Paraleucilla incomposita Cavalcanti, Menegola & Lanna, 2014, sp. nov.

Paraleucilla incomposita sp. nov. Etymology. From Latin incomposita, meaning “disorganized”. This refers to the wide inner region below the inarticulated skeleton (outer region), where spicules are present without any apparent organization. Diagnosis. Paraleucilla with a single apical osculum ornamented with a fringe of trichoxea. Several giant diactines protrude from its surface. The cortical skeleton is formed by a basal system of tetractines and by a few tangential triactines. Subatrial skeleton is composed of abundant tetractines and a small number of triactines. There are two categories of tetractines that can be easily distinguished from each other by the size of their apical actines. The inner region is wide. The atrial skeleton is composed of tetractines. Type material. Holotype: UFBA POR 4246. [Martim Pescador Reef, Arraial d’Ajuda (16 ° 29 ’S 39 °03’W), Bahia, Brazil; 14 /V/ 2012; depth: 3 meters; collected by Romário Guedes]. Type locality. Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia, Brazil. Description. Tubular sponge (Figure 7 A) measuring 1.3 x 0.4 cm (osculum-basis axis and width, respectively). The surface is strongly hispid due to the presence of several diactines. Frequently, these spicules are broken close to the tip, but some of them have a sharp tip projecting through the sponge surface. The osculum is apical and ornamented with a short fringe of trichoxeas (Figure 7 B). There are several layers of sagittal triactines at the base of the fringe. They are in part covered by the diactines from the sponge surface. The atrial cavity is large and hispid. The aquiferous system is leuconoid. Giant diactines project through the sponge surface. These spicules penetrate the choanosome (Figure 7 C). The cortical skeleton is composed of a basal system of tetractines and a few triactines arranged tangentially to the cortex. The choanoskeleton has trichoxea and is divided into an inarticulated (outer) region and a disorganized (inner) region (Figures 7 D, E). The former is composed mainly by the apical actines of the cortical tetractines and by the unpaired actines of two categories of subatrial tetractines, as well as by a few subatrial triactines. These latter spicule categories are larger than the cortical spicules. The inner (disorganized) region is well developed. It has scattered spicules that are similar to the large subatrial tetractines and triactines mentioned above. The atrial skeleton is composed of small tetractines, which project their apical actines into the atrial cavity (Figure 7 F). Spicules: (Table 3). Cortical triactines (Figure 8 A): The actines range from cylindrical to slightly conical and blunt. The paired actines are commonly curved. Their size is variable. [Paired actines: 150 – 225.3 ± 49.0 – 300 / 22.2 ± 7.3 µm; unpaired actine: 130 – 233.3 ± 52.9 – 340 / 22.2 ± 6.8 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Cortical tetractines (Figure 8 B): Actines are slightly conical and sharp. In general, the basal actines are regular, and the paired actines are slightly curved. The apical actine is straight and variable in size. [Paired actines – 110 – 190.7 ± 46.2 – 340 / 17.5 ± 2.5 µm; unpaired actine – 130 – 217.7 ± 34.8 – 270 / 22.3 ± 3.1 µm; apical actine: 80 – 209.0 ± 56.7 – 320 / 18.5 ± 2.3 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial tetractine I (Figures 4 F-H; 8 C): Actines are slightly conical and blunt. The basal actines are equiangular and equiradiated. The paired actines are straight or slightly curved. The apical actine is thick and shorter than the basal actines. [Paired actines: 210 – 271.7 ± 23.9 – 320 / 28.5 ± 4.6 µm; unpaired actine: 200 – 283.3 ± 36.6 – 370 / 30.0 ± 3.7 µm; apical actine: 140 – 162.5 ± 26.3 – 200 / 25.0 ± 4.1 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial tetractine II (Figure 8 D): Size is variable (see Figure 4 F-H), but all actines are slightly conical and blunt. The basal actines are regular or sagittal, and the