotriaenes. Subcortical cavities are conspicuous and visible to the naked eye. Plagiotriaenes and oxeas under the cortex are more or less radially arranged; they are not as densely packed as in the cortex. Acanthotylasters are common and present throughout the cortex and choanosome. Spicules (Fig. 9 A – D). Megascleres: (a) oxeas (Fig. 9 A), large, very slightly bent or straight, length: 660 – 1151.4 – 1536 µm; width: 7 – 30.1 – 57 µm. (b) plagiotriaenes (Fig. 9 A), stout, horn – shaped clads, rhabdome length: 511 – 1032.9 – 1280 µm; rhabdome width: 7 – 33.3 – 50 µm; clad length: 14 – 61.7 – 98 µm. (c) anatriaenes (Fig. 9 B), rare, with depressed apex, rhabdome length:? (rhabdomes broken); rhabdome width: 31 – 32.5 – 34 µm (N = 2); clad length: 45 – 49.5 – 54 µm (N = 2). Microscleres: (d) acanthotylasters (Fig. 9 C – D), 4 – 8 actines, diameter: 7 – 11 – 16 µm. specimens from Bocas del Toro and previous records. Measurements of Stelletta incrustata, a possible junior synonym, are also included. In bold are the museum specimens measured for this study. Means are in bold italics; other values are ranges; N = 30 unless stated otherwise between parentheses. – = not refered; n. f. = not found; n. o. = not observed.? = missing data. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Reefs, rare, 15 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA45320CFF4B282ABCD6E830.taxon	distribution	Distribution. As S. fibrosa: Florida, U. S. A. (Schmidt 1870); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Panama (this study); Colombia (this study). As S. fibrosa var. globuliformis: Puerto – Rico (Wilson 1902).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA45320CFF4B282ABCD6E830.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. A thorough revision of the Caribbean Stelletta species is greatly needed but beyond the scope of this study. In the Caribbean, four species of Stelletta share tylasters: S. fibrosa (Schmidt, 1870), S. variabilis (Wilson, 1902), S. kallitetilla (de Laubenfels, 1936 b) and S. pudica (Wiedenmayer, 1977). These four species are poorly known. We have had difficulty to assign a species name to this specimen, never observed before in Panama. The color alive of our specimen (whitish with purple spots) corresponded to that of S. fibrosa from Puerto – Rico (Pulitzer-Finali 1986). This species is unfortunately very poorly described by Schmidt (1870) and the type is not formally identified. However, the original label “ Ancorina fibrosa n. n. ” of a dry specimen (MCZ 8020) from the type locality (Tortugas, Florida) strongly suggests that it is type material from the Schmidt collection. This small fragment 1.9 cm long (Fig. 8 E) is here designated as the lectotype of Stelletta fibrosa. The shape of the spicules and the skeleton organization of the Bocas del Toro specimen fitted with the lectotype (Figs. 8 F, 9 E-F) and comparative material. A few differences between the lectotype and the Bocas specimen were nonetheless observed: the Bocas specimen had (i) several anatriaenes, (ii) no wavy to strongly bent oxeas and rhabdomes (such as those found in the lectotype), (iii) larger width of triaenes and oxeas and (iv) longer clad lengths. The triaenes and oxeas of the Bocas specimen were also bigger than in our comparative material and any previous descriptions of S. fibrosa (Table 3). Although anatriaenes were absent in the lectotype, they have been found in low numbers in previous records (Wilson 1902; Pulitzer-Finali 1986) and also in our comparative material. Anatriaenes are therefore fairly common in this species. As for the strongly bent oxeas found in the lectotype, we believe they are not diagnostic since these were absent in the comparative material. Tylasters of our specimen had actines with few spines (Fig. 9 C – D), whereas these were completely smooth in the lectotype (Fig. 9 F). To conclude, the size of the megascleres remained the main difference between our material and previous records; it might be explained by the size of our specimen, the largest of this species described so far. The lectotype and ZMAPOR 12608 both had abundant sand grains incorporated in the ectocortex (Fig. 8 E), while ZMAPOR 04585 a had few and our specimen none (Fig. 8 D). Examination of INVPOR 1061 from Colombia, identified as S. fibrosa var. globuliformis (Díaz, 2007), showed that it had different sizes of triaenes, the largest size having significantly longer and thinner clads than our S. fibrosa specimens. With respect to its triaenes and its external morphology (massive spherical, single osculum on top, surface with numerous foreign material), it appeared to us similar to S. anancora. But a revison of this species is required to confirm this. For the moment, we agree with Pulitzer-Finali (1986) that S. fibrosa and S. fibrosa var. globuliformis are the same species: their spicule measurements match. This species could therefore have an encrusting or a massive spherical shape. S. variabilis (Wilson, 1902) appears to be a valid species, different from S. fibrosa: orthotriaenes have long clads, there are smaller oxeas II in cortex, and common anatriaenes. Following this, S. fibrosa identified by Wells (1960) is rather S. variabilis (as noted before us by Pulitzer-Finali (1986 )). As for S. pudica, it has no or only few regressed plagiotriaenes (Wiedenmayer 1977; Pulitzer-Finali 1986).