Hyalascus andamanensis Sautya, Tabachnick & Ingole, 2010, sp. nov.

<i>Hyalascus andamanensis</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figures 1–2)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Volcanic seamount, Andaman Back Arc Basin, Andaman Sea: R.V. ‘ <i>SONNE</i> ', stn. TVG- 9, 25.XI.2007, 7 o56.036’ N 94o03.026’ E, 705 m.</p> <p>Holotype. NIO / BOD /3/2010, stored in alcohol. IORAS i1, slide.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The species name is derived from its place of collection.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Body: The sponge has a white cylindrical body, about 13 mm long and 6 mm in diameter; the osculum is 4 × 3 mm in diameter, the walls are very thin 0.5– 1 mm. Prostalia lateralia are hypodermal pentactins which protrude at about 300 µm above the dermal surface (Fig. 1).</p> <p>Spicules (Fig. 2): The choanosomal skeleton is composed of diactins 700–3800 µm in length and 4–15 µm in diameter; they have rounded, rough outer ends and stout, smooth shafts. Hypodermal pentactins have orthotropal tangential rays about 800–1700 µm in length and 8–24 µm in diameter, the proximal ray is more than 1400 µm in length. Some of the tangential rays are smooth, the others have rough surface; the outer ends are conically pointed. Dermalia are stauractins, rarely tauactins and pentactins, sometimes they have 1–2 rudimental tubercles instead of the reduced rays. The rays of dermal stauractins are rough with rounded or conically pointed outer ends, have 59–111 µm in length (n=25, avg=93, std=12) with a diameter of about 5 µm. Atrialia are hexactins, their rays directed inside the atrial cavity are 67–215 µm in length (n=23, avg=161, std=36), tangential rays are 74–200 µm in length (n=24, avg=146, std=30), ray directed inside the body is 41– 207 µm in length (n=22, avg=138, std=36). The rays are 5–7 µm in diameter, their surface is rough and outer ends are rounded or conically pointed.</p> <p>Microscleres are oxyhexactins together with some oxyhemihexasters and oxyhexasters, and microdiscohexasters. Oxyhexactins are 67–141 µm in diameter (n=25, avg=103, std=3). Oxyhemihexasters and oxyhexasters are 74–141 µm in diameter (n=10, avg=98, std=20) with primary rosette 7–10 µm in diameter (in the latter). Microdiscohexasters are spherical, 18–25 µm in diameter (n=7, avg=22, std=3) with primary rosette 4–7 µm in diameter (n=7, avg=6, std=1).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Most species of <i>Hyalascus</i> have dermal spicules predominately in the form of pentactins: <i>H. baculifer, H. giganteus, H. similis</i> and <i>H. stellatus</i>. In one species, they are mostly hexactins: <i>H. sagamiensis</i>. Four species, including the new one, have mostly stauractins: <i>H. andamanensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>H. anisoactinus, H. attenuatus</i> and <i>H. pinulohexactinus</i>. The new species differs by the smallest size of microdiscohexasters, 18– 25 µm in diameter, while in all other species, these spicules are larger (25–72 µm in <i>H. anisoactinus</i>; 25–65 µm in <i>H. pinulohexactinus</i>) and even notably larger in some species (about 117 µm in <i>H. baculifer</i> and about 63 µm in <i>H. stellatus</i>).</p>Published as part of <i>Sautya, Sabyasachi, Tabachnick, Konstantin R. & Ingole, Baban, 2010, First record of Hyalascus (Hexactinellida: Rossellidae) from the Indian Ocean, with description of a new species from a volcanic seamount in the Andaman Sea, pp. 64-68 in Zootaxa 2667</i> on pages 65-67, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/276395">10.5281/zenodo.276395</a&gt

Farrea occa subsp. mammillata Ijima 1927

Farrea occa mammillata Ijima, 1927 (Tab. 15) Material. WAM Z 258 — RV Soela, sta. SO 1/84/82, NNW of Cape Leveque, 13 o 7.20'S 123 o 15.70'E, depth 400 m. WAM (p4135)— RV Soela, sta.?, NNW Cape Leveque, 13°7'S 123 o 15'E, depth 400 m. Description. Body: Fragments of dichotomously branching tubes about 22 mm in diameter; the specimens WAM Z 258 are two fragments 70x50x 60 mm and 50x30x 40 mm; the other specimen is a small lamella­like fragment. The thickness of the wall is about 1.5–3 mm. Spicules: There are no significant differences of spicule forms compared to the primary description by Ijima (1927). The differences in the spicule dimensions seen in Tab.15 are not significant and require no special discussion. Euretidae Zittel, 1877 Genus: Eurete Semper, 1868Published as part of Tabachnick, Konstantin R. & Menschenina, Dorte Janussen And Larisa L., 2008, New Australian Hexactinellida (Porifera) with a revision of Euplectella aspergillum *, pp. 7-68 in Zootaxa 1866 (1) on pages 38-39, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1866.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/513330

