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 Neopetrosia proxima ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 ) Figs. 8 A–D; Tab. IV Thalysias proxima Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 : 84 , pl. VIII, Figs. 2–3 . Densa araminta De Laubenfels, 1934 : 14 ; 1950: 168. Xestospongia sp . Collette & Rützler, 1977 : 309 . Xestospongia proxima ; Van Soest et al., 1983 : 198 –204; Zea, 1987 : 116 –119, Fig. 34, pl. IX, Figs. 3–4 ; Van Soest & Stentoft, 1988 : 132 –133, pl. XII Fig. 4 , text­Fig. 64; Lehnert & Van Soest, 1996 : 77 –78. Examined material . MCNPOR 5334, 72 m, 00°22’N – 44°52’W , 17/VII/2001 (fragment deposited in ZMAPOR 17917); MCNPOR 5107, 93 m, 00°11’13”N – 44°46’12”W , 10/VI/ 1999 ; MCNPOR 5016, 5276, 00º20'38"S – 44º17'38"W , 85 m , 12/VI/1999 ; MCNPOR 3845, 72 m, 00°32’S – 43°50’W , 18/XI/1997 ; MCNPOR 4967, 4996, 5000, 94 m, 00°35’12”S – 43°20’55”W , 14/VI/1999 ; MCNPOR 4781, 31 m, 00°51’44”S – 44°21’24”W , 12/VI/1999 ; MCNPOR 3814, 3823, 80 m , 01°33’81”S – 43°15’87”W , 02/XII/1997 (MCN­ POR 3823: fragment deposited in ZMAPOR 17916); MCNPOR 3791, 72 m, 02°14’49”S – 42°00’20”W , 06/XII/1997 . Material studied for comparison . Xestospongia sp., off the mouth of Amazon river (re­examined). Deposited in MCNPOR 2468 (det. Klaus Rützler). Description . Irregular, finger­like fragments ( Fig. 8 A): 17 cm long, 2.8 cm large, up to 4 cm height (measurements of the bigger fragment MCN 3823). Surface punctiform, hispid to the touch, infested with Parazoanthus ; only one oscule visible, 1 cm in diameter. Preserved material incompressible consistency, colour light brown. Skeleton . Similar to descriptions of Zea (1987) and Lehnert & Van Soest (1996) . Measurements emended. Ectosome: Uni­ to multispicular fibres, 30– 88 . 8 –170 µm in diameter ( Fig. 8 B); meshes 150– 243 . 6 –360 µm in diameter. Choanosome: sub­superficial channel ( Fig. 8 C), 70–304.9–700 µm thickness (N=45), multispicular primary fibres (60–200 µm thickness), fascicles 350–750 µm in diameter, secondary fibres 40–90 µm thickness, meshes 80–220 µm in diameter. FIGURE 8 . Neopetrosia proxima (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) . A, sample (scale: 3 cm). B, tangential view of ectosome (scale: 300 µm). C, perpendicular section of choanosome (scale: 300 µm). D, line drawings of oxeas (scale: 50 µm). Spicules . Oxeas ( Figs. 8 D): slightly curved, acerate or occasionally hastate. Measurements: 117.5– 147 . 4 –172.5 / 2.5– 3 . 2 –5 µm (MCNPOR 5334); 121.9– 147 –165.6 / 2.3– 4 . 7 – 6.9 µm (MCNPOR 5107); 89.7– 132 . 8 –161 / 2.3– 4 . 8 –5.8 µm (MCNPOR 5016); 125– 169 . 3 –190 / 2.5– 4 . 7 –6.3 µm (MCNPOR 5276); 105–136–157.5 / 3.8– 4 . 8 –5 µm (MCN­ POR 3845); 142.6– 153 . 5 –163.3 / 3.5– 5 . 2 –6.3 µm (MCNPOR 4967); 115– 133 –149.5 / 3.5– 5 . 2 –6.9 µm (MCNPOR 4996); 131.1– 141 . 4 –151.8 / 2.3– 4 . 2 –4.6 µm (MCNPOR 5000); 117.3– 143 . 1 –156.4 / 2.3– 4 . 6 –5.8 µm (MCNPOR 4781); 115–145.5–182.5 / 1.3– 4.4–7.5 µm (MCNPOR 3814); 132.5–155.8–170 / 2.5–4.9–7.5 µm (MCNPOR 3823); 120– 154 . 3 –197.5 / 2.5– 4 . 2 –5 µm (MCNPOR 3791). Remarks . Well­known species in the Caribbean region and adjacent areas; often it is characterized by its hard consistency and also by the presence of Parazoanthus on the surface; our samples do not possess a sticky surface, maybe due to substances released during preservation. According to Zea ( in litt .), the samples studied here are very similar to the material that he studied, collected by Collette & Rützler (1977) and previously identified as Xestospongia sp. (now placed in the genus Neopetrosia ). Distribution . Caribbean: Puerto Rico to Colombia ( Zea, 1987 ; Van Soest & Stentoft, 1988 ; Lehnert & Van Soest, 1996 ). Brazilian coast: off the mouth of Amazon River ( Collette & Rützler, 1977 ); Maranhão State (present study).