taxonID	type	description	language	source
03C087B0AE7EFFF2FF1FFB97D886FB09.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21062, Colombia, Cartagena area, Islas del Rosario, Isla Pavitos, 10.1275 N - 75.7688 W, 25 m, 25 - 10 - 1990, coll. M. Kielman # S 141.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE7EFFF2FF1FFB97D886FB09.taxon	description	Description. Sponge insinuating inside two fragments, 1 x 1 x 2 cm and 1 x 1 x 0.5 cm, of an original single piece of coral covered on the outside by Diplastrella megastellata (Hechtel, 1965) (Hadromerida, Spirastrellidae). No traces of the sponge were detected on the upper / outer side of the coral, but inside it several corridors and holes of approx. 1 mm diameter and 5 – 10 mm long are filled with tissues of the new species. Live color not noted, beige colored in alcohol. Consistency soft. Skeleton. Confused, no apparent organization. Spicules. Mesotriaenes (dichomesotriaenes, mesocalthrops), small amphitriaenes, oxea-like spicules, amphiasters, microrhabds. Measurements presented here are based on 10 spicules instead of 25, due to large variability of shape and sizes of the various types. Mesotriaenes (Figs 1 A – B), predominantly dichomesotriaenes, large size differences among spicules, but no clear size categories, protocladi 48 - 148.4 - 302 x 12 - 27.6 - 48 µm, deuterocladi 12 - 33.2 - 72 x 6 - 10.5 - 20 µm, tritocladi 6 - 23.5 - 60 x 5 – 7 µm; rhabdomes, conical, sharp-pointed, 24 - 45.9 - 62 x 20 - 25 µm; cladomes up to 400 µm. Mesocalthrops (Fig. 1 C), rare, long cladi up to 108 x 10 µm, short cladi 15 – 62 µm. Oxea-like spicules (Figs 1 D – E), usually with cladose ends, rarely symmetrically sharply pointed, 186 - 267.0 - 372 x 10 - 17.0 - 28 µm. Small amphitriaenes, rare, rhabd 15 x 2 µm, cladi 15 x 2 µm. Amphiasters (Fig. 1 F), with short rhabd and long rugose or lightly spined rays, 9 - 11.4 - 13 µm, rays 3 – 4 µm long. Microrhabds (Figs 1 G – H), in two distinct size categories, short relatively fat, 14 - 15.8 - 18 x 2 - 2.9 - 4 µm, long, slim, slightly sinuous, densely spined, 32 - 33.7 - 37 x 0.5 µm. Ecology. Insinuating in dead coral material, at 25 m depth.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE7EFFF2FF1FFB97D886FB09.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the endolithic habit, occupying spaces within dead coral fragments.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE7EFFF2FF1FFB97D886FB09.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This is the first record of the genus Triptolemma from the tropical western Atlantic. The genus so far numbers four accepted species (Maldonado, 2002; van Soest et al. 2008 on line): T. cladosum (Sollas, 1888 as Triptolemus) from deep water (250 m) off the Kai Islands, Indonesia, T. intextum (Carter, 1876 as Pachastrella) from deep water (674 m) off the SW coast of Portugal, T. incertum (Kirkpatrick, 1903 as Triptolemus) from deep water (150 – 180 m) off the east coast of South Africa, and T. simplex (Sarà, 1959 as Triptolemus) from a shallow cave (0 – 1 m) in the Mediterranean. A fifth species, T. parasiticum (Carter, 1876 as Pachastrella) from unknown origin is considered a junior synonym of T. intextum, although the proof for this is still wanting. The description by Carter (twice, in 1876: 410, pl. XVI fig. 50, and 1880: 60, as Samus) remains uncritical with respect to the other species. The material is considered lost, so we will remain in doubt over its true affinities. The name Samus parasiticus was also used for a specimen occupying spaces within calcareous algae in the Gulf of Mannaar, India, which possibly is conspecific with T. cladosum (but again this remains undecided). Samaai (2006), without explanation, referred Triptolemma incertum to the genus Dercitus Gray (1867 b), but Kirkpatrick's description leaves no doubt that it belongs to Triptolemma. The genus is predominantly of deep-water occurrence, but the present new species and T. simplex share a sciophilous shallow-water habitat. Maldonado (2002) in his re-description of the type species refers to the spined microrhabds as sanidasters, but this appears incorrect; both Sollas' and Sarà's description use the term microrhabd and Maldonado's own drawing (l. c. p. 159, fig. 14 D) makes it clear that this cannot be considered a sanidaster. Similarly, the streptaster microscleres are not metasters, but amphiasters or spirasters as they clearly show a (short) rhabd. The alleged presence of small smooth oxeas in T. cladosum and T. incertum is drawn into doubt by Maldonado (l. c.) and we concur with this, as the endolithic habit of the sponges makes it virtually impossible to avoid contaminations with spicules of neighbouring sponges. Still, we report the presence of large oxeas in the same size range and thickness as the triaenes, which are certainly proper to the sponge, but may be interpreted as reduced triaenes. The new species differs from T. cladosum in the generally more robust, larger and thicker triaenes (protocladi of T. cladosum only up to 52 x 21 µm, against up to 300 x 48 µm in our new species); other features appear generally similar, with long microrhabds somewhat smaller (up to 27.6 µm) than T. endolithicum n. sp. (up 37 µm). It differs from T. intextum (which is not fully described by Carter) in the smaller mesotriaenes (figured spicule has a cladome of approx. 140 µm) and its deep-water East Atlantic occurrence make conspecificity with our new species unlikely; by proxy, we assume the same for T. parasiticum. T. incertum differs in the shape of the long spined microrhabds. These were not mentioned by Kirkpatrick, but subsequently described by Maldonado as present; the longer catergory is depicted (l. c. p. 159, fig. 14 G) as oxea-like with pointed ends, wheras those of our new species are clearly strongylote. Other features including spicules sizes appear closely similar. The deep-water occurrence in East Africa makes conspecificity with our new species unlikely. T. simplex has smaller triaenes (cladome of the largest mesotriaenes up to 245 µm) and possibly has a second category of amphiasters / spirasters (but these could be contaminations). In summary, the new species has (1) larger upper size of the mesotriaenes than any other Triptolemma, (2) clearly separated categories of small fat microrhabds and long curved or sinuous microrhabds, both blunt-ending, shared with at least T. simplex, and (3) fat smooth oxeas often with cladose endings.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE78FFFDFF1FF925D899F864.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 0 8973, Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire, Red Slave 2, 12.034 ° N - 68.259 ° W, 23 m, 20 - 08 - 1987, coll. G. J. Roebers # 202. Paratypes. ZMA Por. 0 8974, Curaçao, Blauwbaai, under rubble, 12.131 ° N - 68.987 ° W, 35 m, 2 - 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemsen; ZMA Por. 21077, Curaçao, SeaQuarium, 12.081 ° N - 68.8919 ° W, 25 m, 1991, coll. M. Kielman # S 64. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). ZMA Por. 0 8487, Bonaire, reef caves, 12 – 43 m, 1984, coll. D. Kobluk; ZMA Por. 13716 & 14085, Curaçao, Buoy 0, 12.124 ° N - 68.974 ° W, in reef caves, 01 - 1999, coll. I. Wunsch; ZMA Por. 19063, Curaçao, Buoy 3, 12.136 ° N - 68.97 ° W, reef, 2006, coll. N. van der Hall; ZMA Por. 0 8879, U. S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, Cane Bay, 17.7417 ° N - 64.7392 ° W, 1990, coll. W. Gladfelter; ZMA Por. 0 3347, Puerto Rico, off Mayaguez, 18.25 ° N - 67.225 ° W, dredged at 60 – 75 m, bottom muddy sand, 21 - 02 - 1963, coll. J. H. Stock.