Farrea occa subsp. ouwensi Ijima 1927

Farrea occa ouwensi Ijima, 1927 (Fig. 15, 16; Tab. 14) Material. Types: ZMA POR; POR 5101 – RV Siboga, sta 119. ZMA POR (two specimens) – RV Siboga, sta 122. ZMA POR; POR 3427 – RV Siboga, sta 124. ZMA POR– RV Siboga, sta 226. ZMA POR 5098 – RV Siboga, sta 252. New specimens: MNHN (fr875) (two specimens)— Cidaris I, RV Franklin, sta. 15­ 3, 17 o 45.49' S 148 o 37.52' E, depth 945 m. Description. Body: Both new specimens are small and tubular (probably juveniles). The bigger one is a 26 mm long tube, 3.5 mm in diameter in the lower part and 5 mm in diameter in the upper part, with basidictyonal remnants about 5 mm in diameter. The small specimen is 15 mm long, 2.5 mm in diameter in the lower part and 5 mm in diameter in the upper part. Framework: Dictyonal skeleton; typical farreoid skeleton, which consists 2–3 dictional layers. Skeletal beams are smooth or rarely rough 0.04–0.1 mm in diameter, distances between the spicules' centers are 0.2– 0.5 mm, the free meshes are rectangular or rarely triangular, 0.1–0.4 mm. The free rays, which protrude inside and outside the body wall, are short, 0.08–0.1/ 0.02 mm, usually rough with rounded outer ends. Some small hexactins are fixed to the dictyonal skeleton by one of their rays; these hexactins have rays of 0.01–0.03/ 0.002 –0.003 mm. In one of the type specimens, ZMA POR 5098, the beams are spined. Loose spicules: The variability of the loose spicules may be observed in Tab 14. It is worth noting that pentactins with spines outwardly directed seems to predominate among dermal pentactins, while the pentactins with rough rays are usually atrial spicules. The form of the heads of pileate clavules varies in the speciemens of the type series. Microscleres: The microscleres are discohexasters, oxyhexasters and rarely onychohexasters and their hemihexasterouse forms. Ijima (1927) described two the latter types as tylohexasters. Oxyhexasters were not found in one type species from sta. 122. Remarks. The subspecies looks to be very polymorphic even in the type series. The original description of Ijima (1927) is not satisfactory and we supplement it here by new data given above, the spicule measures are defined more precisely in Tab. 14. The new material perfectly goes within the type series variation.Published as part of Tabachnick, Konstantin R. & Menschenina, Dorte Janussen And Larisa L., 2008, New Australian Hexactinellida (Porifera) with a revision of Euplectella aspergillum *, pp. 7-68 in Zootaxa 1866 (1) on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1866.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/513330

Glass Sponges off the Newfoundland (Northwest Atlantic): Description of a New Species of Dictyaulus (Porifera: Hexactinellida: Euplectellidae)

Three species of hexactinellid sponges: Aphrocallistes beatrix beatrix Gray, Asconema foliata (Fristedt), and Dictyaulus romani sp. n. were collected off the Flemish Cap in the Flemish Pass and from the Grand Banks off the Newfoundland (northwest Atlantic) during different surveys on board of Spanish RV Vizconde de Eza and RV Miguel Oliver

