Lissodendoryx ( Waldoschmittia ) almeidai, Barros & Cavalcanti & Hajdu & Pinheiro, 2023

Lissodendoryx ( Waldoschmittia) almeidai View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 , Table 2 View TABLE 2 )

Holotype: UFPEPOR 2724, off Boa Viagem Beach ( 8° 8 ‘47.6” S, 34° 34’ 11” W, Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), 56 m depth, dredging, coll. Laboratório de Biologia de Crustáceos – UFPE ( Feb/07/2018). GoogleMaps

Description: External morphology ( Fig 5A View FIGURE 5 ): Encrusting specimen. Reasonably detachable rough surface, covered with debris. Rigid consistency. Oscules not observed. Presence of small fistules 0.2–1.0 cm length ( Fig 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Dark brown color when preserved (80% ethanol), unknown color in life.

Skeleton ( Fig 5D View FIGURE 5 ): Ectosomal skeleton formed by brushes of tylotes ( Fig 5E View FIGURE 5 ) inserted in distinct subdermal spaces. Tylotes are also found in the choanossomal and subectosomal region traversing the surface. Choanosomal skeleton forming a pauci to unispicular isotropic reticulation of smooth oxeas and tylotes ( Fig 5F View FIGURE 5 ).Abundant spongin and debris present in the choanosome. Microscleres are found spread throughout the ectosome and choanosome.

Spicules ( Fig 5G–K View FIGURE 5 ). Oxeas (161– 186.4 –206/ 3.2 µm): thin, smooth, slightly curved, needle-like tips ( Fig 5G View FIGURE 5 ). Tylotes (203– 244.6 –264/ 3.2 µm): thin, smooth, straight, rounded tyles ( Fig 5H View FIGURE 5 ). Arcuate isochelae (23– 24.0 –26 µm): slightly curved axis, short and curved alae ( Fig 5K View FIGURE 5 ).

Ecology: The specimen was collected by dredging off Boa Viagem Beach ( Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil), at 56 m depth, on sandy bottom .

Etymology: The chosen specific name honors Professor Alexandre Oliveira de Almeida, from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, who collected and provided the specimen.

Geographic distribution: Known only for the type locality: off Boa Viagem Beach , Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil (present study) .

References: 1. Núñez Pons et al. (2017); 2. Sarà & Siribelli (1960); 3. Van Soest (2002); 4. Present study.

Remarks: The specimen was identified as belonging to the subgenus L. ( Waldoschmittia) because it contains oxeas as choanosomal megascleres. Lissodendoryx ( W.) almeidai sp. nov. differs from the other species of the subgenus by its spicular set and spicular dimensions. Lissodendoryx ( W.) hawaiiana has sigmas as microscleres and larger oxeas than those of the new species; L. ( W.) schmidti has sigmas and two categories of arcuate isochelae; finally, L. ( W.) mediterranea, the species approaching the new species the most, is distinguished by having acanthoxeas as choanosomal megascleres. This is the first record of the subgenus L. ( Waldoschmittia) from the Atlantic Ocean ( Table 2 View TABLE 2 ).