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE78FFFDFF1FF925D899F864.taxon	description	Description. Thick encrustations with Placospongia - like surface of elongated polygonal plates, separated by meandering ridges below which thin pore grooves are situated (Fig. 3 A). The system of plates and ridges is irregular and forms a maze, with few ridges entirely enclosing the plates. Size of holotype 5 x 2.5 cm, thickness 1 – 5 mm. Color in life orange, dark orange, brown-orange or more yellow; in alcohol pale yellow or off-white. Consistency hard, rough to the touch. Skeleton. Distinctly zoned similar to the skeleton of Placospongia. A dense ectosomal layer of spherasters forms the surface of the polygonal plates. These are surrounded by strong columns of tylostyles rising up from the bottom of the sponge supporting the plates and forming the sides of the meandering pore grooves, in which they also protrude slightly causing the sides of the grooves to be elevated. No clear separation or localization of a smaller and a larger category of tylostyles is apparent, but the tylostyles have a large size range (see below). Subdermal tissue between the columns with few spherasters, scattered ‘ diplasters’ and densely distributed microspirasters forming a distinct fibrous layer devoid of heavy spiculation. At the bottom of the sponge a thin layer of spherasters lines the boundary with the substrate. Spicules. Tylostyles, spherasters, ‘ diplasters’, microspirasters / amphiasters. Tylostyles (Fig. 2 A – B), with prominent elongated heads, often annulated beneath the tyle, in a large size range ,, 162 - 428.6 - 578 x 3.5 - 5.4 - 8 µm. Spherasters (Fig. 2 D and part of C), globular, with short conical rays, in full-grown condition ornamented with little blunt spines in a ring around the base of the cones, 27 - 28.6 - 31 µm in diameter. Diplasters (Fig. 2 E and part of C), elongated with an often one-sided constriction in the middle, with long conical rays, with crenulated surface, 14 - 17.8 - 21 µm. Possibly these are juvenile forms of the spherasters, in which case, nonetheless, one would expect to find more intermediate forms. Micramphiasters, microspirasters, and related forms (Fig. 2 F and part of C), tiny, with short rhabds and composite rays, often a bit irregular in shape, 2 – 4.5 µm in length. Ecology. Usually under coral rubble and in reef caves, 20 – 23 m; occasionally exposed in deeper locations.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE78FFFDFF1FF925D899F864.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The genus name refers to the placospongia-like aspect of the surface and to the spherasters that replace the placospongiid selenasters. The species name indicates the so far Antillean occurrence (both Lesser and Greater Antilles) of the species.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE78FFFDFF1FF925D899F864.taxon	discussion	Remarks. With this new genus the family Placospongiidae, until recently monotypical, consists now of three genera. Placospongia Gray (1867 a) so far has six species, while Onotoa de Laubenfels (1955 b) has two species, and the new genus Placospherastra so far has one species (but see below). All three genera are closely similar in outlook and skeletal structure, making membership of a single family quite obvious, but possession of selenasters, until recently considered a strong synapomorphy for the family, is now restricted to the genus Placospongia. The two other genera lack selenasters and have instead amphinolasters (genus Onotoa) or globose spherasters (Placospherastra n. g.) in the same position, i. e. making up the surface armour. The new species was previously identified as an undescribed Placospongia, but to accommodate it within this genus would widen the defintion too far. Following the erection of Onotoa for placospongiid species with a replacement spicule type for the surface armour, it is proposed here to erect a separate genus for placospongiid sponges with yet another replacement spicule type. One could argue that this is unnecessary, since the lack of selenasters may be merely a loss, and the remaining spicules all occur in one or more true Placospongia species. Placospongia species frequently have tiny (2 – 3 µm diameter) spherasters lodged in the spaces among the selenasters at the surface. In Placospongia melobesioides Gray (1867 a) from Borneo, P. melobesioides sensu Arndt (1927) from Curaçao, P. intermedia Sollas (1888) from the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal, and P. cristata Boury-Esnault (1973) from Brazil, a complement of medium-sized spherasters occurs in the choanosome, looking surprisingly similar to golf balls in SEM images. In Placospongia decorticans (Hanitsch, 1895), spherasters of 16 µm diameter apparently form an extra surface armour on the outside of the layer of selenasters, which could indicate that the surface structure in P. antillensis n. g., n. sp. is induced by loss of the selenasters and the need for a replacement structure. Of the true Placospongia species, P. decorticans resembles P. antillensis n. g., n. sp. closest, sharing most spicule types. The same observations apply mutatis mutandis to differences between Placospongia and Onotoa, but the case for the latter genus is stronger since there are two species sharing the same surface spicule types. It is expected that more species lacking selenasters and having a surface armour of globose spherasters will be found to exist (see below). A further argument for keeping the new species in a genus of its own, is that the spherasters are morphologically distinct from those of P. melobesioides and P. decorticans in having an ornamentation of small spines encircling the conical rays. Possibly the term spheraster in this case does not cover homologous spicule forms. A somewhat deviating specimen (Fig. 3 B) of the new species, or possibly a representative of a second species of the new genus, is here recorded from a non-sciophilous muddy deep water habitat off the west coast of Puerto Rico (ZMA Por. 0 3347, details listed above). The sponge is seemingly branching, with branches 6 cm long and 0.5 – 1 cm in diameter, but cross section of the branches showed that the centre is formed by dead bryozoan material, indicating that the sponge is encrusting. Color was given as vermillion by the original collector, in alcohol it is yellow-brown. A striking feature are the white striated grooves separating the polygonal plates, which are much wider (4 – 5 mm) than in the sciophilous specimens described above (Fig. 3 B). The spicules are generally similar to those of the sciophilous specimens, but sizes of tylostyles (up to 600 x 10 – 12 µm) and spherasters (32 – 40 µm) are on the upper side of the range or exceeding those of the type and paratypes. In spite of this and in spite of the unusual live color, for the time being the specimen is treated as a somewhat extreme specimen of the new species. Four other species of Placospongiidae were recorded from the Central West Atlantic: Placospongia carinata (Bowerbank, 1858), P. melobesioides Gray (1867 a), P. intermedia Sollas (1888) and P. cristata Boury-Esnault (1973).	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE78FFFDFF1FF925D899F864.taxon	description	(1986) (including citation of Lehnert & van Soest, 1998), Rua et al. (2006), and unpublished specimens from the ZMA collection mentioned above = Placospongia sp. 1 (not: P. carinata (Bowerbank, 1858) (2) Placospongia melobesioides sensu Schmidt (1870), Arndt (1927), de Laubenfels (1936 a), González-Farías (1989) =? P. cristata Boury-Esnault (1973) (not: P. melobesioides Gray, 1867 a) (3) Placospongia cristata Boury-Esnault (1973) = valid species, see also above. (4) Placospongia melobesioides sensu Mothes et al. (2006) = Placospongia sp. 2 (not: P. melobesioides Gray, 1867 a) (5) Placospongia intermedia sensu de Laubenfels (1936 b) = Placospongia sp. 3 (not: P. intermedia Sollas, 1888) (6) Placospherastra antillensis n. g., n. sp. = valid species. Scott & Barnes (2005) performed sequence analysis of a world-wide set of Placospongia specimens, not further identified to species. Their conclusions were that more genetic differentiation is found than would be expected if there were only two or three cosmopolitan ‘ species’. Our critical comparison of spicule sizes and types appear to support the conclusions of the genetic research. Several hadromerid species possessing tylostyles and spherasters occur in the Central West Atlantic. For completeness sake we present an overview to demonstrate they are not conspecific with our new species. Paratimea galaxa de Laubenfels (1936 a) from Florida differs in lacking the surface plates and possessing tornotes in addition to the tylostyles and the spherasters. Columnitis squamata, also from Florida, as described by Schmidt (1870) reminds of our new species in having polygonal surface ornamentation, but redescription by Sarà & Bavestrello (1996), made it clear that this is a tethyid genus and species (after previously having been assigned to the synonymy of Timea by de Laubenfels, 1936 a) showing little in common with our new species. The definition of the new genus resembles that given by de Laubenfels (1936 a) for the genus Kotimea, with type species Hymedesmia moorei Carter (1880, from the Gulf of Mannaar, India). The precise affinity of Carter’s species with tylostyles and spherasters remains undecided because the type material is lost. There are no indications in Carter’s description that the surface would have had armoured placospongiid plates. Rützler (2002 b) assigned Kotimea to the synonymy of Timea Gray (1867 b). A second species assigned to Kotimea, Hymeraphia spiniglobata Carter (1879) is a Diplastrella, while Kotimea tethya de Laubenfels (1954) is a Timea.