Aspidoscopulia Reiswig 2002

Genus Aspidoscopulia Reiswig, 2002 Type species. Claviscopulia furcillata Lévi, 1990: 278 (by monotypy). Synonymy. Chonelasma sp., Tabachnick, 1988: 63. Part of Chonelasma sp. Tabachnick, 1989: 50, 1991: 380. Part of Farrea sp. Tabachnick, 1988: 60, Pl. 6, Fig. 2. Claviscopulia Levi, 1990: 278. Diagnosis. Sponge body composed of branching tube which has anisotomous – dichopodial-monopodial constrictions. The main stem branches regularly in alternate position at these constrictions, so that 2 or 4 -rayed symmetry is observed in the transverse section, as well as metamery along the main stem. Besides lateral branches in anisotomous sponges, lamellate ear-like processes may develop by the process of side-by-side wall fusion between two neighboring secondary lateral oscula. The ear-like, lamellate processes in the upper part of the body are anastomous, forming more or less regular constructions. Framework of farreoid and euretoid type, sometimes with epirhyses, the primary skeleton underlies not only the atrial cavity, but it is also present in the inner layer of the earlike processes. Dermalia and atrialia are pentactines. Clavules and uncinates always present, as well as aspidoscopules, located in primary skeleton connected with atrial cavity. Aspidoscopules have discoidal head and spines that protrude from a single marginal whorl of the head. Microscleres usually hexasterous with oxyoidal, discoidal and onychoidal outer ends. Remarks. The original diagnosis of Reiswig (2002) has been modified here due to finding of a new species with peculiar morphology.Published as part of Tabachnick, Konstantin R., Menshenina, Larisa L., Pisera, Andrzej & Ehrlich, Hermann, 2011, Revision of Aspidoscopulia Reiswig, 2002 (Porifera: Hexactinellida: Farreidae) with description of two new species, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 2883 on page 3, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20366

Aspidoscopulia tetrasymmetrica Tabachnick, Menshenina, Pisera & Ehrlich, 2011, sp. n.

