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Redescription and resurrection of Pachymatisma normani (Demospongiae: Geodiidae), with remarks on the genus Pachymatisma

2007; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 87; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0025315407058286

1469-7769

Paco Cárdenas, Joana R. Xavier, Ole Secher Tendal, Christoffer Schänder, Hans Tore Rapp,

Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

An increasing number of cryptic species are being discovered within sponges with assumed wide geographical distribution. Pachymatisma johnstonia (Bowerbank in Johnston, 1842) (Astrophorida: Geodiidae) is one of the most common and known sponges throughout the north-east Atlantic coasts. Pachymatisma normani Sollas, 1888 is a northern species previously synonymized with P. johnstonia by Topsent. It is here redescribed on the basis of fresh material from the type locality, the Korsfjord in the Bergen area (Norway). Spicules are shown to be reliable characters to distinguish the species investigated. Pachymatisma normani is characterized by larger spicules, most markedly in the sterrasters. Our observations also suggest that habitat and gross morphology distinguish P. johnstonia from P. normani . Furthermore, using a partial sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and an ITS1-5.8-ITS2 nuclear fragment, we show that consistent genetic differences exist between the two species. A brief overview of the genus and a key to the known species are also given.