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE76FFFBFF1FFE99DC1CF87D.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 16887, Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao, near Carmabi, 12.124 ° N - 68.975 ° W, in reef cavity at approx. 10 m, 10 - 2001, coll. S. Scheffers # 35.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE76FFFBFF1FFE99DC1CF87D.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting, microlobate and microhispid; size of now fragmented holotype 15 x 3 x 1.5 mm. Live color not noted, off-white in alcohol. Skeleton. Individual tylostyles are erect on the substrate, tyles down. Pointed ends protrude far beyond the surface. The tylostyles are partly hidden by a dense layer of asters. Spicules. Tylostyles and two categories of asters, one of which has branching rays. Tylostyles (Figs 4 A – B) with elongate tyles, often style-like or with subterminal tyles, 299 - 834.2 - 1357 x 2 - 8.2 - 14 µm Larger asters (Figs 4 C – D), seemingly but not truly asymmetrical, with 4 – 5 rays which have 2 or 3 secondary branches, juvenile large asters have smooth rays, while adult asters have thicker rays, often with a few spines along the shaft, and they have proliferated terminal branches, overall diameter 14 - 19.2 - 23 µm. Small tylasters (Fig. 4 E) with 8 – 9 unbranched terminally spined rays, 5.5 - 6.0 - 7.5 µm in diameter. Ecology. In reef cavities at approx. 10 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE76FFFBFF1FFE99DC1CF87D.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after its type locality.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE76FFFBFF1FFE99DC1CF87D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Members of the genus are typical sciophilous specialists, invariably found in thin patches under stones or overhangs (e. g. Rützler, 2002 b; Carballo & Cruz-Barraza, 2006). The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Timea species were recently listed by Lehnert & Heimler (2001). Along with some representatives of other genera (Diplastrella and Adreus), they list seven recognizably described species reported from the Caribbean region, T. parasitica (Higgin, 1877), T. stelligera (Carter, 1882), T. stenosclera Hechtel (1969), T. mixta sensu Wiedenmayer (1977), T. unistellata sensu Pulitzer-Finali (1986), T. hechteli Lehnert & Heimler (2001), and T. micraster Lehnert & Heimler (2001). In view of the proximity it makes sense to include in a comparison of our new species also Brazilian respresentatives: Timea agnani Boury- Esnault (1973) and T. stellifasciata sensu Boury-Esnault (1973), T. authia sensu de Laubenfels (1956), T. mixta sensu Hechtel (1976) and T. bioxyasterina Mothes et al. (2004). Of these species, only Timea stellifasciata sensu Boury-Esnault (1973) bears some resemblance to our new species. Boury-Esnault records two types of asters, the larger of which has reduced number of rays with ‘ multifide’ endings, size also similar to ours, 12 – 28 µm. These asters, called ‘ sphaeranthasters’ by Boury-Esnault, do not have really branched rays. The second smaller category of asters are oxyasters, unlike the tylasters of our species. The Brazil material probably belongs to an undescribed species, as the Mediterranean Timea stellifasciata sensu Sarà & Siribelli (1960) appears to be distinct from the Brazil material, with irregular, but unbranched asters, showing no signs of having ‘ multifide’ rays. T. hechteli, T. mixta, T. stenosclera and T. micraster possess two categories of asters one of which is a spheraster, which is not found in our new species, while T. stelligera and T. perastra have only one category of tiny asters, lacking the larger ones, whereas T. unistellata has a single category of larger spheroxyasters. T. stelligera may not be a true Timea as its type is described as a massive conical sponge, unlike any other Timea. T. authia sensu de Laubenfels (1956) is not described, but the use of the name of a species originally described from California is presumed to testify of morphological similarities between the Californian and Brazilian specimens. T. authia was extensively redescribed by Carballo & Cruz- Barraza (2006) and the asters are regular strongylasters quite different from the present new species. T. bioxyasterina has three categories of asters, one tylaster and two categories of oxyasters. T. agnani has a single category of very large four-rayed asters, and reexamination of the type material led Mothes et al. (2004) to conclude that this is probably a Cyamon (Poecilosclerida, Raspailiidae). Elsewhere, several species seem close, notably Mediterranean T. fasciata Topsent (1934), which has irregular asters with proliferated ray endings, next to smaller normal strongylasters. Mediterranean T. geministellata Pulitzer-Finali (1978) possesses similar ambiguous spicules but some of these assume a diplaster-shape. Mediterranean T. irregularis Sarà & Siribelli (1960) has irregular larger asters of which some shapes could be interpreted as having branching rays in addition to small regular asters. The same could perhaps be said for Mediterranean T. bifidostellata Pulitzer-Finali (1983), but the drawings of the spicules do not look very much like those of the new species, possibly because the drawings are rather vague. No other Timea species appear to possess similar branched asters. To facilitate recognition of Timea species in the area, a key is presented below.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE70FFF8FF1FFA71D881FEDA.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21063, Colombia, Santa Marta area, Cabo de Aguja, 11.309 ° N - 74.194 ° W, 8 – 15 m, 5 - 11 - 1986, coll. M. Rozemeijer & W. Dulfer.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE70FFF8FF1FFA71D881FEDA.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting patches on barnacles, largest patch approx. 2 x 3 mm, less than 0.5 mm in thickness. Microhispid, soft. Color: brick-red. Skeleton. Acanthostyles erect on the substrate, in clumps or bouquets, with the larger penetrating the surface. Ectosomal tylotes arranged in bundles fanning out and carrying the surface membrane; scattered tylotes arranged tangentially. Chelae forming a dense mass in the surface membrane. Spicules. Ectosomal microspined tylotes, acanthostyles in two size categories, palmate isochelae. Tylotes (Figs 5 A – B), with elongate, slightly unequal heads, microspined at both ends, 237 - 279.9 - 309 x 2 - 3.0 - 3.5 µm. Large acanthostyles (Fig. 5 C) without prominent heads, spined all over but fewer spines toward the pointed end, 129 - 215.5 - 293 x 6 - 7.7 - 10 µm, small acanthostyles (Figs 5 C – D), similarly shaped, 63 - 76.2 - 93 x 3.5 - 4.7 - 7 µm. The two size categories are not sharply delimited. Palmate isochelae (Fig. 5 E), rather narrow, but otherwise of quite usual shape, very little size variation, 9 - 12.5 - 14 µm. Ecology. Encrusting on and between barnacles, in shallow reef caves, approx. 10 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE70FFF8FF1FFA71D881FEDA.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the thinly encrusting habit.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE70FFF8FF1FFA71D881FEDA.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is provisionally assigned to Megaciella, a genus predominantly consisting of elaborate coldwater forms, with reticulate skeletons (Hooper, 2002 a). No Megaciella species have been reported from the Central West Atlantic (van Soest et al. 2008, on line). The species would fit more easily in Clathria (Microciona) Bowerbank (1862), but this is precluded by the microspined tylotes, instead of which it should have had microspined subtylostyles. A remote possibility is that it is an Acarnus lacking both cladotylotes and toxas, which would then be unrecognziable as Acarnus, as some similarity exists with tylotes and isochelae of e. g. Acarnus nicoleae van Soest et al. (1991). Still, many genera in the Microcionina share elaborate reticulate species as well as species with hymedemioid skeletons, such as Clathria Schmidt (1862), Antho Gray (1867 b), Acarnus Gray (1867 b), or Iophon Gray (1867 b), and the species described here is merely the first such form reported for Megaciella. No matching descriptions are known from the Central West Atlantic.