<i>Aspidoscopulia tetrasymmetrica</i> sp. n. <p>(Figures 1–4; Tables 1, 3)</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> ZINRAS 11133 (Figs. 2–4), Philippines Sea, Komahasi underwater mount <b>(Fig. 1)</b>: R.V. ‘Academic Oparin’ - 13, stn. 56, 23.04.1991, 28°4.8’ N 134°38.97’ E, 705 m.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes.</b> IORAS 5/2/sp403; sp405; sp488, same data as the holotype.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The species is named after its 4-rayed symmetry found in lateral branches arising from the main stem.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Aspidoscopulia</i> with four rayed symmetry when seen from the top, with large anchorate clavules and microscleres of oxyoidal type.</p> <p> <b>Description</b>. Morphology: The holotype is represented by a plexiform unit 200 mm in length and 90 mm in diameter composed of branching-anastomosing tubes 10–16 mm in diameter (Fig. 2 A). It has an anisotomous type of branching, its lateral branches have the same diameter as the main one and undergo further dichotomous branching and anastomosing. Obvious 4-rayed symmetry is observed from the apex of the main stem (Fig. 2 C). The mode of branching is always associated with the formation of carina. Some lateral oscula are overgrown by a secondary framework (Fig. 2 D). The lateral branches arise at right angles to the central axis, each branch is situated in alternate order, the angle observed in the transverse section with the neighboring lateral branches is regular - about 60° or 120°. So, if the first and second branches form an angle of 60°, the second and third ones will form one with 120°, the third and the forth with 60° again, and so on, in such a way that four alternate rows of lateral branches are observed on the main stem. Hence the sponge displays 4-rayed symmetry observed when seen from above. The central tube has the same diameter as most lateral branches but it has thicker walls (about 4 mm) at base, while in the upper parts walls have the same thickness as lateral branches (about 1 mm). The lateral branches are only rarely covered by a secondary dictyonal skeleton, similar to that of the wall. Usually the lateral branches anastomose to their neighbors forming intercavaedia. Dictyonal framework: The skeleton contains mostly the primary type or farreoid framework (with rectangular, sometimes square meshes; Fig 2 E). The secondary skeleton is represented in some upper parts of the branches on the outer (dermal) side and is well developed at base of the main stem on both dermal and atrial sides of the wall (Fig. 2 F, Fig. 3 A, B), and in the overgrown oscular constructions. Most tubes have walls consisting of 3 layers of primary skeleton with smooth beams 30–60 μm in diameter which form meshes about 80x 80 μm or 80x 300 μm. The free rays are rough and about 300 μm long. The secondary skeleton in the upper parts of the body consists of beams 30–80 μm in diameter, usually with triangular meshes about 200 μm in diameter. The secondary skeleton at base has remarkable secondary silica deposition so that the primary skeleton is not visible (Fig. 3 E–G). The beams are 60–80 μm in diameter, the lumen about 80 μm in diameter. Small hexactines (Fig. 3 D) are always connected by fusion with dictyonal skeleton and with each other and have smooth rays 30–70/2–7 μm in dimensions.</p> <p>Free spicules: Dermalia and atrialia are pentactines (Fig. 4 A, B) with unpaired ray directed inside the body and with tangential rays slightly bent inside the body in their distal parts. Dermal pentactines are usually slightly larger than atrial ones, with less rough rays and with less clavate outer ends. The tangential rays of dermal pentactines are 122–296 μm long, the unpaired rays are 141–296 μm long, with diameter 5–18 μm. The tangential rays of atrial pentactines are 59–248 μm long, the unpaired rays are 44–289 μm long with diameter 3–18 μm. Clavules are of two types with discoidal-clavate (Fig. 3 J, Fig. 4 C, D, H, I) and anchorate heads (rarely with 5, usually with 8–9 teeth) (Fig. 3 K, L, Fig. 4 I–G), the latter often have several long, curved spines situated close to the head. Their shafts are slightly rough, the end directed inside the body is rough-spiny, usually lanceolate in shape. The discoidal (pileate) clavules are 222–337 μm long, their heads are 7–19 μm long and 19–35 μm in diameter, the diameter of the shaft is about 2 μm in the middle. The anchorate clavules are 244–629 μm long, their heads are 15–44 μm long and 35–78 μm in diameter, the diameter of the shaft is about 3 μm in the middle. The aspidoscopules (Fig. 3 M–N, Fig. 4 J– O) have 8- usually10–14 terminal spines with conically pointed outer ends and short-spiny surface. Their shafts are similar in shape to those of the anchorate clavules. The aspidoscopules are 178–344 μm long, with 33–59 μm long heads and the tuft 37–70 μm in diameter. The shaft diameter is about 3 μm in the middle. There are also abnormal forms of anchorate scopules (Fig. 3 N, Fig. 4 G) and aspidoscopules (Fig. 4 N– O) with some teeth bent distally in the former and spines bent proximally in the latter. Anchorate clavules are located mostly in the dermal layer while aspidoscopules in the atrial one, discoidal clavules are found in both layers. Uncinates (Fig. 4 Q) are 700–3 000/7–30 μm.</p> <p>ZINRAS 11133 (Holotype) IORAS 5/2/sp403</p> <p>n avg min max std n avg min max std Microscleres: Oxyhexasters with 2-usually-4-rarely up to 7 secondary rays are 61–108 μm in diameter with primary rosette 25–65 μm in diameter (Fig. 3 H–I, Fig. 4 R). Rarely it is possible to find their derivatives: oxystauractines, hemioxyhexasters and spicules with some outer ends of onychoidal-discoidal types (Fig. 4 S–V).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> The paratypes of <i>Aspidoscopulia tetrasymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b> are small plexiform units that may be fragments of the holotype. The newly described species has extremely large rather specific anchorate clavules and microscleres of only oxyoidal types. These two characters allow to distinguish it from <i>A. furcillata</i> (Lévi, 1990), the only species known in the genus so far.</p>Published as part of <i>Tabachnick, Konstantin R., Menshenina, Larisa L., Pisera, Andrzej & Ehrlich, Hermann, 2011, Revision of Aspidoscopulia Reiswig, 2002 (Porifera: Hexactinellida: Farreidae) with description of two new species, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 2883</i> on pages 3-7, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/203661">10.5281/zenodo.203661</a&gt