unpaired actine is longer than the paired actines. The apical actine is thin and very short; it is sometimes vestigial. [Paired actines: 150 – 223.0 ± 36.2 – 320 / 19.0 ± 3.3 µm; unpaired actine: 170 – 255.3 ± 45.3 – 330 / 21.0 ± 4.4 µm; apical actine: [20 – 36.7 ± 10.3 – 60 / 11.7 ± 2.4 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial triactines (Figure 8 E): Regular. All actines are slightly conical with blunt tips. The paired actines are slightly curved. [Paired actines: 220 – 260.8 ± 19.7 – 290 / 24.2 ± 3.6 µm; unpaired actine: 210 – 281.7 ± 40.9 – 350 / 24.6 ± 4.0 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Atrial tetractine (Figure 8 F): All actines are cylindrical and sharp. The unpaired actine is often shorter than the paired actines, but spicules with a regular basal system can also be found. The apical actine is long and straight or slightly curved. [Paired actines: 130 – 211.7 ± 30.6 – 260 / 10.3 ± 1.3 µm; unpaired actine: 100 – 169.7 ± 28.3 – 220 / 11.2 ± 2.1 µm; apical actine: 40 – 119.0 ± 34.0 – 190 / 10.0 ± 0.0 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Diactines (Figure 8 G): Fusiform and slightly curved. The tips are sharp, but in some spicules the tip that is inserted in the sponge (the proximal tip) is thicker than the other tip (the distal one) and is blunt. [975 – 1431.2 ± 447.5 – 2300 / 34.4 ± 9.4 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Trichoxea: Thin and long. Spicule Actine Length (µm) Width (µm) N Mean SD Mean SD Cortical triactine paired 225.3 49.0 22.2 7.3 30 unpaired 233.3 52.9 22.2 6.8 30 Cortical tetractine paired 190.7 46.2 17.5 2.5 30 unpaired 217.7 34.8 22.3 3.1 30 apical 209.0 56.7 18.5 2.3 30 Subatrial tetractine I paired 271.7 23.9 28.5 4.6 30 unpaired 283.3 36.6 30.0 3.7 30 apical 162.5 26.3 25.0 4.1 0 4 Subatrial tetractine II paired 223.0 36.2 19.0 3.3 30 unpaired 255.3 45.3 21.0 4.4 30 apical 36.7 10.3 11.7 2.4 30 Subatrial triactine paired 260.8 19.7 24.2 3.6 12 unpaired 281.7 40.9 24.6 4.0 12 Atrial tetractine paired 211.7 30.6 10.3 1.3 30 unpaired 169.7 28.3 11.2 2.1 30 apical 119.0 34.0 10.0 0.0 30 Diactine -- 1431.2 447.5 34.4 9.4 12 Ecology. This specimen was found attached to a rodophyte macroalga. Remarks. Paraleucilla incomposita sp. nov., like P. perlucida and P. princeps, has an atrial skeleton composed exclusively of tetractines. Paraleucilla perlucida can be easily differentiated from P. incomposita sp. nov. by its diactines, which are always organized into tufts, whereas in the diactines of P. incomposita sp. nov. are dispersed in the skeleton. In addition, the size of these diactines is also different between species [P. perlucida: 175 – 303.6 ± 127.4 – 562.5 / 11.8 ± 1.2 µm; P. incomposita sp. nov: 975 – 1431.2 ± 447.5 – 2300 / 34.4 ± 9.4 µm]. Paraleucilla princeps and P. incomposita sp. nov. can be distinguished mainly by the compositions of their subatrial skeletons: P. princeps has one category of tetractines, while P. incomposita sp. nov. has two categories of tetractines and one category of triactines (the latter is not abundant; Figures 4 F-G; Figures 8 C-E). In addition, the size of the apical actine on each atrial tetractine is different [P. princeps: 180 – 450 / 8 –12 µm; P. incomposita sp. nov.: 40 – 119.0 ± 34.0 – 190 / 10 ± 0.0 µm]. Of the new species described here, P. incomposita sp. nov. is the only one with abundant giant diactines (that are never organized in tufts) projecting through its surface. Moreover, it is the only species with tangential triactines on its surface, and with an atrial skeleton composed exclusively of tetractines. The choanoskeletal composition (number of spicule categories, and their size and shape; Figure 4; Tables 1-3) also differs between these three new species.Published as part of Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla & Lanna, Emilio, 2014, Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil, pp. 537-554 in Zootaxa 3764 (5) on pages 547-550, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.3, http://zenodo.org/record/22494