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE72FFE5FF1FFD0AD915FD98.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA POR. 16880, Curaçao, in front of Carmabi, 12.124 ° N - 68.975 ° W, reef cavities at approx. 10 m, 10 - 2001, coll. S. Scheffers, # 18. Paratype. ZMA POR. 16881, Curaçao, in front of Carmabi, 12.124 ° N - 68.975 ° W, reef cavities at approx. 10 m, 10 - 2001, coll. S. Scheffers # 19.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE72FFE5FF1FFD0AD915FD98.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting sponge, size of holotype 5 x 8 x 1 – 2 mm, paratype even smaller. It was found growing in the interstices of encrusting coralline algae and bryozans without forming large patches. Color red alive, beige in alcohol. Surface microhispid, consistency very soft, easily damaged. Skeleton. Plumose with discrete spicular columns rising up from a basal spongin plate on the substrate and fanning out at the surface in characteristic bouquets. Columns consist, from the substrate upwards successively of 3 – 5 principal styles, recognizable as the longest and thickest of the megascleres, gradually replaced by 10 or more auxiliary subectosomal subtylostyles, which in turn carry the surface bouquets of smaller ectosomal subtylostyles. The base of the columns is echinated by small auxiliary acanthostyles. Colloscleres are densely distributed throughout the choanosome and the ectosomal region, without distinct concentrations. Spicules. Choanosomal principal styles, two categories of auxiliary ectosomal subtylostyles, echinating acanthostyles, toxas, colloscleres, no proper chelae. Principal styles (Figs 6 A – B), entirely smooth, somewhat fusiform (the rounded end less thick than the upper part of the shaft), sharply and gradually pointed, 237 - 320.7 - 423 x 3 - 4.8 - 7 µm. Subectosomal larger auxiliary subtylostyles (Figs C – D), entirely smooth, thin, with faintly swollen head, 219 - 244.5 - 303 x 2 - 2.3 - 3 µm, and ectosomal small auxiliary subtylostyles (Figs 6 E – F), entirely smooth, thin, with faintly swollen head, 96 - 113.3 - 156 x 0.5 - 1.0 - 1.5 µm. Echinating acanthostyles 42 - 52.1 - 66 x 3.5 - 4.4 - 5 µm. Microscleres toxas (Fig. 6 H), bow-shaped, shallow-curved, fairly thick, entirely smooth, not abundant, 92 - 106.8 - 126 µm, and bean-shaped colloscleres (Fig. 6 I), hollow, faintly reminiscent of chela-shape but no clear alae or shaft can be detected, surface appears smooth under the light microscope, but is slightly wrinkled under SEM (possibly artefactual), 11 - 12.8 - 15 µm; occasionally clusters occur consisting of two, three up to a dozen of colloscleres, possibly artefactual, as they appear to be rare or absent in the teased preparations. Ecology. Shallow depth, reef cavity dweller, encrusting coralline algae and bryozoans.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE72FFE5FF1FFD0AD915FD98.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named for the peculiar colloscleres.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE72FFE5FF1FFD0AD915FD98.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The subgenus Thalysias has seven junior synonyms (cf. Hooper, 2002), among which is Colloclathria Dendy (1922), a so far monotypical genus erected for a ramose sponge from the Seychelles, Colloclathria ramosa Dendy (1922), with peculiar ' grain-of-rice' microscleres, among an otherwise typical Clathria (Thalysias) spicule complement and skeleton. Hooper (1996, 2002 b) concluded that the peculiar microscleres are derivates of isochelae and assumed they were extremes of a hypertrophied chela-type called ' cleistochelae', in which both frontal alae meet and the shaft extends with a ridge or plate to fill up the space between the alae. Such microscleres are not uncommon in various apparently unrelated Clathria and Mycale species. Because of this and also because Colloclathria so far was monotypical, the species was assigned to Clathria (Thalysias). The combination Clathria ramosa was already occupied by C. (T.) ramosa (Kieschnick, 1896 as Rhaphidophlus), so Hooper (1996) proposed Clathria (Thalysias) amiranteiensis as a replacement name. The ZMA collections holds three Seychelles samples (ZMA Por. 11890, Seychelles, St. Joseph Atoll, S rim, 5.45 ° S 53.35 ° E, 28 - 12 - 1992, 10 m, coll. R. W. M. van Soest, SCUBA, Netherlands Indian Ocean Program stat. E- 759 / 01; ZMA Por. 11992, Seychelles, N of Poivre Atoll, 5.7 ° S 53.3 ° E, 31 - 12 - 1992, 42 - 45 m, coll. R. W. M. van Soest, Agassiz-trawl, Netherlands Indian Ocean Program stat. E- 776 / 12; ZMA Por. 10644, Seychelles, W of Poivre Atoll, 5.7667 ° S 53.1833 ° E, 01 - 01 - 1993, 57 m, coll. R. W. M. van Soest, rectangular dredge, Netherlands Indian Ocean Program stat. E- 778 / 21). I examined these and included Dendy's (1922: 74) description of three samples from the Seychelles / Amirante group and Coetivity, in a comparison with the new species. The Seychelles species can be characterized as repent-ramose, with a tendendy to have the branches undivided or branching only close to the surface. The sponges encrust the substrate of dead corals and from this occasional branches are formed which are partially erect, but tend to follow a tortuous course, ending roundly. Diameter of the branches is 2 – 5 mm, and length varies from 2 to 14 cm. Color is yellow, orange, or orange-red; in alcohol the branches are light brown. Surface is optically smooth but microhispid, feeling slightly rough. Oscules are not apparent, but encrusting parts have a veinal pattern. Consistency firm, slightly compressible, tough. The ectosomal skeleton is characteristic for Thalysias with surface bouquets of smaller microspined ectosomal styles (approx. 120 x 3 µm), supported subectosomally by larger microspined ectosomal styles (220 x 5 µm). The distribution of the surface bouquets is not very dense, with individual bouquets flaring widely and touching each other’s outer spicules only barely. The ectosomal skeleton is carried by an irregular reticulation of spicule tracts making up the internal skeleton of the branches. Tracts consist of two or three smooth fusiform main styles with rugose or occasionally smooth heads (200 x 15 µm), cemented by light spongin and echinated sparingly by auxiliary acanthostyles (72 x 10 µm). They make rounded or squarish meshes, and leave large open spaces, which are presumably canals. Many megascleres and microscleres are loosely scattered in the interior. Microscleres are toxas (60 – 120 x 1 µm), palmate isochelae (12 – 15 µm), and abundant oval or bean-shaped colloscleres of 10 – 12 µm in length. From these observations it is obvious that the two sponges discussed here are quite dissimilar in morphology and spiculation: tough branches vs. soft thin crust, microspined ectosomal spicules vs. smooth, presence of true palmate isochelae vs. absence thereof. Nevertheless, the peculiar colloscleres are a compelling synapomorphy for the two species discussed here. It is unclear whether these are truly derivations of the chelae as Dendy (1922) maintained from his observation of ' intermediate forms' drawn rather suggestively by him (pl. 14 fig. 4 e). Hooper's (1996) opinion that the colloscleres are cleistochelae is here rejected, because in cleistochelae the frontal alae meet and / or the shaft grows a forward extension, but the obvious derivation from palmate isochelae is never in any doubt with such spicules. In colloscleres the entire spicule - if it is chela-derived - is enveloped in a siliceous thin coat which is dramatically different from a chela developing secondarily infilling of the open space between alae and shaft. If the colloscleres of both species are to be considered a homologous derived character, then close phylogenetic relationship is the likely assumption, since no other Clathria species with such microscleres are known. Colloclathria may need to be reinstated as a subgenus