Aspidoscopulia

<i>Aspidoscopulia</i> sp. <p>(Figures 1, 12 and 13)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Marcus-Necker Mountain chain (Fig. 1): R.V. ‘Vitjaz’ 48, stn. 6359.2, 19°02.8’N, 171°08.9’ W, 1270–1320 m: IORAS 5/2/3136. Stn. 6364, 21°10.0’ N, 163°13.2’ E, 2310–3085 m: IORAS 5/2/3137- IORAS 5/2/3159. Stn. 6366, 22°39.5’ N, 160°52.2’ E, 1900 m: IORAS 5/2/3199. Parese-Vela Basin (Fig. 1): R.V. ‘Academic Mstyslav Keldysh’ 9, stn. 1032, 20°14.3’–13.65’ N 139°51.0’– 50.7 E, 5139– 5132 m: IORAS 5/2/180. Magellan underwater Mountains (Ita-Maitai Guyot) (Fig. 1): R.V. ‘Academic Mstyslav Keldysh’ 9, stn. 1037, 12°51.7’– 51.2’ N, 157°01.8’– 01.6 E, 1620–2000 m: IORAS 5/2/107, IORAS 5/2/110, IORAS 5/2/111. Stn. 1042, 12°54.2’– 55.1’ N, 156°45.4’– 40.5 E, 1635–1728 m: IORAS 5/2/169. Stn. 1043, 12°54.39’ N, 156°42.48’ E, 1959 m: IORAS 5/2/172. Stn. 1044, 12°56.95’ – 55.5 N 156°46.05’–45.88’ E, 1600–1815 m: IORAS 5/2/160, IORAS 5/2/163, IORAS 5/2/194. Stn. 1047, 12°54.25’–54.2’ N, 156°49.1’– 47.9 E, 1450–1490 m: IORAS 5/2/119, IORAS 5/2/ 121,1. Stn. 1053, 12°58.25’–57.75’ N, 156°37.6’– 36.4 E, 4150– 4000 m: IORAS 5/2/173. Magellan underwater Mountains (IOAN Guyot) (Fig. 1): R.V. ‘Academic Mstyslav Keldysh’ 9, stn. 1058, 14°13.0’ N, 155°57.5’– 58.8 E, 1530–2000 m: IORAS 5/2/113. Stn. 1059, 14°12.7’–12.85’ N, 155°58.15’–58.50’ E, 1485–2000 m: IORAS 5/2/0, IORAS 5/2/162. Stn. 1063, 14°10.2’ N 155°59.2’– 156°00.2’ E, 1410–2000 m: IORAS 5/2/134. Stn. 1065, 14°09.05’–08.5’ N, 155°54.4’–53.0’ E, 380–4270 m: 5/2/176, IORAS 5/2/178, 5/2/196. Stn. 1070, 14°08.94’– 09.7’ N, 156°31.95’–32.3’ E, 1500–1900 m: IORAS 5/2/116.1. Mussau Mauntain chain (Fig. 1): R.V. ‘Academic Mstyslav Keldysh’ 9, stn. 1074, 2°12.3’ N, 149°03.0’–03.44’ E, 1520–1930 m: IORAS 5/2/186, 5/2/189, 5/2/191, 5/2/202.1.</p> <p> <i>A. furcillata</i> (Levi, 1990) <i>A. tetrasymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b> <i>A. bisymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b></p> <p> <b>Description</b>. Body: The size of some of these specimens is very large. As reconstructed from photos and collected fragments, the largest sponges may reach about 2 m in height and 1.5 x 0.5 m in the transverse section of the upper part. Other specimens are smaller – about 1.5 m high. The smallest specimen (Fig. 13 D) that is assigned with some hesitations to this genus is about 50–80 cm high. The measurements are obtained by indirect method after the comparison of collected and photographed specimens. All the collected specimens are remnants of large specimens, with construction type conforming mostly to that of the above described species, <i>A. bisymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b> The construction of the upper parts of the specimens is more regular than that observed on the photo of <i>A.</i> aff. <i>bisymmetrica</i> (Fig. 11). The specimens (Fig. 12, Fig. 13) are considerably larger: the main stem of the lower part of the body is about 80 x 90 mm in section; the atrial cavity (about 10 mm in diameter in section) is overgrown by secondary framework, some lateral oscula are retained as cavities or depressions; the ear-like processes are regular, not fused with each other, 6–10 mm thick. The upper parts carry enlarged, meandering ear-like processes 4–6 mm thick, which fuse with their neighbors. The main stem is 30–40 mm in diameter, and the atrial cavity is 6–12 mm in diameter in section. The ear-like processes have numerous epirhyses (0.5–1 mm in diameter, 1–3 mm deep) on both sides, which penetrate the secondary framework and partly the primary one (when the meshes are large); the secondary framework of the main stem has no channelization, as well as atrial surfaces lined by the primary frameworks.</p> <p>Dictyonal framework: The primary framework in the ear-like processes is represented by 6–8 (inner) layers; the number of layers of primary framework which underlies the atrial cavity is unknown in these large specimens because of the intensive growth of the secondary framework taking place inside the primary one, and atrial spaces are nearly entirely overgrown by the secondary framework. One may only suspect that the primary framework, which underlies atrial cavities, consists of 3–4 layers.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> It is likely that the discussed specimens belong also to <i>Aspidoscopulia bisymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, or to a close species, but absence of loose spicules in the collected material (all these sponges are dead fragments containing rigid dictyonal framework only) and considerable remoteness from the type location does not allow this problem to be solved now. The specimens make relatively sparse populations in the Magellan Mountains, likely inhabiting the investigated area for a very long time. The branching pattern observed on specimens from these locations resembles <i>A. bisymmetrica</i> <b>sp. n.</b> The observed differences are in size, in further developing of ear-like processes that become massive lobe-like, owergrowth of the atrial cavity and lateral oscula and finally in the absence of epirhyses on the main stem. This may be a result of extreme enlargement of the main stem. Thus, only the finding of smaller specimens with loose spicules in the same area may definitely settle the question of species identity.</p> <p>The finding of the specimens in the living position was not very common, while some areas (it seems that ledges and their feet) accumulate great amounts of dead fragments of basal parts of these sponges covered by the iron-manganese crust. The analysis of numerous photos taken in this area with the ‘Pisces’ submersibles during the R.V. ‘Academic Mstyslav Keldysh’ 9 th expedition showed that young specimens of this sponge are very rare. The most reasonable explanation of this observation is that some factors working for a long time do not allow development of new, young specimens. Most probably the observed specimens are relicts of the distant past when different conditions promoted growth of these sponges. Another possibility is that the growth of these sponges is very slow and large accumulation of dead fragments represent very long time span under conditions of a very slow sedimentation rate.</p>Published as part of <i>Tabachnick, Konstantin R., Menshenina, Larisa L., Pisera, Andrzej & Ehrlich, Hermann, 2011, Revision of Aspidoscopulia Reiswig, 2002 (Porifera: Hexactinellida: Farreidae) with description of two new species, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 2883</i> on pages 16-20, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/203661">10.5281/zenodo.203661</a&gt

