Mycale (Zygomycale) ramulosa Carballo & Cruz-Barraza, 2010

Trejo, Alejandra, Carballo, José Luis & Segovia, Johanna, 2025, New records and checklist of sponges from El Salvador (Eastern Tropical Pacific), Zootaxa 5613 (1), pp. 99-125 : 110

Mycale (Zygomycale) ramulosa Carballo & Cruz-Barraza, 2010

Figure 7 , Table 7

Examined material. MUHNES-91-5— Punta de Monte (13°30’2.8”N, 89°48’45.9”W) depth 16 m, A. Trejo (17.VI.2018) ; MUHNES-91-16— La Naviera (13°30’6.8”N, 89°47’51.4”W) depth 14 m, A. Trejo (17.VI.2018) ; MUHNES-91-25— El Bajón de Zúniga I (13°30’16.15”N, 89°47’7.4” W), depth 8 m, A. Trejo (18.VI.2018) .

Description. Massive sponge with 13 cm long x 16 wide coverage, it presents lobes 1–2 cm high and 1.3–1.9 cm in diameter. Color in life is orange-brown or purple-brown ( Figure 7A ). Surface is irregular and smooth, but when observed under the microscope there are notable groups of spicules that protrude from it ( Figure 7B ). The sponge is of compressible and elastic consistency. The skeleton is formed by a tangential reticulate ectosome containing fibers of multiple mycalostyles. The choanosome contains tracts formed by mycalostyles that arise from the base of the sponge and come to exceed the surface assimilating small brushes. Spicules are mycalostyles, isochelae, sigma and anisochelae in two size categories, toxa and raphides ( Figure 7C–I ).

Ecological notes. The species was found covering large rocks and calcareous algae up to 16 m depth.

Distribution and previous records. The species was described by Carballo & Cruz-Barraza in 2010 from the Mexican Pacific coast, and has also been reported from Punta Amapala in El Salvador ( Trejo & Segovia 2024). Here we extend its distribution in the country to Los Cóbanos ( Table 12 ).

Remarks. Our specimens coincide with the original description in skeletal arrangement and spicule composition, above all, on the presence of anisochela in two categories and palmate isochelae ( Carballo & Cruz-Barraza 2010), this last characteristic was determinant for the identification of M. ramulosa above all Mycale species reported for the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Color in life of the specimens was brownish orange and brownish purple, and they were found with massive and incrusting morphologies.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Mycale (Zygomycale) ramulosa. A. Collected specimen at 16 m depth. B. Cross-sectional view of the choanosome. C. Mycalostyles. D. Anisochela of size category I. E. Anisochela of size category II. F. “S” and “C” shape sigma. G. Raphides. H. Toxa. I. Isochela. Scale bars: A, 5 cm; B, 400 μm; C, 50 μm; D, 10 μm; E, 15 μm; F, 20 μm; G, 10 μm; H, 15 μm; I, 5 μm.