Paraleucilla Dendy 1892

Genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 “ Amphoriscidae with leuconoid organization. The thick wall is divided into two regions. The outer region is supported by the skeleton which remains essentially inarticulated, with the apical actines of cortical tetractines pointed inwards, and a layer of triactines and/or tetractines with the unpaired actine pointed outwards. The inner region of the choanoskeleton is intercalated between the original subatrial skeleton and the atrial one, and it is supported by large triactines and/or tetractines, that are scattered in disarray, and whose form is similar to the spicules found in the outer layer of the choanoskeleton, or inside the atrial skeleton. Because the original subatrial layer still remains in the outer part of the choanosome, facing the cortical tetractines, there are no typical subatrial spicules adjacent to the atrial skeleton” (Borojevic et al. 2002).Published as part of Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla & Lanna, Emilio, 2014, Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil, pp. 537-554 in Zootaxa 3764 (5) on page 539, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.3, http://zenodo.org/record/22494

Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil

Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla, Lanna, Emilio (2014): Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 3764 (5): 537-554, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.

Two new species of Halichondrida (Demospongiae) and the first record of Phycopsis and Ciocalapata for Brazil

Lage, Anaíra, Carvalho, Mariana De S., Menegola, Carla (2013): Two new species of Halichondrida (Demospongiae) and the first record of Phycopsis and Ciocalapata for Brazil. Zootaxa 3734 (2): 292-300, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3734.2.1

Gill parasites from Caranx latus (Perciformes, Carangidae) from Northeastern Coast of Brazil and a new host record to the monogenoid Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (Monogenoidea, Protomicrocotylidae) and Caligus chorinemi (Copepoda, Caligidae)

On the Brazilian coast, five species of Caranx are known - C. crysos, C. hippos, C. latus, C. lugubris and C. ruber - all of them of high commercial value. In the Northeastern region, C. hipposand C. latus have been registered, the latter being frequent from the north to the southcoast of Brazil, but available knowledge about their gill parasites is scarce. In Brazil, only two species of Crustacea, Caligus robustus (Caligidae) and Lernanthropus giganteus (Lernanthropidae), and two species of Monogenoidea, Cemocotyle carangis (Pseudomazocraeidae) and Pseuddomazocraesselene (Pseudomazocraeidae), are known to parasitize C. latus. In this study, 12 specimens of C. latus obtained on the coast of Salvador, Bahia, were analyzed for the presence of gill parasites. The gills were removed and the parasites separated for identification. The permanent slides were prepared to monogenoids and crustacean, which were identified as Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (Protomicrocotylidae), and Caligus chorinemi (Caligidae) and Lernanthropus giganteus (Lernanthropidae), respectively. The parasitological indexes of prevalence, mean intensity of infestation and mean abundance were evaluated. This study comprises the first records of P. mirabilis and C. chorinemi parasitizing C. latus on the Brazilian coast.Parasitas brânquiais de Caranx latus (Perciformes, Carangidae) da costa Nordeste do Brasil e um novo relato do monogenóideo Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (Monogenoidea, Protomicrocotylidae) e Caligus chorinemi (Copepoda, Caligidae). Na costa brasileira cinco espécies de Caranx são conhecidas e todas elas possuem valor comercial, e são elas: C. crysos, C. hippos, C. latus, C. lugubris e C. ruber. Na região nordeste, C. hippos e C. latus foram registradas; a última sendo frequente até a costa sul do Brasil, mas o conhecimento disponível sobre seus parasitos de brânquias é escasso. No Brasil, somente duas espécies de Crustacea, Caligus robustus (Caligidae) e Lernanthropus giganteus (Lernanthropidae), e duas espécies de Monogenoidea, Cemocotyle carangis (Pseudomazocraeidae) e Pseuddomazocraes selene (Pseudomazocraeidae) são conhecidas por parasitar C. latus. Neste estudo, 12 espécimes de C. latus obtidos na costa de Salvador, Bahia, foram analisadas para a presença de parasitas de brânquias. As brânquias foram removidas e os parasitas separados para identificação. Lâminas permanentes foram preparadas para monogenéticos e crustáceos, os quais foram identificados como Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (Protomicrocotylidae), e Caligus chorinemi (Caligidae) e L. giganteus, respectivamente. Os índices parasitológicos de prevalência, intensidade media de infestação e abundância media foram avaliados. Este estudo compreende o primeiro registro de P. mirabilis e C. chorinemi parasitando C. latus da costa brasileira

Homoplasy and extinction : the phylogeny of cassidulid echinoids (Echinodermata)

Inclusion of fossils can be crucial to address evolutionary questions, because their unique morphology, often drastically modified in recent species, can improve phylogenetic resolution. We performed a cladistic analysis of 45 cassidulids with 98 characters, which resulted in 24 most parsimonious trees. The strict consensus recovers three major cassiduloid clades, and the monophyly of the family Cassidulidae is not supported. Ancillary analyses to determine the sensitivity of the phylogeny to missing data do not result in significantly different topologies. The taxonomic implications of these results, including the description of a new cassiduloid family and the evolution of some morphological features, are discussed. Cassiduloids (as defined here) most probably originated in the Early Cretaceous, and their evolutionary history has been dominated by high levels of homoplasy and a dearth of unique, novel traits. Despite their high diversity during the Palaeogene, there are only seven extant cassiduloid species, and three of these are relicts of lineages dating back to the Eocene. Future studies of the biology of these poorly known species, some of which brood their young, will yield further insights into the evolutionary history of this group

FIGURES 42–47. 42–45. Celleporaria carvalhoi, UFBA 1610. 42 in Diversity of marine bryozoans inhabiting demosponges in northeastern Brazil

FIGURES 42–47. 42–45. Celleporaria carvalhoi, UFBA 1610. 42, Group of autozooids with suboral umbos and frontal avicularia; 43, Autozooid showing D-shaped primary orifice and frontal avicularia with lanceolate rostrum; 44, Autozooids showing primary orifices and oral spines; 45, Autozooids and large interzooidal avicularia. 46–47. Metrarabdotos jani, UFBA 1606. 46, Overview of encrusting colony; 47, Autozooids showing pseudosinus, latero-oral avicularia, and a gonozooid (left). Scale bars: 42, 46–47 = 500 µm; 43 = 100 µm; 44 = 200 µm; 45 = 250 µm