Callyspongia (Callyspongia) californica Dickinson, 1945

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 : 101-103

Callyspongia (Callyspongia) californica Dickinson, 1945

Figure 2 , Table 2

Examined material. MUHNES-91-8— El Faro (13°31’25.4”N, 89°48’24.3”W), depth 1 m, A. Trejo (18. VI.2018) ; MUHNES-91-22— Salinitas (13°31’44.65”N, 89°48’51.05”W), depth 2 m, A. Trejo (19. VI.2018) ; MUHNES-91- 32— La Naviera (13°30’6.8”N, 89°47’51.4”W), depth 15 m, A. Trejo (17. VII.2018) ; MUHNES-91-34— El Bajón de Zúniga I (13°30’16.15”N, 89°47’7.4”W), depth 8 m, A. Trejo (18. VII.2018) ; MUHNES-91-45— El Bajón de Zúniga II (13°30’2.9”N, 89°47’15.5”W) depth 12 m, A. Trejo (18. VII.2018) ; MUHNES-91-54— El Candado (13°30’40.6”N, 89°47’56.7”W) depth 7 m, A. Trejo (19. VII.2018) .

Description. Thin cushioned or lobed sponge, color in life ranges from lilac-purple, pale orange, light brown, and white ( Figure 2A ). The species has small oscula like volcano-shaped elevations or small tubular projections, the oscula are circular and measure between 1.5 to 4.5 mm. The surface is even and smooth. It has a compressible, elastic and resistant consistency, it quickly returns to its original shape after being compressed. The ectosome consists of a reticulated tangential network of primary and secondary fibers, which create triangular or polygonal networks ( Figure 2B ). The choanosome is made up of a square reticulation of primary fibers ( Figure 2C ). The spicules are small oxeas slightly curved in the center ( Figure 2D ).

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

Distribution and previous records. The species was described by Dickinson in 1945 from the Gulf of California, also, Sim & Bakus (1986) made a report from Santa Catalina Island. Cruz-Barraza & Carballo (2008) have reported the species along the Pacific coast of Mexico, and Jaramillo et al. (2021) reported it from Reserva Marina El Pelado , Ecuador. Here we extend the species distribution and present the first record for El Salvador and the Pacific coast of Central America ( Table 12 ).

Remarks. Our specimens are consistent with the descriptions of Sim & Bakus (1986), and Cruz-Barraza & Carballo (2008), but the spicules of these specimens are slightly shorter (up to 95.6 μm). Callyspongia (Callyspongia) roosevelti van Soest, Kaiser & Van Syoc, 2011 is another species reported from the eastern Pacific, specifically from Clipperton Islands, this species is similar in shape to our specimens but differs in the size of the oxeas (up to 150 x 5 µm).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Callyspongia (Callyspongia) californica. A. Intertidal specimen. B. Ectosome. C. Choanosome. D. Oxeas. Scale bars: A, 5 cm; B, 200 μm; C, 300 μm; D, 25 μm.