or a similar infrageneric unit to distinguish these sponges from the bulk of the Clathria (Thalysias) species. Several spicular features of the two sponges support such close affinity: the shape and size of the toxas are quite similar and the size of the ectosomal and choanosomal megascleres is also not dissimilar. Biogeographically, such a taxon would show a disjunct distribution in Indian Ocean and Caribbean reefs, which may be easily explained as a relict Tethyan pattern. So far, no reliable records of C. amiranteiensis in other parts of the Indo-West Pacific are known, so a more widespread Tethyan distribution remains to be demonstrated. Alternatively, although both C. collosclera n. sp. and C. amiranteiensis belong to the subgenus Thalysias and the colloscleres appear uniquely derived, it is possible that they represent independent developments. Possibly, the colloscleres are an environmentally induced derivate of chelae. This is supported by the occurrence of potentially homologous colloscleres in the enigmatic sponge described as Collosclerophora arenacea Dendy (1917). The morphological and skeletal features of this South Australian sponge are radically different again from the two above described Clathria (Thalysias) species. The growth form is massive, solid, and the skeleton consists chiefly of sand. The only megascleres present are thin strongyles occurring in plumose bundles among the sand grains. By these characters, this sponge is classified as Chondropsis in the poecilosclerid family Chondropsidae (cf. van Soest, 2002 a). The colloscleres are bean-shaped and were demonstrated to be siliceous, but soft-skinned, capable of swelling when water is added to them. This might well conform to the colloscleres of C. (T.) collosclera n. sp. as the surface of many of them appear wrinkled under SEM. Verifying the homology of both types of colloscleres unfortunately is virtually impossible as there is preciously little material left of C. arenacea. There is no rationale for assigning Chondropsis arenacea and Clathria (Thalysias) collosclera – C. (T.) amiranteiensis to a single monophyletic group, as this would violate a large number of convincing skeletal and spicular synapomorphies. If the colloscleres are all of similar build and material, that would surely indicate they have been developed independently, at least in different families.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6FFFE4FF1FFCF7DA04FF4E.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21064, Bonaire, Karpata, 12.222 ° N - 68.351 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 1987, coll. H. G. J. Pennartz # 5. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). Bonaire, Karpata, 12.222 ° N - 68.351 ° W, under rubble, 5 m (2 specimens); Bonaire, Punt Vierkant, 12.116 ° N - 68.295 ° W, under rubble, 5 m (2 specimens); Bonaire, Red Slave, 12.034 ° N - 68.259 ° W, under rubble, 5 m; all observed by H. G. J. Pennartz & G. J. Roebers.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6FFFE4FF1FFCF7DA04FF4E.taxon	description	Description. Thin smooth crust, size 4 x 3.5 cm, thickness less than 0.5 mm (Fig. 7 C). Color dark brown with purple veins; interiorly the sponge is orange – brown. Pigment grains in the lighter parts of the surface form areolae-like formations of approx. 100 µm in diameter. Consistency soft. Skeleton. Feebly developed bundles of megascleres traverse the choanosome vertically ending at and pushing up the surface to cause microconules. No tangential surface skeleton. Spicules. Strongyles only, no further spicules. Strongyles (Figs 7 A – B), straight, isodiametric, with evenly rounded (not swollen) apices, often with wide axial cavity, 213 - 252.7 - 277 x 3 - 3.9 - 4.5 µm. Ecology. Under coral rubble at 5 m	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6FFFE4FF1FFCF7DA04FF4E.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Fusca (Latin) = brown.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6FFFE4FF1FFCF7DA04FF4E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The mottled aspect of the surface reminds of specimens of Strongylodesma Lévi (1969) (see e. g. Samaai et al. 2004), so it was carefully verified whether the strongyles were also arranged tangentially as is the case in species of Strongylodesma. However, strongyles were only found in choanosomal bundles perpendicular to the surface, which consisted only of an organic membrane. One other species is known from the Central West Atlantic, B. rosea van Soest (1984), differing from the new species in color (rosy red) and presence of characteristic looped malformations of the strongyles found in that species. B. rosea was also observed to occur under Bonaire rubble stones (Pennartz & Roebers, unpubl. data) and could be easily distinguished from the new species. Strongylacidon bermudae (de Laubenfels, 1950 as Fibulia), having strongyles of 180 – 200 µm and lacking microscleres, in addition to being dark colored, may be reminiscent of the new species, but it is a large species with tubes of 12 cm height, quite unlike the thin encrustation described here (cf. Rützler, 1986). The strongyles are also neatly smaller than Batzella fusca n. sp. and B. rosea, without overlap. The Batzella species of the Central West Atlantic are keyed out along with the species of the genus Strongylacidon in a key presented below.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE69FFE1FF1FFF52D9EAFC48.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21067, Bonaire, Red Slave, 12.034 ° N - 68.259 ° W, under rubble, 4 m, 1987, coll. H. G. J. Pennartz # 242. Paratype. ZMA Por. 21068, same data as holotype, coll. G. J. Roebers # G 02 - 12. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). ZMA Por. 12397 Belize, Dangriga, Pelican Cays, Cat Cay, lagoon, mangrove root, 16 - 11 - 1996, coll. K. Smith & C. Díaz # KS 96 - 11.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE69FFE1FF1FFF52D9EAFC48.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting, black-grey sponge, becoming greenish in alcohol, 1 – 2 mm in thickness, under coral rubble. Surface smooth. The type material is fragmented and beige colored. The holotype now consists of four coral fragments with patches of the sponge not exceeding 2 x 2 mm, and the paratype consists of two similar-sized fragments. The patches are tightly adhering to the coral surface overgrowing also dead bryozoans and Homotrema, but the surface may be peeled off easily. Skeleton. Dendritic, rather scanty, consisting of bundles of 10 – 20 megascleres rising individually from the substrate and dividing dichotomously without anastomosing. At the periphery, the spicule bundles fan out to carry the surface membrane without forming a separate ectosomal skeleton. Organic surface membrane carries numerous scattered microscleres. Spicules. Strongyles and isochelae. Strongyles (Figs 8 A – B) straight, cylindrical, isodiametrical, with evenly rounded symmetrical apices, 204 - 218.7 - 258 x 2 - 3.4 - 4.5 µm. Microscleres (Figs 8 C – D) shallow-curved unguiferate isochelae, 15 - 18.3 - 22 µm in length, often slightly anisochelate by having different numbers of teeth at both ends of the same spicule: variously 3 or 5, occasionally 4, short conical sharp-ending teeth. Teeth are on average up to 1 / 8 of the length of the entire chela. Not uncommonly, the teeth are partly or entirely reduced (Fig. 8 D) and such spicules simulate sigma shapes, but these are obviously the same spicule type, not constituting a separate category of microscleres. Ecology. Encrusting undersides of coral rubble in shallow reef habitats, 4 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE69FFE1FF1FFF52D9EAFC48.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the unguiferate isochelae.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE69FFE1FF1FFF52D9EAFC48.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The species may be also represented in the mangrove habitat and if such specimens are indeed the same species, it may be quite elaborate in shape and size, e. g. the specimens recorded above from Belize mangrove roots grew around a branch of Aplysina fulva over distances of 6 x 4 and 12 x 4 cm, with a thickness of 1 – 3 mm. This concerns the species named Strongylacidon aff. zanzibarense in Rützler et al. (2000), found commonly on mangrove roots in Belizean mangrove habitats in the Pelican Keys. Color, spicule sizes and skeletal characteristics match closely with the sub-rubble specimens, but size and habitat differences induced us to exclude these specimens from the type series.