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA59320AFF4B2FD3BA71EF43.taxon	materials_examined	Material. ZMBN 81643, Solarte lagoon (9 ° 18.35 N, 82 ° 10.39 W), on mangrove root, 1 m depth. Additional material examined. Stelletta soteropolitana Cosme & Peixinho, 2007, UFBA-POR 500, holotype, Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, <10 m. Outer morphology (Fig. 10 A – B). Massive, sub – globular sponge, 10 cm high, with a diameter of 9 cm. Surface color alive is dark – purple to whitish. Choanosome color is cream In ethanol, cortex and choanosome are grayish. One large oscule (diameter: 2 cm) with a contractile membrane is on the top surface. Under the oscule is a large cloaca (6 cm deep) with cribriporal exhalant apertures. Unconspicuous cribriporal pores are evenly distributed, each pore is 100 – 1000 µm large. Slightly – compressible, rugose surface with irregular ridges, grooves and knobs (2 – 7 mm high). Mussels and oysters are embedded in it. A second specimen was observed (but not collected): it was about twice the size of ZMBN 81643, with two oscules.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA59320AFF4B2FD3BA71EF43.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 10 C – D). Dense radial bundles of plagiotriaenes and anatriaenes, especially near the surface. Their cladomes are often found at or beyond the surface of the sponge. There is a slightly differentiated cortex, not visible with the naked eye, except for the pigmentation. Bundles of megascleres are looser under the cortex and triaenes less abundant. Acanthotylasters, oxeas I and II are abundant throughout the sponge. Spicules (Fig. 10 E – G). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, large, slightly bent or straight, length: 1080 – 1236.3 – 1440 µm; width: 18 – 24.4 – 32 µm. (b) oxeas II (Fig. 10 E), smaller, with very thinly pointed ends, almost whip – like, generally with a bend or a double bend, length: 303 – 724.7 – 1000 µm; width: 3 – 9.5 – 14 µm. (b) plagiotriaenes (Fig. 10 F), with rare dichotriaenes, rhabdome can have a straight pointed or whip – like end, rhabdome length: 511 – 850.9 – 1056; rhabdome width: 13 – 31.5 – 39 µm; clad length: 50 – 121.3 – 152 µm. (c) anatriaenes (Fig. 10 G), common but less frequent than plagiotriaenes, and rare dichoanatriaenes, with depressed apex, rhabdome length: 716 – 1363.2 – 2280 µm; rhabdome width: 8 – 21.7 – 29 µm; clad length: 38 – 65.1 – 91 µm. Microscleres: (d) acanthotylasters (Fig. 10 H), 5 – 8 actines with scarce spines, actine is only slightly tylote, one single spine at the tip of each actine, diameter: 9 – 13.5 – 20 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Mangrove roots, rare, 1 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA59320AFF4B2FD3BA71EF43.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Panama (this study).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA59320AFF4B2FD3BA71EF43.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. This species appears to be rare in Bocas del Toro. We only sighted two specimens during our survey in 2007, both a few meters apart in Solarte lagoon. At this time, we only took a small piece from ZMBN 81643. In July 2009, both specimens were still there, but were slightly bigger and bleached (Fig. 10 B). The bleaching could be due to shading from the algae growing around it, because when we finally collected ZMBN 81643 and kept it alive alone in an open tank, it started to gain back some purple colouration. At present there are four known species of Stelletta with tylasters in the Caribbean (S. fibrosa, S. variabilis, S. kallitetilla and S. pudica) and three in Brazil (S. anancora, S. beae Hajdu & Carvalho, 2003 and S. soteropolitana). Of these, only the three Brazilian species share long clads (average of clad length> 100 µm) with our Bocas del Toro specimen. However, when compared with Stelletta sp., S. anancora has (i) only one category of oxeas, (ii) 2 – 3 triaene sizes, (iii) no anatriaenes and (iv) no dense accumulation of megascleres in its cortex; S. beae has (i) shorter plagiotriaenes (rhabdome length ca 490 µm) with longer clads (ca 200 µm), (ii) shorter anatriaenes with reduced clads (ca 23 µm), (iii) one size of oxea, and (iv) smaller acanthotylasters (ca 11 µm). When it comes to S. soteropolitana it has i) plagiotriaenes twice the size of those in Stelletta sp., ii) protriaenes and iii) no anatriaenes. As we have already shown for S. fibrosa, anatriaenes can be present or absent in the same species, and the missing anatriaenes in S. soteropolitana, at the present time, cannot be used to distinguish the species from our S. sp. The protriaenes found in S. soteropolitana could simply be plagiotriaenes that are more forward oriented. Also, it is important to stress that S. soteropolitana is described from a single specimen and therefore, we have no data on its intra-specific morphological variation, especially concerning spicule sizes. To conclude, we cannot exclude S. soteropolitana as being conspecific with our specimen but in our opinion more data is required to settle this matter.