Aspidoscopulia bisymmetrica Tabachnick, Menshenina, Pisera & Ehrlich, 2011, sp. n.

Aspidoscopulia bisymmetrica sp. n. (Figures 1, 5– 10; Tables 2–3) Holotype. MNHN fr 546 (Fig. 5 C), Off Loyalty Islands (Fig. 1): Biogeocal, R.V. ‘Coriolis’, stn. DW 290, 20° 36.91 ’ S, 167 ° 3.34 ’ E, 920 – 760 m. Paratypes. MNHN fr 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 543, same to the holotype location. Off Loyalty Islands: Biogeocal, R.V. ‘Coriolis’, stn. CP 297, 20° 38.64 ’ S 167 ° 10.77 ’ E, 1230–1240 m: MNHN fr 494. Musorstom 6, R.V. ‘Alis’, stn. CP 466, 21° 5.25 ’ S, 167 ° 32.2 ’ E, 540 m: MNHN p 1219. Stn. DW 488, 20° 49.2 ’ S 167 ° 6.44 ’ E, 800 m: MNHN p 3701. Off New Caledonia (Fig. 1): Biocal, R.V. ‘Jean Charcot’, stn. DW 80, 20° 31.69 ’– 31.86 ’ S, 166 ° 48.35 ’– 48.59 ’ E, 900–980 m: MNHN p 61. Halipro - 2, R.V. ‘Zoneco’, stn. BT 0 52, 25° 21.45 ’ S, 168 ° 16.94 ’ E, 810–1172 m: MNHN p 5019. Stn. BT 0 63, 24° 39.72 ’ S 168 ° 41.82 ’ E, 782–1100 m: MNHN p 5020. Musorstom 4, R.V. ‘Vauban’, stn. CP 199, 18° 50 ’ S, 163 ° 14.5 ’ E, 600 m: MNHN p 3744. Volsmar, R.V. ‘Alice’, stn. DW 4, 22° 24.7 ’– 22.4 ’ S, 171 ° 49 ’– 49.1 ’ E, 825–850 m: MNHN p 3732, p 3733, p 3734, p 3735. Off Wallis and Futuna Islands (Fig. 1): Musorstom 7, stn. CP 551, 12° 15.3 ’ S, 177 ° 28.1 ’ W, 791–795 m: MNHN p 3674. Stn. CP 592, 12° 32.4 ’ S, 174 ° 22 ’ W, 775 – 730 m: MNHN p 1142. Stn. DW 637, 13° 37 ’ S, 179 ° 56 ’ W, 820–830 m: MNHN p 6123. Norfolk Ridge (Fig. 1): Norfolk II, stn. 2053, 23.661 ° S, 168.260 ° E, 67–708 m: ZPAL Pf. 22 /wa 75. Stn. 2054, 23.660 ° S 168.253 ° E, 736–800 m: ZPAL Pf. 22 /wa 115, wa 117. Stn. 2055, 23.654 ° S 168.274 ° E, 900–950 m: ZPAL Pf. 22 /wa 70, wa 71, wa 72, wa 73. Stn. 2065, 25.261 ° S 168.927 ° E, 750–800 m: ZPAL Pf. 22 /wa 86. Etymology. The name refers to the bilateral symmetry of lateral branches, which arise from the main stem of the sponge body. Diagnosis. Aspidoscopulia with two rayed symmetry as seen from the top; clavules mostly with discoidal-clavate (pileate), and some small with anchorate heads; microscleres with oxyoidal, discoidal and onychoidal outer ends. Description. Body: Sponges are mostly represented by the main zigzag-shaped stem with lateral branches (Fig. 5). The lateral branches are situated along the main stem and consist of very short unbranched tubes or, rarely, dichotomously branching into two short secondary branches. The neighboring tubes or openings of lateral oscula and other derived constructions are oriented at right angle to the main stem. The lateral structures (branches, lateral oscula and derived constructions) are situated in regular, alternate position on the main stem in two opposite rows. In result, a 2 -rayed symmetry is observed in these sponges. Common structures are ridges (usually two parallel, sometimes one) along the main stem connecting the bases of lateral branches (Fig. 5 B). These ridges are variously developed, from low and hardly distinguishable to relatively high with occasional apertures. The ear-like processes (Fig. 5 F) are developed by side-by-side wall fusion and further growing up and enlargement of the space between two secondary lateral oscula (Fig. 6 e-lp, Fig. 7 C). Sometimes, usually in the lower part of the body, the same branching process leads to common formation of the carina (line of fusion of the walls of lateral branches) and equal dichotomous division of the lateral tube (Fig. 5 A, Fig. 6 lo, dblb, Fig. 7 B). This results in the appearance of two secondary lateral branches (equal to each other and to their stem) with two secondary