The hexactinellid sponge described in this paper, Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. was collected from the eastern side of North

Andaman waters off Diglipur at 13o 06’ N lat. and 93o 11’ E long. during one of the FORV Sagar Sampada expeditions.

Critical examination of the specimen indicated that it belonged to the Class Hexactinellida, Sub-class Amphidiscophora and

Order Amphidiscosida. Although diactin spicules are present, the presence of large number of pentactin spicules indicates

that it belongs to the Family Pheronematidae. The columnar body with atrial surface divided into several areas separated by

dermal areas indicates that the specimen belongs to the genus Semperella. The morphology of the whole sponge specimen,

the presence of very long diactin spicules of oscular tuft and the pentactins with very long rays do not match well with any

of the already described species of the genus Semperella Gray

George, Rani Mary

Manisseri, Mary K

Thomas, P A

Vinod, K

CMFRI Digital Repository

33Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. (Family: Pheronematidae): A newhexactinellid sponge  from Andaman waters, IndiaK. VINOD1, RANI MARY GEORGE2, P. A. THOMAS3 AND MARY K. MANISSERI41Mandapam Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam Camp-  623 520, Tamil Nadu, India2Vizhinjam Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram -  695 521 Kerala, India3Panachamoottil, Gandhipuram, Sreekariyam P. O., Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India4Central Mariine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi - 682 018, Kerala, Indiae-mail: vinod_kavungal@yahoo.co.inABSTRACTThe hexactinellid sponge described in this paper, Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. was collected from the eastern side of NorthAndaman waters off Diglipur at 13o 06’ N lat. and 93o 11’ E long. during one of the FORV Sagar Sampada expeditions.Critical examination of the specimen indicated that it belonged to the Class Hexactinellida, Sub-class Amphidiscophora andOrder Amphidiscosida.  Although diactin spicules are present, the presence of large number of pentactin spicules indicatesthat it belongs to the Family Pheronematidae.  The columnar body with atrial surface divided into several areas separated bydermal areas indicates that the specimen belongs to the genus Semperella. The morphology of the whole sponge specimen,the presence of very long diactin spicules of oscular tuft and the pentactins with very long rays do not match well with anyof the already described species of the genus Semperella Gray.Keywords: Andaman waters, Deep-sea sponges, Hexactinellida, New species, PoriferaIntroductionSponges occur in marine as well as in freshwaterecosystems; though higher diversity prevails in marinehabitats. The marine forms are found in inshore as well asdeeper waters. The ‘World Porifera Database’ enlists 8349valid species of sponges (Van Soest et al., 2012). Thehexactinellids constitute one of the important members ofthe deep-sea sponge communities, many of which remainpoorly documented and intensive deep-sea surveystherefore, might unravel many new hexactinellid species.This paper describes a new hexactinellid sponge speciescollected from the eastern side of North Andaman waters.Materials and methodsOne specimen of hexactinellid sponge was obtainedalong with few specimens of Hyalonema (Cyliconema)apertum apertum from the eastern side of North Andamanwaters, during a cruise aboard FORV Sagar Sampada(Cruise No. 252) in January-February 2007. The  specimenwas obtained in bottom trawl “Expo” from North Andamanwaters off Diglipur at 13o 06’ N lat. and 93o 11’ E long.,from a depth of 402 m (Fig. 1).The collected specimen was brought to the laboratory,air-dried and preserved in air-tight polythene bags forfurther examination. The morphological characters wereIndian J. Fish., 59(1) : 33-36, 2012Fig. 1. Map showing the sampling site from where Semperellamegaloxea sp. nov. was collected34examined and sub-samples were taken for spiculepreparations from defined body areas – dermal, atrial,choanosomal and peduncle.  