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6AFFE0FF1FFF24D966F85C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 20880, Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao, Avila Beach, 12.098 ° N - 68.926 ° W, 25 m, 03 - 10 - 1991, coll. M. Kielman # S 111. Paratypes. ZMA Por. 12715, Bonaire, Punt Vierkant, 12.116 ° N - 68.295 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 04 - 08 - 1987, coll. G. J. Roebers # 183; ZMA Por. 20882, Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao, SeaQuarium, 12.081 ° N - 68.8919 ° W, 25 m, 1991, coll. M. Kielman # S 54; ZMA Por. 20883, same locality as previous paratype, 25 m, 24 - 9 - 1991, coll. M. Kielman # S 62. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). Curaçao, Playa Hundu, 12.258 ° N - 69.127 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemsen # H 26 C 13; Curaçao, Cornelisbaai, 12.084 ° N - 68.897 ° W, under rubble, 3.5 m, 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemsen # C 23 - 9; Curaçao, Kaap Malmeeuw, 12.137 ° N - 68.999 ° W, under rubble, 12 – 16 m, 12 - 1980, coll. R. W. M. van Soest.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6AFFE0FF1FFF24D966F85C.taxon	description	Description. Tiny hollow encrustations of approx. 0.5 – 1 mm thickness and maximum of 2 cm 2 in widest expansion, with one (holotype) or up to three fistules of 2 mm diameter and 4 – 5 mm high. Consolidating coarse sediment under coral rubble and occupying depressions in the coral rubble. Color pale brown or pale orange, which keeps in alcohol. Skeleton. Thick irregularly connected bundles of spicules, 50 – 60 µm in diameter traverse the bladder-like main body, and these fan out at the surface where they get dispersed tangentially, forming an irregular ectosomal skeleton. Spicules. Tylotes, isochelae, forceps. Tylotes (Figs 9 A – B), smooth, curved, with elongate but prominent tyles, which have a characteristically visible elongate axial lumen, 258 - 292.9 - 345 x 5 - 5.7 - 7 µm. Arcuate isochelae (Fig. 9 C) with short broad alae, which occasionally show incipient polydentation, 15 - 22.3 - 24 µm. Forcipes (Figs 9 D – F) of varied shape, divisible in two size categories, and each occurring in a heavily or a more lightly spined form, with or without teethed apices: (1) larger heavily spined forcipes, 54 - 68.5 - 91 µm (widest expansion of legs 20 – 22 µm), teethed apices; (2) larger faintly spined forcipes, without teethed apices, are in a similar size range and are interpreted as growth stages (Figs 9 D – E); (3) smaller spined forcipes, 27 - 39.5 - 48 mm (widest expansion of legs 10 – 27 µm), teethed apices; (4) smaller less spined forcipes, without teethed apices have similar size range and are interpreted as growth stages (Fig. 9 F). Ecology. Subrubble habitat at shallow and reef crevices at intermediate depths, range 3.5 – 25 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6AFFE0FF1FFF24D966F85C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the tiny size, the smallest in the subgenus Forcepia (Forcepia).	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE6AFFE0FF1FFF24D966F85C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Up to now, four Forcepia species have been recorded from the Central West Atlantic, Forcepia (Forcepia) colonensis Carter (1874), redescribed by Van Soest (2002 b), based on Forcepia trilabis sensu van Soest (1984) from Panama and Barbados, Forcepia (Forcepia) trilabis (Boury-Esnault, 1973 as Ectoforcepia) from Brazil, Forcepia (Forcepia) grandisigmata van Soest (1984) from Jamaica, and Forcepia (Leptolabis) vermicola Lehnert & van Soest (1996), likewise from Jamaica. Of these, F. colonensis is closest in spiculation to our new species and shares a thinly encrusting habit. However, the tylotes (330 – 360 µm) and larger acanthose forcipes (200 – 260 µm) of F. colonensis are clearly larger than those of our new species. The chelae of F. colonensis are divisible in two size categories with the larger having reduced alae (see Van Soest, 2002 b fig. 3 C). F. trilabis is also close, having similar tylote sizes and both acanthose forcipes and relatively smooth growth stages in two size categories, but like F. colonensis this has very large forcipes (even up to 303 µm) and chelae with reduced alae, whereas there is only a single size category, rendering it inbetween F. colonenis and F. minima n. sp. in that respect. F. grandisigmata is more distant in possessing huge sigmas (up to 202 µm) and peculiarly deformed chelae (similar to those of F. fistulosa n. sp. described below). F. vermicola is distant from the new species by possessing acanthostyles; it is a member of the subgenus Leptolabis.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE65FFEDFF1FF9BBD91BFAF6.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21070, Colombia, Santa Marta area, Punta Betín, 11.25 ° N - 74.2167 ° W, reef crevices, 25 m, 18 - 02 - 1991, coll. L. Aerts. Paratypes. ZMA Por. 21072, Colombia, Cartagena area, Islas del Rosario, Isla Pavitos, 10.2333 ° N - 75.75 ° W, 25 m, 27 - 10 - 1990, coll. M. Kielman # S 155; ZMA Por. 21071, Santa Marta area, El Morro, 11.25 ° N - 74.2167 ° W, 25 m, 18 - 02 - 1991, coll. M. Kielman # S 168.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE65FFEDFF1FF9BBD91BFAF6.taxon	description	Description. Hollow fistules (Fig. 10 G) rising up from a small, encrusting base; fistules single or divided in two or three. Holotype now broken into three fragments. Length of longest single fistule 2.5 cm, diameter 0.4 cm, complex fistules up to 1.2 cm wide. Surface smooth, glistening. Consistency stiff. Color orange in life, pale brown or pale orange in alcohol. Skeleton. In the outer wall lies a layer of intercrossing single megascleres, carried by occasional choanosomal spicule bundles fanning out beneath the surface membrane. Spicules. Tylotes, chelae, forcipes, sigmas. Tylotes (Figs 10 A – B) with well-developed elongate tyles, robust, usually evenly curved, 294 - 391.8 - 444 13 – 14 µm. Arcuate chelae (Figs C – D) predominantly twisted, but including ‘ normal’ ones (Fig. 10 C) occurring in different quantities in different specimens, 21 - 24.6 - 27 µm, normal chelae usually slightly smaller. Forcipes (Fig. 10 F) robust, all heavily spined, in a large size range but not clearly divisible in size categories (rare in paratype 21071), 29 - 58.0 - 102 µm. In the holotype and in paratype 21071, thin, strongly incurved sigmas (Fig. 10 E) occur rarely, 39 – 42 µm. It is not certain that these are proper. Ecology. In shaded parts of the deeper reef (25 m), in crevices, under overhangs and under larger rubble.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE65FFEDFF1FF9BBD91BFAF6.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the persistent fistular habit.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE65FFEDFF1FF9BBD91BFAF6.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The specimens were compared with the neotype of F. colonensis Carter (1874) ZMA Por. 0 4564, which on paper would seem very close. The chelae of this species are definitely in two size categories and the larger has the teeth always severely reduced, resembling sigmas at first glance. An unregistered specimen from Colombia (El Morro, 15 m, 20 - 10 - 1989, coll. M. Kielman, color light orange, tylotes 450 µm, chelae 21 – 27, possibly in two categories, forcipes 102 – 236 µm) considered to belong to Forcepia (Forcepia) colonensis has less pronounced reduced alae in the larger chelae, but other features appear similar. The habit of this specimen is also fistular, whereas the neotype of F. (F.) colonensis is a thin hollow crust. These varying characters are here interpreted as differences of maturity, but nevertheless, the new species approaches F. (F.) colonensis closely and the major difference rests in the presence of the peculiarly twisted chelae. The new species also is close to F. minima n. sp. resembling it in habit, but in the new species the fistules are much larger than in F. minima n. sp.; tylotes are distinctly larger and thicker (no overlap) and the forcipes are of one type only, whereas those of F. minima are in two categories. Some specimens (holotype and one of the paratypes) bear sigmas, though rare, and these may be proper but vestigial. The chelae are in majority peculiarly twisted, resembling those of F. grandisigmata closely, and as in that species also occur in a normal form. Some specimens have only a low proportion of twisted chelae. Sizes of these chelae are slightly different between F. fistulosa n. sp. (on average smaller) and F. grandisigmata (on average larger). Forcipes are similar in shape and ornamentation in the two, with those of F. f i s t u l o s a n. sp. showing a larger size range. The major difference, however, are the sigmas, which reach very large size (up to 202) in F. grandisigmata as the name implies.