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA5F3207FF4B28B9BAE2EE93.taxon	materials_examined	Material. ZMBN 81642, holotype, STRI Point (9 ° 21 ’ 05 ’’ N, 82 ° 15 ’ 34 ’’ W), Isla Colón, under coral rubble, 1 m depth. Fixed in ethanol 96 %. Collected by M. C. Díaz, 18 th August 2007, specimen has been cut in pieces for transport. Additional material examined. Stryphnus ponderosus (Bowerbank, 1866), MC 3395, Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. Stryphnus fortis (Vosmaer, 1885), ZMBN 82977, Korsfjord, Bergen region, Norway, 200 – 400 m. Stryphnus mucronatus (Schmidt, 1868), MNHN Coll. Chombard, Mediterranean Sea, La Ciotat, France. Asteropus niger Hajdu & van Soest, 1992, ZMAPOR 14182, Curaçao, 39.5 m. Outer morphology (Fig. 11 A). Thickly encrusting sponge, 4 x 3 cm. Color alive is dark – brown with a whitish choanosome. In alcohol, these colors are preserved. No visible openings. Consistency is firm, choanosome is dense. Surface is rugose and flat.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA5F3207FF4B28B9BAE2EE93.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 11 B – C). Sanidasters and oxyasters are abundant in the thin cortex. Underneath, abundant paratangantial large oxeas fill the choanosome. Sanidasters and oxyasters are also abundant in the choanosome. A total of three dichotriaenes were found, two were observed in the thick sections, both perpendicular to the external layer, one with its cladome at the surface of the sponge, the other in the choanosome (Fig. 11 C). Large brown granular cells (diameter: 14 – 23 µm) are observed mainly in the cortex but are also present in lower density in the choanosome. Spicules (Figs. 11 D – F, 12). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I (Fig. 11 B), stout, straight or slightly bent, length: 1742 – 1971 – 2210 µm; width: 45 – 62 – 80 µm. (b) oxeas II, straight or slightly bent, length: 310 – 448 – 560 µm; width: 15 – 22.2 – 30 µm. (c) styles, length: 590 – 603 – 620 µm; width: 17.3 – 18 – 18.6 µm. (c) dichotriaenes, very rare, rhabdome with a strongyle end, deuteroclads can be further subdivided, rhabdome length: 447 – 620 µm (N = 2); rhabdome width: 33 – 44 µm (N = 2); protoclad length: 67 – 113 µm (N = 2); deuteroclad length: 77 – 87 µm (N = 2). Microscleres: (d) sanidasters (Fig. 11 D), spiny, length: 16 – 20.2 – 23.9 µm; width (axis and actines included): 2.1 – 2.9 – 4 µm. (h) oxyasters (Fig. 11 E – F), 5 – 8 actines, faintly spiny, diameter: 29.3 – 33.8 – 37.2 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Under coral ruble, 1 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA5F3207FF4B28B9BAE2EE93.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Panama (this study).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA5F3207FF4B28B9BAE2EE93.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. This species appears to live in cryptic habitats and is therefore difficult to encounter. Its color is due to large granular cells. This species illustrates once again the close relationship of the genera Asteropus Sollas, 1888 and Stryphnus (Sollas 1888; van Soest & Stentoft 1988; Hajdu & van Soest 1992; Uriz 2002 a; Carvalho 2008). Indeed, if it were not for the presence of triaenes (Fig. 11 C), this species would have been assigned to Asteropus. In the Caribbean, S. raratriaenus sp. nov. could certainly be mistaken with the shallow – water Asteropus brasiliensis Hajdu & van Soest, 1992, but the later has one size class of oxea, rare oxyasters (13 – 42 µm) and no triaenes. Our species is even closer to Asteropus ketostea de Laubenfels, 1950 from Bermuda, but the latter has thinner oxeas, smaller oxyasters (17 – 27 µm) and no triaenes. As for Asteropus niger, it has a dark choanosome, smaller oxeas II, larger oxyasters (42 – 98 µm), trichodragmata and no triaenes. The differences between Ancorina and Stryphnus are also ambiguous. Sollas (1888, p. 171) and Uriz (2002 a) state that Stryphnus species can have amphiasters (e. g. Stryphnus fortis) but in our opinion these are clearly just sanidasters with few actines on the main shaft. Sollas (1888, p. 171) and Uriz (2002 a) also state that Stryphnus species have large oxeas (2 – 3 mm long, ca. 40 – 60 µm) but Ancorina species present the same range of oxea sizes, as well as Asteropus species. Both Stryphnus and Ancorina genera have similar spicule repertoires (large oxeas, triaenes, oxyasters and sanidasters) except