Sections from specified areaswere heated in concentrated nitric acid for digestion oforganic matter and separation of spicules.  The siliceousspicules were used for microscopic analyses and weremeasured using the software ‘Image Manager Leica IM50’ and expressed in micrometer.Results and discussionThe morphological studies and spicule characteristicsof the specimen revealed that it belongs to the ClassHexactinellida and Family Pheronematidae.Systematic positionPhylum : Porifera GrantClass : Hexactinellida SchmidtSub-class : Amphidiscophora SchulzeOrder : Amphidiscosida SchrammenFamily : Pheronematidae GrayGenus : Semperella GraySpecies : Semperella megaloxea sp. nov.Material examinedOne entire specimen collected from the eastern sideof North Andaman waters at 13o 06’ N lat. and 93o11’ Elong., from a depth of 402 m.Repository: The specimen is deposited in the‘Designated National Repository’, Central Marine FisheriesResearch Institute, Kochi, Kerala, India with Accession No.BB.1.1.2.1.DescriptionBodyThe body is club-shaped, widening slightly  towardsthe upper end and bilaterally symmetrical.  The basalia isin the form of broad, loose, partly broken untwisted tuft,(Fig. 2).  The total length of the specimen is 520 mm;wherein the body proper is 130 mm, basal tuft (incomplete)40 mm and oscular fringe, 350 mm. The width of the bodyranged from 60-75 mm and characterized by the presenceof an apical sieve plate (Fig. 3). Body faintly ridged, ridgesrun length-wise, with vague inter-connections.SpiculesThe anchorate basalia are 2, 3 or even 4 toothed, ofwhich some may even be degenerate or malformed(Fig. 4, A).A few spicules of this category could be isolated fromthe remnants of the damaged basal attachment zone.  Thesmallest available spicule has a total length of 4 mm andprovided with two clads (teeth) arranged at oppositedirection. The shaft is entirely spinous except at the neckportion, spines may be opposite, alternate or irregular inposition.  The shaft is quite narrow at the neck part andenlarges slightly at the middle of shaft.  The terminal partof the shaft is smooth and sharply pointed (Fig. 4, A5).Sometimes, the spination on shaft becomes morecomplicated ‘with interrupted spiral denticulate ridges’ asseen in the spicules of Chalaronema sibogae Ijima(Tabachnick and Menshenina, 2002, p.1257, Fig. 15, J).The clads (teeth), at this stage, may have a chord length of0.132 mm, width of shaft (at neck part) 0.026 mm and atmiddle part 0.06 mm average (excluding spines) (Fig. 4,A3).  In some cases, the neck portion may have 3-5annulations (Fig. 4, A1) encircling the shaft partly orcompletely.  Tips of these spicules are beset with smallpinules directed towards the terminal part of the shaft,sometimes fused to the latter fully (Fig. 4, A4).  The totallength of the largest spicule examined is 200 mm.Choanosomal spicules consist of pentactins, diactinsand sometimes stauractins.  The pentactin spicules are verylarge; their rays  very long, reaching upto 12 mm.Sometimes, four of the rays get atrophied and the fifth onebecomes stouter reaching a width of 0.27 mm or moreK. Vinod et al.Fig. 2. Entire specimen showing oscular fringe, body andbasal tuftFig. 3. Magnified view of the sieve plate of Semperellamegaloxea sp. nov.35(Fig. 4, B4-B7).  Such pentactin spicules are seen inSemperella schulzei (Semper) also (Tabachnick andMenshenina, 2002, p.1276, Fig. 5, P, Q). A new type ofpentactin with 3 capitate and 2 normal rays was also rarelyobserved (Fig. 4, B8), the normal ray may measure (i.e.,one ray) 0.728 x 0.018 mm.stauractins with smooth rays (43.69-126.58/5.86-7.27 µm)(Fig. 4, L4) and with spines only at the tip of the rays(103.03-139.28/9.32-12.77 µm) (Fig. 4, L8) are alsopresent.The long diactins of oscular tuft measuring50 cm x mm is the characteristic feature of this species(Fig. 4, G1 & G2).  