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE67FFEBFF1FF9B7DCC2FB09.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21069, Curaçao, Blauwbaai, 12.131 ° N - 68.987 ° W, under rubble, 35 m, 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemsen # B 18 B 8.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE67FFEBFF1FF9B7DCC2FB09.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting, englobing and consolidating a few small pieces of coarse coral sediment, under big rubble blocks. Surface faintly hispid. Color brown. The holotype now consists of 5 pieces, each less than 1 cm 2, and the total surface area in all is a few mm 2. The encrustations of this species are thoroughly mixed in with two other encrusting sponge species, Rhabderemia minutula Carter (1876) and Timea unistellata sensu Pulitzer-Finali (1986), the spicules of which appear as contamination in the spicule preparations. Skeleton. Due to the mix-up with other sponge species, the details of the skeleton are not easy to ascertain; thin tylotes and large sigmas are found in the surface membrane, the acanthostyles, forcipes, small sigmas and chelae occur in the interior, the former in hymedesmioid fashion. Spicules. Tylotes, acanthostyles in two not sharply delimited size categories, sigmas in two size categories, forcipes in two size categories, chelae in two size categories. Tylotes (Figs 11 A – B) thin, somewhat flexuous, with elongate more or less equal-shaped tyles at both ends, 172 - 188.6 - 209 x 2.5 - 2.6 - 3 µm. Large acanthostyles (Fig. 11 C), head barely differentiated from the shaft, 152 - 160.5 - 171 x 5 - 6.7 - 9 µm; small acanthostyles (Fig. 11 D), similar in shape to large acanthostyles, 75 - 83.9 - 90 x 4 - 5.2 - 6 µm. Forcipes in two distinct sizes and shapes, the larger (Figs 11 E – F) rather peculiar with long heavily spined legs which due the narrow space between them tend to become entangled, which causes them to look as if the legs are fused at their ends, the whole spicule rather flexuous, 66 - 87.4 - 106 µm. Small forcipes (Fig. 11 G) of common horseshoe shape, but so tiny and feeble that they were only observed in light microsopic preparations after they were first detected in the SEM, coarsely spined, 6 - 6.8 - 8 (legs approx. 0.5 m in thickness). Large sigmas (Fig. 11 H), robust, evenly curved, 102 - 113. 0 - 123 µm; small sigmas (Fig. 11 I), more variable in shape, including S-shaped forms, often with sharply pointed endings, 27 - 31.9 - 39 µm. Large arcuate chelae (Fig. 11 J) with fairly short alae and curved shaft, 21 - 30.3 - 32 µm, small arcuate chelae (Fig. 11 K) with larger alae, 11 - 12.9 - 16 µm. Ecology. Consolidating coarse coral sediment under rubble in deeper reef parts (35 m).	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE67FFEBFF1FF9B7DCC2FB09.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the tiny forceps category found in this species.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE67FFEBFF1FF9B7DCC2FB09.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This is the second Forcepia (Leptolabis) species recorded from the Central West Atlantic. Previously, Forcepia (Leptolabis) vermicola Lehnert & van Soest, 1996 (as Forcepia (Trachyforcepia)), was recorded in deep reefs (88.4 m) at the north coast of Jamaica. We take this opportunity to report its occurrence in reef caves at 10 m depth off the coast of Curaçao, collected by S. Scheffers (ZMA Por. 16597). The two species differ clearly in the presence of sigmas (absent in F. (L.) vermicola) and the shape and diversity of the forcipes (a single category of forceps with flaring legs in F. (L.) vermicola). Elsewhere, species of this subgenus occur off the coasts of the North Eastern Atlantic, in deep water off the Azores, and off the coast of West Australia (van Soest, 2002; van Soest et al. 2008, online). The new species stands out among these species by the peculiar heavily spined flexuous forceps, combined with the tiny normal forceps. The tiny forceps is shared only with F. (L.) luciensis, and this species also has forcipes with long spines like our new species, but these are curled into a tight ball rather than stretched out as in F. (L.) microlabis n. sp. Most of the species of this subgenus possess sigmas (the type species, F. (L.) l u c i e n s i s (Topsent, 1888) excluded), and most are either from sciophilous or deep sea habitats. Species of the subgenus Forcepia also may have tiny forceps, e. g. Californian F. (F.) h a r t m a n i Lee, 2001 with forceps of 5 – 11 µm, so this is not an exclusive feature of Leptolabis. The species of the Central West Atlantic assigned to Forcepia s. l. are keyed out below.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE60FFE9FF1FFF24DC06FAAC.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21073, Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire, Red Slave, 12.034 ° N - 68.259 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 01 - 08 - 1987, coll. R. Pennartz, # R 10810 R. Paratypes. ZMA Por. 21075, Bonaire, Karpata, 12.222 ° N - 68.351 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 17 - 07 - 1987, coll. G. J. Roebers, # K 1 G. 16 - 03, 155; ZMA Por. 21074, Bonaire, Red Slave, 12.034 ° N - 68.259 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 1987, coll. G. J. Roebers, # G 03.06; ZMA Por. 0 5404, Curaçao, Buoy 1, 12.125 ° N - 68.976 ° W, under rubble, 14 m, 25 - V- 1984, coll. J. H. Stock & J. J. Vermeulen. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). ZMA Por. 16879, Curaçao, near Carmabi, 12.124 ° N - 68.975 ° W, reef caves, 10 - 2001, coll. S. Scheffers # 17; Bonaire, Punt Vierkant, 12.116 ° N - 68.295 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 1987, G. J. Roebers & R. Pennartz; Curaçao, Anna Baai, 12.108 ° N - 68.946 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemsen # A 24 - 5.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE60FFE9FF1FFF24DC06FAAC.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting, under coral rubble, surrounding Homotrema specimens; smooth surface, easy to peel off; soft consistency. Size of holotype approx. 1 x 1.5 x 0.1 cm. Transparent pale yellow color. Skeleton. Surface provided with moderately dense complement of slightly raised areolae, each approx. 1.5 mm in diameter, spaced out approx. 1 mm. The sides of the areolae are supported by bundles of 3 – 5 tornotes at regular distances of approx. 30 µm. Surface between the areolae densely crowded by intercrossing acanthoxeas arranged in a single layer. Spicules. Tornotes and acanthoxeas. Tornotes (Fig. 12 A – B) smooth, faintly polytylote (Fig. 10 B), usually rounded but occasionally bluntly oxeote or abruptly pointed, equal ended, 201 - 257.3 - 294 x 2 - 3.1 - 4 µm. Acanthoxeas (Fig. 12 C), thinly fusiform, approx. symmetrical, little variation in shape and size, enirely spined, straight, 66 - 87.2 - 97 x 1.5 - 2.3 - 3 µm. Ecology. Under coral stones and in caves. So far known only from shallow-water reefs (5 – 14 m) on Bonaire and Curaçao.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE60FFE9FF1FFF24DC06FAAC.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named for Elly Beglinger, manager of the Porifera collection of the Zoological Museum of the University of Amsterdam.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE60FFE9FF1FFF24DC06FAAC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The subgenus Grayella is so far represented in the Central West Atlantic by C. (G.) spinosa (Hechtel, 1983 as Crelloxea) from Brazil. This species has large fusiform oxeote tornotes (up to 400 x 24 µm) quite unlike the thin tornotes of the present new species. The ectosomal spicules are a mix of acanthoxeas and acanthostrongyles, longer and thicker than those of C. (G.) beglingerae n. sp. The new species resembles Red Sea C. (G.) cyathophora (Carter, 1869) in spiculation, but this is an elaborate open reef species, unlike C. (G.) beglingerae n. sp.. Two further Crella species, both possessing chelae unlike our new species, are known from the Caribbean region, Crella (Crella) papillosa (Schmidt, 1870 as Cribrella) from Florida and Crella (Pytheas) chelifera van Soest, 1984 from Barbados, both from much deeper habitats.