
Arinosaster patriciae (Porifera, Demospongiae): new genus and species and the second record of a cave freshwater sponge from Brazil
2021; UNIVERSIDADE DO VALE DO RIO DOS SINOS; Volume: 16; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.3897/neotropical.16.e50156
ISSN2236-3777
AutoresCecília Volkmer‐Ribeiro, Maria da Conceição Tavares-Frigo, Alexandre C. Ribeiro, Maria Elina Bichuette,
Tópico(s)Phytochemistry and Bioactivity Studies
ResumoArinosaster patriciae gen. nov. et sp. nov. is the second continental sponge registered for a subterranean environment (cave habitat) in Brazil and the Neotropical Region. The sponges were recorded and collected in a 5m depth technical dive in a sinkhole of Rio Claro, tributary of Rio Arinos, Tapajós system, Amazon Basin (-13.8170386, -56.6914225) at the locality of Sumidouro do Rio Claro, Municipality of Diamantino, state of Mato Grosso, central western Brazil. The cave is placed in sandstone rocks of the Parecis Group (Upper Cretaceous). “In situ” photographs of colonies, of living specimens, SEM illustrations of dissociated spicules as well as of the skeletal structure, are presented. The occurrence of euaster microscleres of the type spherasters are for the first time reported for continental sponges but, also new, is the occurrence of spongin fibers, composing with fibers of silicious spicules in the skeletal arrangement. The absence of gemmules in the studied material and the fact that new specimens remain undetected call for the proposition of a new monospecific genus to be retained as Incertae Sedis until new and gemmuliferous colonies are found.
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