They are smooth and sharply pointed atboth ends.Diactins are of different types (Fig. 4, H1-H11);smooth with both ends tapering (81.10-718.70/2.80-36.46µm) (Fig. 4, H1-H9). Small diactins with a swelling in themiddle and both ends tapering (79.86-188.79/3.24-6.51 µm)were present (Fig. 4, H10-H11). Spiny diactins (88.87-215.99/7.23-12.75 µm) are also common (Fig. 4, J1, J2).Diactins ornamented with spines all over (0.63 x 0.022 mm)are rarely observed (Fig. 4, C).  Sceptres were also rarelyobserved (Fig. 4, D1, D2).  Diactins with lancet-shapedtips which are microspined (Fig. 4, E) measured 0.3 x 0.008 mm.  Uncinates measuring 202.14-361.69/10.19-19.92 µm are present (Fig. 4, I1, I2).Hypodermal and hypoatrialia differ from choanosomalspicules usually being pentactins with the longest raydirected outside the body and tangential rays short and equalin length (long ray 116.30-209.56/7.60-12.83 µm;tangential rays 13.77-26.36/8.09-13.34 µm) (Fig. 4, K1-K3).  Also, spicules with two long rays (116.02-133.36/8.22-9.11 µm) and short tangential rays (26.53-27.19/10.02-10.95 µm) with few spines are present (Fig. 4, K4, K5).Pentactin spicules which are completely spiny are alsoencountered (long rays 90.39-284.27/5.272-13.57 µm;tangential rays 16.91-32.56/7.81-15.56 µm) (Fig. 4,K6-K8).Spiny pentactins with 2 long rays (76.06-250.30/8.46-13.37 µm) and short rays (16.28-39.73/12.83-14.91 µm)are present (Fig. 4, N1-N3).   Pentactin spicules with3 long rays (118.85-222.57/7.11-12.71 µm) and short rays(19.71-32.0/8.57-15.72 µm) are also common, which arecompletely spiny (Fig. 4, O1).  Similar pentactins with fewspines (long rays 74.87-164.50/7.75-9.61; short rays28.99-37.77/8.03-12.07 µm) are also present (Fig. 4, O2).The pinular pentactins (Fig. 4, M1) have pinular raywhich is long and spiny (180.85 – 370.76/8.44 –22.93 µm).  The tangential rays are smooth and pointed(74.79 – 110.40/4.22 – 14.44 µm).  In some pentactins(Fig. 4, M2), the median ray as well as the tangential raysare spiny (median ray: 50.06 – 71.26/7.26 – 12.75 µm;tangential rays: 110.96 – 148.50/11.90 – 12.65 µm).  Insome pentactins, the tips of median as well as tangentialrays are spiny (median rays: 129.31 – 192.75/12.13 – 13.96 µm; tangential rays: 102.52 – 122.12/12.28– 14.33 µm).  In some pentactins, the rays are smoothSemperella megaloxea sp. nov. - a new hexactinellid sponge  from Andaman watersFig. 4. Spicules of Semperella megaloxea sp. nov.A1 Enlarged head of anchorate basalia; A2-A5 Differentgrowth forms of anchorate basalia (A2, A4, A5 – 2 hooks;A3 – 4 hooks); B1-B3 Normal pentactins; B4-B7Pentactins with atrophied rays; B8 Pentactin with capitateand normal rays; C Diactin ornamented with spines;D1-D2 Sceptres (incomplete); E Diactin withlancet-shaped tips which are microspined; F Diactincommon on sieve plate; G1-G2 Long diactins of osculartuft; H1-H11 Diactins of different sizes; I1-I2 Uncinates;J1-J2 Spiny diactins; K1-K8 Pentactins with 2 long raysand short tangential rays; L1-L8 Stauractins; M1-M4Dermal pentactins (pinular); N1-N3 Pentactins with 2 longrays; O1-O2 Pentactins with 3 long rays and short rays;P1-P5 Mesamphidisc; Q1-Q2 Micramphidisc.Stauractins with short and long rays are present withspines throughout the length of the rays (72.95-261.44/4.72-13.77 µm) (Fig. 4, L1, L2, L5, L6).  In some stauractins,only few spines are present along the length of the rays(50.54-158.14/4.42-14.40 µm) (Fig. 4, L3, L7).  In addition,36K. Vinod et al.