lateral oscula. The secondary lateral oscula which accompany the ear-like processes are smaller in diameter than their homologues in dichotomous-isotomous branching (here and bellow we use terminology of plants branching); besides they are often completely overgrown with secondary skeletal framework (Fig. 6 slo). The ear-like processes are always becoming spoon-like with uniform orientation; usually they fuse with their further neighbors in the upper part of the sponge, as may be observed in some fragments (Fig. 5 E), they somehow make irregular structures of curved and anastomosing lamellae. In the terms of branching, this species in whole is anisotomous (in small specimens) with tendency to dichopodial-monopodial branching (in large specimens). Unfortunately no complete specimen was ever found in the collections. The living specimens may be sometimes covered by dense aggregations of hydrozoan and zoantharian epibionts. The holotype (Fig. 5 C) is a fragment of the main stem 75 mm in length consisting of a main tube 8–12 mm in diameter with walls 1–2 mm thick. Primary lateral oscula are 8–14 mm in diameter, the ridges between them are low, up to 3 mm high and 1 mm in thickness. One large, flat, ear-like process vertically oriented, protrudes at about 12 mm and is about 2 mm thick. It has two small secondary lateral oscula about 3 mm in diameter, situated at base and on the upper part of the ear-like processes. The paratypes are different fragments in which the stem tube and its outgrowths are 8–17 mm in diameter, sometimes with some ear-like processes up to 40 mm in diameter. Dictyonal framework: Dictyonal skeleton of euretoid type. Most tubes have inner walls of 3 layers of primary skeleton constructed of smooth beams 40–110 μm in diameter and rectangular meshes about 200 x 500 μm in size, with free rays that are rough and about 0.5 mm long. The primary skeleton (Fig. 8 A, B) underlies not only the atrial cavity but also it is present as several (4–6) inner layers of the ear-like processes (the secondary skeleton in the earlike processes has 2–3 layers on both sides). The secondary skeleton (Fig. 8 C) in the upper parts of the body is constructed by beams 20–80 μm in diameter with usually triangular meshes 50–200 μm in diameter. The small hexactines connected by fusion with dictyonal skeleton and with each other have smooth rays 50–110 / 4–8 μm in size (Fig. 8 D). Epirhyses (100–200 μm in diameter, up to 500 μm deep) are connected with all secondary framework structures; they are situated on both sides of the ear-like processes and on the surface of the main stem and lateral branches. Free spicules: Dermalia and atrialia are pentactines (Fig. 10 A, B) with unpaired ray directed inside the body. Dermal pentactines are usually larger than atrial ones, with smoother rays and with less clavate outer ends. The dermal pentactines are generally larger and their ray surface is smoother than in artrial ones. The tangential rays of dermal pentactines are 107–366 μm long, the unpaired ray is 67–348 μm long, and 7–11 μm in the diameter. The tangential rays of atrial pentactines are 59–307 μm long, the unpaired ray is 44–340 μm long and 4–9 μm in the diameter. Clavules are of two types: most have discoidal-clavate (pileate) (Fig. 9 F, G, P, Fig. 10 C–E), and some anchorate heads (8–9 teeth) (Fig. 9 J, K, Fig. 10 F–I), the latter have several spines, which are long, curved, and situated close to the head (in some specimens the latter type of clavules was not found). Their shafts are slightly rough; the end directed inside the body