for the presence of anatriaenes in Ancorina. We also noticed that Stryphnus generally possesses dichotriaenes, whereas these are rare in Ancorina. Furthermore, according to Sollas (1888, p. cxxxvii), Stryphnus has a more irregular spicule arrangement and no fibrous cortex (the cortex can be densely filled with large oxeas and triaenes) whereas Ancorina has a radially arranged skeleton and a more conspicuous cortex (often partly fibrous). We acknowledge that the definitions of these genera are still not satisfying at the moment, but until their comprehensive revision is initiated, our new species is assigned to Stryphnus based on the absence of anatriaenes, presence of dichotriaenes, its irregular spicule arrangement and lack of thick cortex. It is furthermore quite different from the only described Caribbean Ancorina species, namely Ancorina fenimorea de Laubenfels, 1934. A. fenimorea is known from rather deep water and has much larger sanidasters (60 µm) than our S. raratriaenus (average of 20.2 µm). As for Stryphnus species, they are all quite different from S. raratriaenus. Stryphnus fortis (Vosmaer, 1885), Stryphnus ponderosus (Bowerbank, 1866), Stryphnus mucronatus (Schmidt, 1868), Stryphnus unguiculus Sollas, 1886 and Stryphnus niger Sollas, 1886 all have smooth oxyasters and abundant dichotriaenes. Stryphnus progressus (Lendenfeld, 1907) also has abundant dichotriaenes. S. raratriaenus sp. nov. is the seventh species of this genus described in the world and the first in the Caribbean. It should be noted that S. raratriaenus had numerous large dark granular cells, similar to those observed in our S. mucronatus and S. ponderosus specimens. Despite substantial efforts, we were not able to obtain a COI sequence for this specimen. We strongly suspect that DNA contaminants block the PCR reaction. After extra cleaning of the DNA (precipitation, drying, extra washing with 70 % ethanol), we nonetheless managed to obtain a partial 28 S sequence.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA5F3207FF4B28B9BAE2EE93.taxon	etymology	Etymology. From the latin word ‘ rara’ meaning ‘ rare’ and the spicule name ‘ triaene’.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	description	Synonyms.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. BMNH 1889.1.1.77, off Bahia, Brazil, 12 – 36 m (not seen). Material. ZMBN 81644 – 81645, Adriana’s Reef, Bocas del Toro, 3 m depth. Additional material examined. Erylus bahamensis, ZMBN 82978, Little San Salvador Island, Bahamas, det. P. Cárdenas; ZMBN 82979, Sweetings Cay, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, det. P. Cárdenas. Erylus formosus, MNHN DNBE – 997, off Brazil, 7 ° 29 ’ S, 34 ° 30 ’ W, 45 m, Calypso expedition; ZMBN 81781, Cat Cay, Bimini Island, Bahamas, det. P. Cárdenas. Outer morphology (Fig. 13 A). Massive, lobate, 15 to 30 cm long, dark – brown sponge. Choanosome is whitish and dense. Cortex becomes blackish in alcohol while the choanosome remains whitish. Surface is very smooth, no epibionts were observed. Uniporal oscules (ca 3 mm) are placed at the top of vertical lobes. Each oscule leads into a cloaca in which exhalant canals flow in; no sphincters could be seen in these openings. Uniporal pores (ca 0.15 mm) are evenly distributed on the whole surface of the sponge; each pore has a sphincter (Fig. 13 B).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 13 B). The cortex (168 – 336 µm thick) is composed of a very poorly developed ectocortex of microrhabds and a thick endocortex of aspidasters, tangentially arranged. Orthotriaenes and oxeas under the cortex are more or less radially arranged, in small bundles; the cladomes of the orthotriaenes are juxtaposed to the endocortex. Under this peripheral arrangement (1 mm thick), bundles of oxeas tend to be paratangential. Acanthotylasters are present in the choanosome, and in the walls of canals. Microrhabds are present in the choanosome too. Dark granular cells (11 – 14 µm) are present from the cortex to the choanosome although their density decreases under the peripheral layer. Spicules (measurements of ZMBN 81645) (Fig. 13 C – F). Megascleres: (a) oxeas, stout, straight or slightly bent, sometimes modified to styles, length: 780 – 943.8 – 1118 µm; width: 20 – 24.2 – 30 µm. (b) orthotriaenes to plagiotriaenes (Fig. 13 C), rhabdome with an oxeote end, rhabdome length: 286 – 577.2 – 728 µm; rhabdome width: 20 – 31 – 40 µm; clad length: 150 – 197.3 – 260 µm. Microscleres: (c) aspidasters (Fig. 13 E – F), irregular rod – shape, with enlarged center, smooth rosettes at their surface (diameter: ca. 2 – 3 µm), each one with 3 – 4 bifid or trifid rays, length: 180 – 206.2 – 226.1 µm; width: 37 – 47.1 – 55.9 µm; length / width: 4.1 – 5.9. (d) microrhabds (Fig. 13 D), smooth, usually centrotylote, straight or slightly bent, with strongylote ends, length: 34.6 – 45.8 – 55.9 µm; width: 2.7 – 3.5 – 5.3 µm. (e) oxyasters, 2 – 5 actines, irregular with no centrum, with slightly