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE63FFD7FF1FF9DCDCA3FA38.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 21065, Bonaire, Jachthaven, 12.162 ° N - 68.286 ° W, under rubble, 3.5 m, 30 - 06 - 1987, coll. R. Pennaerts & G. J. Roebers, # J. 07.07 - 103. Paratype. ZMA Por. 21066, same data as the holotype, coll. G. J. Roebers # 73. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). Bonaire, Punt Vierkant, 12.116 ° N - 68.295 ° W, under rubble, 5 m, 1987, coll. G. J. Roebers, # G. 02 - 5.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE63FFD7FF1FF9DCDCA3FA38.taxon	description	Description. Thinly encrusting under coral rubble. Surface bumpy, provided with small areolae. Color an intense rich yellow (like egg yolk) or paler yellow; in alcohol it is greyish white. Consistency soft. Skeleton. Acanthostyles erect on the surface, tornotes loosely arranged in the ectosome. Densely scattered sigmas in all parts of the sponge. Spicules. Tornotes, acanthostyles in two size categories, isochelae in two size categories, sigmas in two size categories. Tornotes (Figs 13 A – B) thin, slim, with slightly unequal endings, one mucronate, the other oxeote, 179 - 192.6 - 213 x 1.5 - 2.1 - 2.5 µm. Large acanthostyles (Fig. 13 C), with blunt spines at the head, 144 - 176.1 - 207 x 4 - 5.3 - 6.5 µm; small acanthostyles (Fig. 13 D), 48 - 63.1 - 75 x 3 - 3.6 - 4.5 µm. Large sigmas (Fig. 13 E), shaped normally, 35 - 38.7 - 42 µm; small sigmas (Fig. 13 F), thin, shaped normally, 11 - 12.8 - 14 µm. Large arcuate isochelae (Fig. 13 G), with the shaft grooved on the outside, 17 - 20.6 - 24 µm; small isochelae (Fig. 13 H), with reduced side alae attached to the shaft over their entire length, 9 - 9.8 - 11 µm. Ecology. Under stones at shallow depth, 3.5 – 5 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE63FFD7FF1FF9DCDCA3FA38.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after the island of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE63FFD7FF1FF9DCDCA3FA38.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Among the species of Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) known from Central West Atlantic waters, the new form stands out by the possession of sigmas, in two size categories. Elsewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean, approx. 15 species of Hymedesmia are known to possess sigmas, but only one species, H. ebria Alander (1937) from deep water fjord habitat (180 – 210 m) in northern Norway has a similar spicule complement of sharp-ending tornotes, two size classes of acanthostyles, more than one size class of chelae and two size classes of sigmas. However, the chelae of H. ebria occur in three sizes, the largest of which is clearly much larger (55 – 75 µm) than the largest chela in our new species. Further differences are the larger size of both sigma categories in Alander’s material (20 – 30 and 55 – 75 µm), and the larger size of both acanthostyle categories (350 – 425 and 125 – 145 µm).	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE5CFFD5FF1FFDD4DA8CFDCD.taxon	description	? Mycale (Paresperella) sp. in: Hajdu & Rützler, 1998: 766, fig. 16 a – c.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE5CFFD5FF1FFDD4DA8CFDCD.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMA Por. 0 5389, Curaçao, Barbara Beach, 12.065 ° N - 68.855 ° W, under coral rubble, 1 – 3 m, 03 - 06 - 1984, coll. J. H. Stock & J. J. Vermeulen. Paratypes. ZMA Por. 21076, Curaçao, Cornelis Baai, 12.084 ° N - 68.897 ° W, under coral rubble, 3.5 m, 13 - 03 - 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemse # C 23 - 9; ZMA Por. 21086, Curaçao, Cornelis Baai, 12.084 ° N - 68.897 ° W, under coral rubble, 4 m, 03 - 03 - 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemse # C 6 - 12. Additonal material (not belonging to the type series). Curaçao, Cornelis Baai, 12.084 ° N - 68.897 ° W, under coral rubble, 3.5 m, 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemse # C 6 - 12; Curaçao, Cornelis Baai, 12.084 ° N - 68.897 ° W, under coral rubble, 3.5 m, 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemse # C 20 - 9; Curaçao, Blauwbaai, 12.131 ° N - 68.987 ° W, under coral rubble, 35 m, 27 - 02 - 1989, coll. E. Meesters & P. Willemse # B 19 A 1.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE5CFFD5FF1FFDD4DA8CFDCD.taxon	description	Description. Thin encrustation under coral rubble, up to 3 mm in thickness and several mm 2 in widest expansion. Consistency soft, fragile. Color: described by collectors as‘egg-yellow’, light yellow, transparant orange. Skeleton. Plumose, thin wavy bundles of megascleres carrying the surface membrane in which scattered megascleres are arranged tangentially, with many microscleres inbetween, notably numerous rosettes of the larger anisochelae. Spicules. Styles, anisochelae, spined sigmas and toxas. Styles (Figs 14 A – B) relatively long and flexuous, without conspicuous subterminal constriction (looking like proper styles rather than mycalostyles), 276 - 307.7 - 348 x 1.5 - 2.7 - 3.5 µm. Sigmas (Fig. 14 C), relatively large, thin, asymmetrical with prominent long teeth on the outer curve of the larger / upper part, 78 - 86.4 - 93 µm long, 1.5 - 2.3 - 3 µm in thickness. Anisochelae I (Fig. 14 D), usually forming rosettes of 65 – 70 µm diameter, with relatively pointed larger alae, 21 - 26.9 - 30 µm; anisochelae II (Fig. 14 E), not forming rosettes, usually more rare than anisochelae I, thin and inconspicuous, 10 - 12.8 - 15 µm. Ecology. Under coral rubble, 1 – 35 m.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE5CFFD5FF1FFDD4DA8CFDCD.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Vitellinus (Latin) = like the yolk of an egg, referring to the color of the sponge.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
03C087B0AE5CFFD5FF1FFDD4DA8CFDCD.taxon	discussion	Remarks. A provisional description of the holotype, ZMA Por. 0 5389, was already provided by Hajdu & Rützler (1998: 766) in a discussion of isolated spined sigmas found in material of another Mycale species (M. citrina) from Belize. These authors also mention the presence of an isolated toxa of 34 µm long, but this could not be confirmed from the present investigation of this and other specimens quoted above, so presumably the toxa was foreign. The serrated sigmas in the Belize material were of similar size and shape, which may indicate the presence of M. (P.) vitellina n. sp. in Belize. The present species is the second Central Western Atlantic species of the subgenus Paresperella. On paper, the Brazilian Mycale (Paresperella) spinosigma (Boury-Esnault, 1973 as Paresperella) appears quite similar to our new species, sharing all spicule types. The Brazilian specimen, however, possessed styles neatly larger, without overlap (400 – 627 µm), the anisochelae I and II likewise were larger (37 – 53 µm and 16 – 19 µm), while the spined sigmas were clearly smaller (37 – 68 µm), although a few apparently reach 156 µm (?). Boury-Esnault (l. c.) also records a separate category of oxeas, larger than the styles (600 – 821 µm), which are an unusual spicule type for Mycale. The Brazilian specimen was reported from approx. 100 m depth. Combined, these differences are judged to be of specific level, but both species are considered closely related if Boury-Esnault's (l. c.) description is accurate. Curiously, however, Hajdu & Rützler (1998) failed to find anisochelae in the holotype of M. spinosigma (MNHN D NBE 968), whereas serrated sigmas were quite rare. Combined with their findings of isolated serrated sigmas in Mycale citrina, they arrived at the hypothesis that the serrated sigmas were possible contaminations in a specimen of uncertain affinity. The presence of M. (P.) spinosigma in Brazil waters needs to be confirmed.	en	Van, Rob W. M. (2009): New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa 2107: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187789
