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Demospongiae > Haplosclerida > Petrosiidae > Neopetrosia dominicana

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

  • brown

Morphology:

  • branching

Consistency:

  • tough

Locations:

  • Dominican Republic

Species Description and Notes

Description: Transcribed from Pulitzer-Finali (1986): “A small fragment is available. The sponge was subcylindrical, 2.5-3 cm in diameter, Brown, firmly resilient, densely infested by a zoanthid. In the dry state it has the consistency of cork. Oscules are flush, sparse, 2 mm wide. At the surface the skeleton is a not separable reticulation of spicular tracts which form not quite distinct meshes 350 µm wide. Around the perforations made by the zoanthid there is a collar of spicules accumulated in confusion. The choanosomal reticulation of irregular tracts forming meshes of 500-700 µm is obscured by a large number of spicules in disorder. Spicules: strongyles slightly curved, measuring 140-260 x 5-14 µm. No distinct categories are recognizable.”

Notes: This record is here included thanks to having photos of the spicules and skeleton of the type. They were used to make comparisons with three species-morphs included here under the genus Amphimedon?, that share the same type of spicules, but a much looser skeletal arrangement. This species has not been reported after the original description and its status is in need to be defined.

Author Reference: (Pulitzer-Finali, 1986)

 

Link: World Porifera Database

Tissue and Spicule Images

Spicule Images: Images of the type of Neopetrosia dominicana (MSNG 47703) from a slide deposited at ZMA. Strongyle spicules with slightly tapered ends; developmental stages oxeote. Images courtesy of R.W.M.van Soest, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Nederlands.
Tissue Images: Images of the type of Neopetrosia dominicana (MSNG 47703) from a slide deposited at ZMA. a) cross-section perpendicular to the surface showing irregular multispicular tracts; b) tangential view of the surface showing spicules in confusion; c) enlargement of a). Images courtesy of R.W.M.van Soest, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Nederlands.

Images

dominicana