tylote end or not, diameter: 34.6 – 47.3 – 63.8 µm. (f) acanthotylasters (Fig. 13 D), 4 – 9 actines, diameter: 11 – 17.4 – 21.6 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Patchy reef, 3 – 6 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Florida Keys, USA (Chanas & Pawlik 1995; Kubanek et al. 2000); Bahamas (Wiedenmayer 1977; Pulitzer-Finali 1986; Stead et al. 2000); Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Puerto-Rico (Carballeira & Negrón 1991); Jamaica (Lehnert & van Soest 1998); Virgin Islands (USNM 31489, 31579, 41227); Dominican Republic (Pulitzer-Finali 1986); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Mexico (Lehnert 1993; Antonov et al. 2007); Belize (USNM 32377); Panama (Collin et al. 2005; Díaz 2005); Venezuela (Alvarez et al. 1991); Brazil (Sollas 1888; Boury-Esnault 1973; Volkmer-Ribeiro & de Moraes 1975; Solé Cava et al. 1981; Mothes et al. 1999)	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. ZMBN 81644 fitted the description of E. bahamensis Pulitzer-Finali, 1986 while ZMBN 81645 fitted the description of E. formosus. Indeed, the single morphological difference between E. bahamensis and E. formosus is the absence of the largest category of asters in the former. Apart from this unique spicule difference, both specimens were identical, from the same locality and depth. Wiedenmeyer (1977) had noticed these single aster E. formosus but thought it was not a strong enough character to create a different species. However, a few years later, Pulitzer-Finali (1986) decided it was enough to create a different species. We think the largest asters can be more or less widespread in the choanosome, and may even be totally absent. Depending where the section or spicule preparation are made, they can be overlooked, hence records of single aster E. formosus (Wiedenmayer 1977; Lehnert & van Soest 1998) and E. bahamensis (Pulitzer-Finali 1986; Alcolado 2002). Mothes et al. (1999) suggested that E. bahamensis further differed from E. formosus by its aspidaster proportions (length / width). We reviewed this proportion in the literature and found a proportion of 4.5 – 6.5 for most E. formosus, including the holotype (Sollas 1888; Volkmer-Ribeiro & de Moraes 1975; Mothes et al. 1999), 4.1 – 5.9 for the Bocas del Toro specimens and 2.3 – 7.1 for the holotype of E. bahamensis (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986, Figure 13). To conclude, having shown that (i) large asters can be missing or overlooked and that (ii) there is no clear difference in aspidaster proportion between the two species, we consider E. bahamensis to be a junior synonym of E. formosus. Interestingly, we noticed that a few specimens from Brazil are out of the length / width range found above, and possess unusually narrow aspidasters (width: 11 – 20 µm) and thus present an aspidaster proportion of respectively 12.5 and 11.5 (Boury- Esnault 1973; Mothes et al. 1999). However, after reexamination of one of these specimens (MNHN DNBE – 997), we could find no other character to distinguish it from E. formosus. Another Caribbean Erylus, E.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA523204FF4B2ADFBAD2E899.taxon	description	We noticed that the rosettes on the aspidasters of the Bocas del Toro specimens (Fig. 13 F) were more complex than the ones of a Brazilian E. formosus specimen (MCNPOR 3379) (Mothes et al. 1999, Fig. 5 F). More data is required to ascertain if the rosettes’ morphology is a relevant discriminating microstructure in Erylus species. E. formosus was found on two sites in Bocas del Toro (Table 1) and is relatively common in Adriana’s reef. Studies show that it harbors no photosynthetic symbionts (Erwin & Thacker 2007). On the other hand, we found small 4 – 5 mm long Syllidae polychaetes (F. Pleijel, personal communication) living in the canals of our specimen (Fig. 13 B), as well as a copepod. The Bahamas specimens examined also harbored numerous polychaetes. Unfortunately and despite substantial efforts (DNA washing notably), we were not able to obtain a molecular sequence for this species, even from our Bahamas specimens. It has been previously shown that this species is particularly rich in proteins, carbohydrates and lipids when compared to other reef sponge species (Chanas & Pawlik 1995). Triterpene glycosides, for example, are used by this species for chemical defense against fish predation, fouling and microbial attachment (Kubanek et al. 2000; Kubanek et al. 2002). Some of these compounds may act as DNA contaminants and block the PCR reactions.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA513200FF4B289FBDA1E85B.taxon	description	Synonyms (modified from da Silva, 2002).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA513200FF4B289FBDA1E85B.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MNHN DT – 608, dry, French Guiana. Material. 