Quindesmia inflata ( Bowerbank, 1866 )

Quindesmia inflata ( Bowerbank, 1866) View in CoL

Material examined: Syntypes: BMNH 10.1.1.2459/2460 Shetland, 1863 (Norman Collection, dried specimen and slide) ( Fig. 11A) .

BMNH 1925.11 . 1.326 North Sea , near Shetland Islands, 330 m, 60°34′ N, 2°04′E (‘Goldseeker’ Collection) GoogleMaps .

BMNH Bk471 from Shetland (collected by Mr Peach, identified as the holotype for Halicnemia inflata ) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: (B M N H 1 0.1.1. 2 4 5 9/ 2 4 6 0) O u t e r morphology: Discoid, free-living sponge, with a fringe of spicules bordering the outer margin, ~ 2 cm in diameter.

Megascleres: Long tylostyles ( Fig. 11B), 2450–2670 µm × 21–29 µm (at neck; N = 3), slightly trilobate head, 40 µm across, occasionally with a second tylote swelling near the base ( Fig. 11C). In addition to the large tylostyles there are also short, bulbous tylostyles ( Fig. 11E), 294– 488– 833 µm × 12– 19– 26 µm (at neck), with a globular shaped head, 25– 33– 40 µm. Frequently, there is a second tylote swelling on the shaft of the short tylostyles ( Fig. 11E).

Accessory oxeas: Centrotylote ( Fig. 11D), usually with one central swelling, although two swellings equidistant of the centre is also common. Occasional oxeas have three swellings, and some have no swellings, only a V-shaped bend in the middle, reminiscent of a hairpin ( Fig. 11E). They measure 1350– 1620– 1930 µm × 6– 10.4– 12 µm.

Microscleres: Centrangulate acanthoxeas ( Fig. 11F), 127– 154– 175 µm × 7– 9– 12 µm.

Remarks: Halicnemia patera BMNH 1996.10.639 off Jenny’s Cove, Lundy, Bristol Channel, 22 m, coll. J. D. George 1985, det. S. M. Stone coll. no. L5639 non patera . This specimen matches Topsent’s description of Halicnemia gallica ( Topsent, 1893) , which was later synonymized with Halicnemia patera by Topsent (1897), but is recognized here as a valid species.