(Fig. 4, M3-M4), the median ray measuring 34.01 – 120.33/4.72 – 5.99 µm and the tangential rays measuring 64.51 –118.21/5.04 – 11.44 µm.The amphidiscs are of two types viz., mesamphidiscsand micramphidiscs; both are characterized by the presenceof tubercles on their shafts. The mesamphidiscs(Fig. 4, P1-P5) have a total length of 42.42-98.67 µm, umbellength of 9.51-24.04 µm and umbel diameter of 10.49-22.47µm.  The micramphidiscs (Fig. 4, Q1-Q2) have a total lengthof 24.34-39.06 µm, umbel length of 5.13-11.15 µm andumbel diameter of 7.32 – 11.91µm.EtymologyThe specific name ‘megaloxea’ refers to the relativelylarge oxeote oscularia found in the species.RemarksThe hexactinellid sponge studied here belongs to thesub-class Amphidiscophora and order Amphidiscosida.  Themain choanosomal megascleres consist of pentactins whichare characteristic of the family Pheronematidae.  Generaof Pheronematidae are defined mainly by their characteristicbody forms.  The cup-like, hemispherical or spherical bodyforms are common for Pheronema; a row of bilaterallysymmetrical forms, spoon or fan-like, are known forPlatylistrum, Sericolophus and Poliopogon; a form withosculum overgrown by lateral walls is typical forSchulzeviella; and a columnar body with atrial surfacedivided into several areas separated by dermal areas isspecial for Semperella.Among the members of the family Pheronematidae,choanosomal spicules mostly have the form of pentactinswhich can be accompanied by rare hexactins, tetractins andtauactins, but probably never diactins (Tabachnick andMenshenina, 2002).  However, the present specimen ischaracterized by the presence of very long diactins inaddition to pentactines. The morphology of the wholespecimen, the presence of very long diactins of oscular tuftand the pentactins with very long rays are unique to thespecies described, unlike in any existing species of theFamily Pheronematidae.  Although many of the charactersmatch well with the genus Semperella, the characters donot have any similarity with any of the already describedspecies under the genus.AcknowledgementsThe authors express their sincere gratitude to theDirector, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute,Kochi, India for the support and facilities provided.  Theauthors also thank Dr. A. A. Jayaprakash, Former PrincipalScientist, Pelagic Fisheries Division, CMFRI for providingthe sample which was collected during the cruise aboardFORV Sagar Sampada.ReferencesHooper, J. N. A. and Van Soest, R. W. M. 2002.  Systema Porifera:A guide to the classification of sponges. In: Hooper, J. N. A.and Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds.), Kluwer Academic/PlenumPublishers, New York, NY (USA),  p. 1-1099.Reiswig, H. M. 2002. Order Amphidiscosida Schrammen, 1924.In:  Hooper, J. N. A.   and Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds.),Systema Porifera: A guide to the classification of sponges.Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers: New York, NY(USA), II, p. 1231-1266.Tabachnick, K. R. and Menshenina, L. L. 2002.  FamilyPheronematidae Gray, 1870.  In: Hooper, J. N. A. and VanSoest, R. W. M. (Eds.), Systema Porifera: A guide to theclassification of sponges. Kluwer Academic/PlenumPublishers: New York, NY (USA), II, p. 1267-1280.Van Soest, R. W. M., Boury-Esnault, N., Hooper, J. N. A., Rützler,K, de Voogd, N. J., Alvarez de Glasby, B., Hajdu, E., Pisera,A. B., Manconi, R., Schoenberg, C., Janussen,D., Tabachnick, K. R., Klautau, M., Picton, B., Kelly, M.and Vacelet, J. 2012. World Porifera Database. http://www.marinespecies.org/porifera/ (accessed 9th February2012).Date of Receipt : 10.06.2011Date of Acceptance : 13.03.2012

Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. (Family: Pheronematidae): A new

hexactinellid sponge from Andaman waters, India

http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/8938/1/K._Vinod.pdf

Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. (Family: Pheronematidae): A new hexactinellid sponge from Andaman waters, India

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