5 specimens, all collected in Solarte lagoon, on mangrove roots, 0.5 – 1 m depth. Two specimens (fragments) are deposited: ZMBN 77928 and 81780. Additional material examined. Geodia gibberosa, MNHN DT – 608, holotype, French Guiana; YPM 5302, 5304, 5311, mangrove boat channel, Port Royal, Jamaica (from Hechtel, 1965); USNM 4997, off Florida, USA, 14 m; ZMAPOR 03772 b, Plaja Kalkie, Westpunt, Curaçao; UFBA-POR 207, Barra do Pote, Veracruz, Bahia, Brazil, 12 ° 59 ' 00 " S / 38 ° 36 ' 00 " W, V. Almeida coll., intertidal. Outer morphology (Fig. 14 A – D). Massive, irregularly lobate large sponge (‘ gibberosa’ means ‘ hunchbacked’) (Fig. 14 A – B). Size can be up to 30 cm in diameter. Color alive is dark – green to light – brown when exposed to light, otherwise whitish. Color in ethanol is whitish, except the oscule area that stays dark brown. Choanosome color, alive and in ethanol, is whitish. However, in live green specimens, the choanosome just below the cortex can also be greenish. It is a slightly compressible sponge with a dense choanosome, and a tough cortex, difficult to break. Surface is usually smooth, but can be hispid in some areas. Often overgrown by other sponges (e. g. Tethya actinia de Laubenfels, Chalinula molitba (de Laubenfels), Haliclona spp.), ascidians, polychaetes, clams and algae. Oscules are uniporal (0.5 – 1.5 mm in diameter), each with a sphincter (Fig. 14 F), grouped in circular slightly depressed areas (2 – 4 cm diameter) (Fig. 14 C). These oscular plates can be situated at the end of lobate projections or not; they are never covered by ectosymbionts. These plates usually are of darker color, brownish. Pores (Fig. 14 D) are cribriporal (diameter of a pore plate: 0.5 – 1 mm), numerous and evenly distributed over the whole surface.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA513200FF4B289FBDA1E85B.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 14 E – F). The cortex is 0.4 – 0.9 mm thick and is subdivided between a very thin ectocortex of acanthoxyasters III (ca 20 µm) and a thicker endocortex of sterrasters (ca 500 µm). Oxeas I and plagiotriaenes are radially positioned under the cortex with cladomes supporting the endocortex. Under this layer of plagiotriaenes the radial arrangement is less obvious. Most acanthoxyasters II are present right under the cortex while acanthoxyasters I and III are quite abundant throughout the choanosome, as well as developing sterrasters. Oxeas II can be found in the choanosome but are especially placed on the cortex around the oscules (Fig. 14 F). Spicules (measurements from ZMBN 77928, except for the rosette diameter measured in ZMBN 81780) (Fig. 15). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, stout, straight or very slightly bent, length: 1044 – 1342.1 – 1824 µm; width: 16 – 31.2 – 42 µm. (b) oxeas II, usually straight, length: 157 – 201.5 – 238 µm; width: 3.6 – 4.3 – 7.2 µm. (c) plagiotriaenes (Fig. 15 A), rhabdome length: 792 – 1266 – 1620 µm; rhabdome width: 35 – 48.1 – 70 µm; clad length: 98 – 211.4 – 308 µm. (d) anatriaenes (Fig. 15 B), rare, rhabdome length: 1433 µm (N = 1); rhabdome width: 6 – 7.9 – 11 µm (N = 3); clad length: 23 – 26.5 – 33 µm (N = 3). Microscleres: (e) sterrasters (Fig. 15 C – D), oval, with smooth 3 – 5 branched rosettes at their surface (diameter: ca. 4 µm), length: 75 – 84.1 – 93.1 µm; width: 54 – 79.5 – 93.1 µm. (f) acanthoxyasters I (Fig. 15 E), 6 – 12 thin actines, diameter: 16 – 21.3 – 34 µm. (g) acanthoxyasters II (Fig. 15 F), large centrum, with thicker and shorter actines than acanthoxyasters I, 14 – 20 actines, diameter: 9.7 – 13.4 – 16.2 µm. (h) acanthoxyasters III (Fig. 15 G), 9 – 17 actines, diameter: 4.3 – 6.5 – 7.6 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. Common on mangrove roots, 1 – 2 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA513200FF4B289FBDA1E85B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Georgia, Florida, Texas, U. S. A. (de Laubenfels 1936 b; 1953; Little 1963; Freeman et al. 2007); Bermudas (de Laubenfels 1950); Bahamas (de Laubenfels 1949; Wiedenmayer 1977); Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Jamaica (Bowerbank 1872; Hechtel 1965; Lehnert & van Soest 1998); Dominican Republic (Bowerbank 1873); Puerto Rico (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986); St. Thomas (Duchassaing de Fonbressin & Michelotti 1864); St. John (Uliczka 1929); Barbados (Uliczka 1929; van Soest & Stentoft 1988); Mexico (Lehnert 1993); Honduras (Bowerbank 1872); Belize (Rützler et al. 2000); Costa – Rica (Loaiza Coronado 1991; Cortés 1996); Panama (de Laubenfels 1936 a; Wulff 2000); Colombia (Díaz 2007); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Venezuela (Carter 1882; Sutherland 1980); French Guiana (Lamarck 1815); Brazil (da Silva 2002).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA513200FF4B289FBDA1E85B.