is rough-spiny, usually lanceolate in shape. The discoidal clavules are 196– 344 μm long, their heads are 11–26 μm long and 19–44 μm in diameter, the diameter of the shaft is about 2 μm in the middle. The anchorate clavules are 133–426 μm long, their heads are 19–56 μm long and 33–63 μm in diameter, the diameter of the shaft is about 2 μm in the middle. The aspidoscopules (Fig. 9 L– O, Q, Fig. 10 J–M), are found only in the primary framework which underlies the atrial space (they are absent in the primary framework inside the ear-like processes). The aspidoscopules have 12–14 terminal spines with conically pointed or rarely dichotomously branching outer ends and microspined surface. Their shafts are similar in shape to that of the anchorate clavules. The aspidoscopules are 118–352 μm long, their heads are 7–56 μm long and the tuft is 17–70 μm in diameter. The diameter of the shaft is about 3 μm in the middle. The clavules are situated at dermal surface while the aspidoscopules at atrial one. Uncinates (Fig. 10 P) are 200–1000 / 2–8 μm in dimensions. Microscleres: Oxyhexasters (Fig. 9 C, Fig. 10 R–T), onychohexasters (Fig. 9 A, E, Fig. 10 U) and discohexasters (Fig. 9 B, E, Fig. 10 Y) with 2–4 – rarely 5 – secondary rays, are 50–137 μm in diameter with primary rosette 25–81 μm in diameter. Rare hexactines and hemihexasters (1–4 secondary rays) are found in some specimens, they have onychoidal–discoidal outer ends and diameter 54–101 μm (Fig. 10 U-AD). These spicules may be allochthonous. The holotype and additional topotypical specimens (may be its fragments) have numerous small stellate discohexasters (Fig. 10 AC) 25–54 μm in diameter with primary rosette 7–36 μm in diameter. Such spicules were not found in other paratypes taken from other locations, and one might conclude that they are allochthonous. This idea is rejected here because they are very numerous in comparison with other definitely allochthonous spicules. Abnormal microscleres are rare oxyhexasters with very short secondary rays (Fig. 10 U, V) (MNHN p 3701), oxydiasters (Fig. 10 X) (MNHN p 5019, p 3735; fr 542), and oxystaurasters (MNHN p 1142; fr 543). Remarks. The three known species of Aspidoscopulia differ in the following characters (Table 3): A. furcillata (Lévi, 1990) has no anchorate clavules and microscleres with short primary rays; A. tetrasymmetrica sp. n. has large anchorate clavules (200–600 μm long) and only oxyoidal microscleres, while A. bisymmetrica sp. n. has small anchorate clavules (130- 140 μm long) and microscleres with oxyoidal, discoidal and onychoidal outer ends. Besides these features the species differ in their external shape (see the descriptions) but that of A. furcillata is unknown – this sponge is represented by a fragment for which body shape interpretation is impossible. Many specimens of ‘bilateral shape’ collected far from A. bisymmetrica sp. n. have no loose spicules. Nevertheless it is impossible to assign a specific body form to a particular species now. A very possible representative of this species is shown on the underwater photo (Fig. 11) taken near the type locality. continued. MNHN fr 534 MNHN p 3701 n avg min max std n avg min max std continued. MNHN p 3735 MNHN p 5019Published as part of Tabachnick, Konstantin R., Menshenina, Larisa L., Pisera, Andrzej & Ehrlich, Hermann, 2011, Revision of Aspidoscopulia Reiswig, 2002 (Porifera: Hexactinellida: Farreidae) with description of two new species, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 2883 on pages 8-13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20366