Haplosclerida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the coast of Maranhão State, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic Author Campos, Maurício Author Mothes, Beatriz Author Eckert, Rafael Author Van, Rob W. M. Author Soest text Zootaxa 2005 963 1 22 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.171251 38c4ff5e-f2a4-452a-94e3-c52ea2604636 1175­5326 171251 Xestospongia muta (Schmitdt, 1870) Figs. 11 A–D, Tab. V Schmidtia muta Schmidt, 1870 : 44 –45. Petrosia muta Topsent, 1920 : 8 , 33. Xestospongia muta ; Wiedenmayer, 1977 : 115 –117, pl. XIV, Figs. 6–7 , pl. XV, Figs. 1–2 , text–Fig. 129; Zea, 1987 : 111 –114, Fig. 32, pl. IX, Fig. 1 ; Lehnert, 1993 : 47 , Figs. 12–14, 69–70, tab. 1; Lehnert & Van Soest, 1996 : 92 ; 1998: 75; 1999: 163. Further synonymy: see Wiedenmayer (1977) and Zea (1987) . Examined material . MCNPOR 4773, 93 m 00°11’13”N – 44°46’12”W , 10/VI/1999 ; MCNPOR 4968, 4972, 4974, 4997, 4998, 94 m, 00°35’12”S – 43°20’55”W , 14/VI/1999 (MCNPOR 4974: fragment deposited in ZMAPOR 17914); MCNPOR 3799, 64 m, 01°03’S – 43°31’W , 30/XI/1997 . Material studied for comparison . Xestospongia muta ( Schmidt, 1870 ) : off the mouth of Amazon river. Fragment deposited on MCNPOR 2456 (det. Klaus Rützler). Description . Cup­shaped specimen ( Fig. 11 A): 16 cm long, 15 cm width, 11.5 cm height (MCNPOR 4773). Surface with sinuous elevations, smooth in between this. Thick walls, main vent with 4.5 x 5.0 cm in diameter. Preserved material with firm but brittle consistency, easy to cut or break, colour light brown. Skeleton . Ectosome uni­ to multispicular tracts, forming triangular to rounded meshes, 130–260 µm in diameter, cemented with little spongin ( Fig. 11 B). Choanosome: cavernous, with multispicular tracts (40–200 µm in diameter); rounded meshes 120–700 µm in diameter ( Fig. 11 C). Many loose spicules, and in some areas the reticulation is dense and confused. FIGURE 11 . Xestospongia muta (Schmitdt, 1870) . A, sample (scale: 5 cm). B, tangential view of ectosome (scale: 300 µm). C, perpendicular section of choanosome (scale: 300 µm). D, line drawings of strongyles (scale: 100 µm). Spicules . Strongyles ( Figs. 11 D): Slightly curved, equal and rounded ends. Measurements: 350–398–450 / 9.5–11.6–19 µm (MCNPOR 4773); 351.5– 389 . 1 –418 / 9.5– 15 . 2 – 19 µm (MCNPOR 4968); 300– 373 . 2 –410 / 9.2– 13 . 5 –16.1 µm (MCNPOR 4972); 285– 378 . 1 –427.5 / 9.5– 14 . 4 –19 µm (MCNPOR 4974); 247– 322 . 2 –389.5 / 8.1– 10 . 2 –13.8 µm (MCNPOR 4997); 228– 315 . 4 –408.5 / 6.9– 10 . 5 –13.3 µm (MCNPOR 4998); 280– 349 . 2 – 430 / 7.5– 10 . 2 –12.5 µm (MCNPOR 3799). Remarks . Widely distributed species in the West Atlantic. With its cup­shaped form and fragile consistency it is a very conspicuous Xestospongia in this region. The present record from the coast of Maranhão State confirms its continuous distribution along with a record from the North Brazilian coast made by Collette & Rützler, 1977 . The species was also previously recorded from deep water (Van Soest, 1980 and Lehnert & Van Soest, 1996 ). Distribution . West Atlantic: Bermuda to Curaçao (Van Soest, 1980 ; Zea, 1987 ; Lehnert, 1993 ; Lehnert & Van Soest, 1996 ; 1998 ; 1999 ). Brazilian coast: off the mouth of Amazon River ( Collette & Rützler, 1977 ); Maranhão State (present study).