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. After the Galeta and Panama Canal locality records, this is the third record of G. gibberosa in Panama. In fact, G. gibberosa is one of the sponge species that have been able to cross to the Pacific side using the Panama Canal (de Laubenfels 1936 a). The spicule sizes and morphologies of our specimens fitted previous descriptions (da Silva 2002) and the comparative material, except for the Florida specimen (USNM 4997) which had a more regular gross morphology and smaller sterrasters with a different rosette pattern (data not shown). We suggest that the status of Florida populations should be tested in the future. This is the first observation of anatriaenes in G. gibberosa but due to their rarity, they could have easily been overlooked in previous observations. It is also the first time that oxeas II are observed in high density around the oscules (Fig. 14 F). The lobate morphology of our specimens (Fig. 14 B) was very similar to that of the holotype of Geodia tumulosa (Bowerbank 1872, pl. XLVII), later synonymized with G. gibberosa (Carter, 1882; da Silva, 2002). G. gibberosa is a common wide-spread Tropical western Atlantic species. In the literature it appears that G. gibberosa is very polymorphic when it comes to its gross morphology (lobate to flat, massive to encrusting) and its color (white, brown, green and black). A pattern emerges when one considers its two habitats (reef and mangrove). Reef specimens tend to be smaller in size with common encrusting forms, and are usually white to brown. On the other hand, mangrove specimens like ours tend to be large, massive, lobate, and darker colored. Ecology studies have shown that G. gibberosa is very palatable for reef fishes and has no chemical defenses (Pawlik et al. 1995). Therefore, it uses secondary metabolites to promote overgrowth of other species better equipped to defend themselves from fish predation (Engel & Pawlik 2005). All the specimens we observed in Bocas del Toro were indeed covered with numerous sponges, ascidians, algae, etc. Fish predation being lower in mangroves (Dunlap & Pawlik 1996), G. gibberosa can reach bigger sizes and grow in more open habitats thereby receiving more sunlight and having darker colors. Conversely, predation pressure in reefs being higher, G. gibberosa is usually smaller and prefers cryptic habitats (under rocks or other sponges, crevices). When not exposed to light it is of lighter color, often white. Seemingly, two other mangrove sponges (Tedania (Tedania) ignis (Duchassaing de Fonbressin & Michelotti) and Chondrosia sp.) were found in cryptic habitats when collected on reefs (Dunlap & Pawlik 1996). An alternative to the polymorphism hypothesis is that we simply have two (or more) cryptic species. Both hypotheses should be tested combining morphology and molecular data.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA55323EFF4B2F6CBC51EC4D.taxon	description	Synonyms.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA55323EFF4B2F6CBC51EC4D.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. YPM 5045, mangrove boat channel, Port Royal, Jamaica. Material. UMPCW 921, Solarte Island, on a mangrove root, 0.5 – 1 m depth. Additional material examined. G. papyracea, YPM 5045, holotype, mangrove boat channel, Port Royal, Jamaica; YPM 5309, 5311, paratypes, mangrove boat channel, Port Royal, Jamaica; USNM 42662, mangrove, Twin Cays, Belize. Outer morphology (Fig. 16 A). Whitish massive sponge with green tinges when alive. It is ca 6 x 12 cm. The sub-sample we have is whitish in alcohol; the cortex being lighter than the choanosome. Oscules are uniporal, each with a sphincter and grouped in a sub – circular, slightly depressed plate. The oscule plate can be dark green. Pores are cribriporal and widely distributed over the entire surface. Each cribriporal plate has a diameter of 1 mm.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA55323EFF4B2F6CBC51EC4D.taxon	description	Skeleton (Fig. 16 B). The cortex is 480 – 840 µm thick and composed of a thin ectocortex of strongylasters (0 – 72 µm) and a thicker endocortex made of sterrasters (480 – 840 µm). The cortex is easily torn and detachable from the choanosome. Oxeas I and plagiotriaenes are positioned under the cortex, more or less radially. The plagiotrianes usually cross the cortex so that the cladomes end up in the ectocortex or at the surface of the cortex. The radial arrangement of megascleres is less obvious 1 mm under the cortex. Oxyasters I, oxyasters II and strongylasters can be found in the whole choanosome, as well as developing sterrasters. Oxeas II, smaller than oxeas I, are only found in the choanosome. Spicules (Fig. 16 C – G). Megascleres: (a) oxeas I, stout, straight or slightly bent, length: 651 – 1039 – 1248 µm; width: 7 – 24.3 – 29 µm. (b) oxeas II, rare, sometimes with strongyle ends, usually straight, length: 95 – 124.3 – 244 µm; width: 1 – 2 – 3 µm (N = 14). (c) plagiotriaenes, rhabdome length: 641 – 962.7 – 1080; rhabdome width: 13 – 24.6 – 34 µm; clad length: 57 – 97.1 – 132 µm. (d) anatriaenes, rare, rhabdome length: 354 – 633.2 – 885 µm (N = 5); rhabdome width: 2.5 – 3.2 – 4 µm (N = 8); clad length: 5 – 13.8 – 27 µm (N = 8). (e) mesoprotriaenes, very rare, rhabdome length: 632 µm (N = 1); rhabdome width: 3 µm (N = 1); clad length: 9 – 16 µm (N = 2). Microscleres: (f) sterrasters (Fig. 16 C – D), subglobular, with warty 4 – 7 branched rosettes at their surface (diameter: ca 4 µm), length: 65 – 71.6 – 77 µm; width: 63 – 70.3 – 75 µm; thickness: 50 – 55.9 – 61 µm. (g) acanthoxyasters I (Fig. 16 E), 9 – 12 thin actines, center more or less developed, diameter: 22 – 27.5 – 36 µm. (h) acanthoxyasters II (Fig. 16 F), with large centrum and thicker actines than acanthoxyasters I, 9 – 17 actines, less common than acanthoxyasters I. diameter: 14 – 23 – 29 µm. (i) acanthostrongylasters (Fig. 16 G), 14 – 20 actines, diameter: 3 – 4.9 – 8.8 µm. Habitat in the Bocas del Toro region. On mangrove roots, 0.5 – 1.5 m depth.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA55323EFF4B2F6CBC51EC4D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Cuba (Alcolado 2002); Belize (Rützler 1988; Rützler et al. 2000); Panama (Díaz 2005); Jamaica (Hechtel 1965); Colombia (Wintermann-Kilian & Kilian 1984); Curaçao (van Soest 1981); Brazil (Burton 1940; da Silva et al. 2004; Cedro et al. 2007).	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
03FD6D27AA55323EFF4B2F6CBC51EC4D.taxon	discussion	Remarks and discussion. The fragile and easily peeled cortex of G. papyracea might be due to the peculiar disposition of the triaenes, with the cladomes not supporting the cortex as in most Geodia species. The ectocortex of the Bocas del Toro specimen was much thinner (0 – 72 µm) than in the Belize sample (120 – 325 µm) and the holotype / paratypes (93 – 232 µm thick). Conversely, the sterrastreal layer in the Bocas del Toro specimens was thicker (480 – 840 µm) than in the Belize sample (93 – 279 µm) and the holotype / paratypes (186 – 418 µm). This is partly a consequence of the larger sterrasters in comparison with the type material and previous G. papyracea records (da Silva et al. 2004). We also noted that the surface of the Bocas del Toro specimen was less folded, the parchment – like appearance characteristic of this species was therefore not as obvious as in the samples from Jamaica and Belize. The rest of our measurements were in accordance with the species description. This species was very common in Solarte lagoon in 2005 and 2006 (M. C. Díaz, personal observation). We were not able to find it anymore in 2007 and 2008 as it appeared to have been replaced by the sympatric species Geodia gibberosa. In the field, G. papyracea can be mistaken with the previously described G. gibberosa since they are both found living on mangrove roots and can even be found growing on one another (Hechtel 1965). Again, gross morphology is here important: G. papyracea has very poor relief and a fragile cortex while G. gibberosa has characteristic lobes and a tough and thicker cortex. G. gibberosa seems to be more overgrown than G. papyracea. In thick sections, the skeleton was more radially organized in G. gibberosa (Fig. 14 E), with plagiotriaenes supporting the cortex and not crossing it like in G. papyracea (Fig. 16 B). This probably accounts for the firm cortex in the former. Then, G. gibberosa has larger oxeas and plagiotriaenes; the sterrasters are also a bit larger and more oval shaped. SEM pictures of asters revealed additional microstructural differences. When comparing the surface of sterrasters, the G. gibberosa rosettes (Fig. 15 D) had less rays than those of G. papyracea (Fig. 16 D). In G. gibberosa, rosettes also had a smaller center and no warts on the rays. Seemingly, the hilum of the sterrasters were different (the hilum is a circular depression, a remnant of where the nucleus of the sclerocyte used to be): smooth in G. gibberosa, warty in G. papyracea. These differences were confirmed by SEM observation of the holotypes’ sterrasters (Figs. 15 H, 16 H). We also noticed that the actines of the acanthoxyasters III in G. gibberosa (Fig. 15 G) have a more prominent spine at their tip when compared with the acanthostrongylasters of G. papyracea (Fig. 16 G). Finally, these two species had significantly different Folmer COI sequences (60 bp. difference) and 28 S partial sequence (63 bp. difference). A molecular phylogenetic study shows that they belong to two clearly seperated Geodia clades (Cárdenas et al. 2009). Although the holotype (YPM 5045) has been fixed and preserved in alcohol, the DNA we extracted from it was poorly preserved. Consequently, we were unable to amplify the Folmer COI fragment or a 28 S sequence from the type material.	en	Cárdenas, Paco, Menegola, Carla, Rapp, Hans Tore, Díaz, Maria Cristina (2009): Morphological description and DNA barcodes of shallow-water Tetractinellida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Bocas del Toro, Panama, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2276: 1-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191088
