Anchistioides antiguensis ( Schmitt, 1924 )

Anchistioides antiguensis ( Schmitt, 1924) View in CoL

Material examined. 4 males, 11 females (1 ovigerous); MOUFPE 18102 View Materials ; Santa Barbara Island (17°57’28”S 38°42’19”W); 3 Nov. 2013; 9 m; in the sponge Dysidea janiae ; coll. R. M.C. Barbosa and L.M. Fernandes GoogleMaps .

Remarks. Specimens of A. antiguensis were found inhabiting the host’s osculae. Only one specimen was found inside each sponge tube and none was observed on the surface. This species occurs from Bermuda to Espírito Santo, Brazil ( De Grave and Anker, 2017) from the intertidal to 118 m ( Williams, 1984). Previous reports of this species on the coast of Brazil did not provide information about its ecological relationships ( Chace, 1972; Coelho and Ramos, 1972; Cardoso, 2006; Coelho et al., 2006; Soledade et al., 2015). Specimens of A. antiguensis have been observed living inside the sponges Mycale (Arenochalina) laxissima ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) and Niphates erecta ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and it has been considered a facultative sponge associated species ( De Grave and Anker, 2017). However, considering that the specimens of A. antiguensis were found within the host’s osculae and the fact that each tube contained one organism, A. antiguensis and D. janiae may have a true relationship. Anchistioides antiguensis may use the interior of D. janiae as refuge or even site for reproduction, given the presence of individuals of both sexes, as well as one ovigerous female in the examined single host.