Amorphina grossa (Schmidt, 1864)

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 30

Amorphina grossa f. latissima Czerniavsky, 1880

( Fig. 3A )

Amorphina grossa f. latissima Czerniavsky, 1880: 92, pl. III (VII) fig. 23a.

This forma was described by Czerniavsky from Sinus Jaltensis, Crimea, approximate coordinates 44.48°N 34.17°, depth 1–2 m (no type material in ZIN-RAS). Reniera grossa Schmidt, 1864 , currently Haliclona (Rhizoniera) grossa , is an ill-known Mediterranean species, reported only a few times and is in need of comparison with the more common Mediterranean Haliclona species. The name latissima is based on the size of the specimen observed by Czerniavsky ( 50–75 cm), but no further morphological data are provided (e.g. no spicule sizes). Czerniavsky provided a drawing (with question mark) of part of a spicule with obvious deformation. In view of these uncertainties it is proposed to assign the forma as a junior synonym to the species Haliclona (Rhizoniera) grossa ( Schmidt, 1864) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. Amorphina grossa f. latissima Czerniavsky, 1880: pl. III (VII) fig. 23a, B–E. Callyspongia rigida Desqueyroux- Faúndez, 1984, B. spicules fig. 25, C. habitus fig. 182, D– E. skeleton figs. 183–184, F. Chalinissa elongata var. tenuispicula Thum, 1903: figs. 8–9, G. Gelliodes benedeni var. fortior Topsent, 1917: pl. VI fig. 22, H. Gelliodes carnosa var. laxa Dendy, 1922: pl. 2 fig. 1, I. Gellius carduus and G. carduus var. magellanica Ridley & Dendy, 1886, Ridley & Dendy, 1887: pl. XIII figs. 6–7, J. Gellius glacialis var. nivea Ridley & Dendy, 1886, Ridley & Dendy, 1887: pl. VIII fig. 8, K. Gellius raphidiophorus Brøndsted, 1933: fig. 7, L. Sigmadocia tubuloramosus; Bergquist & Warne, 1980: pl. 9a.