Deep-water sponges (Porifera) from Bonaire and Klein Curaçao, Southern Caribbean Author Van Soest, Rob W. M. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Department of Marine Zoology, P. O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Author Meesters, Erik H. W. G. Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), Wageningen UR, P. O. Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands. E-mail: erik. meesters @ wur. nl Author Becking, Leontine E. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Department of Marine Zoology, P. O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. & Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), Wageningen UR, P. O. Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands. E-mail: erik. meesters @ wur. nl & University of California Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM), 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 - 3114, USA. E-mail: lebecking @ gmail. com text Zootaxa 2014 2014-10-29 3878 5 401 443 journal article 5247 10.11646/zootaxa.3878.5.1 5247e933-3152-40d5-ae19-cce84a3dad7f 1175-5326 4948908 11145FA0-2CB5-460A-B7A6-9A634C778982 Neopetrosia ovata new species Figures 18a–f Material examined . Holotype : RMNH Por. 9257, Caribbean Netherlands , Klein Curacao , off SW coast (Dive 1), 11.9821°N 68.6452°W , in the sand at 149 m , coll. L.E. Becking & E. Meesters , field nr. CURASUB13-09/ BDR002 , 27 May 2013 . Description. Pinkish beige, ovate sponge ( Figs. 18a–b ), size 10 cm high, 8 cm in diameter, with a central oscule of 1.4 cm in diameter. The preserved holotype consists of three fragments the largest of which is 3.5 x 3 x 2 cm . Surface smooth, punctate in life, covered with tiny zoanthids. Oscule rim thin, slightly raised. Inner side of atrial lumen ridged lengthwise. Consistency firm to hard. Skeleton ( Figs. 18e–f ). Dense mass of oxeas forming vague rounded meshes, which are largely obscured by the thick tracts. Compared to the skeleton of N. dutchi n. sp. described above, the present skeleton is much less organized and much more confused. FIGURE 17 . Neopetrosia dutchi n. sp. , holotype RMNH Por. 9253, a. view of submarine with collected holotype, b. habit in situ, c. habit shortly after collection, d. detail of surface, e. tangential view of ectosomal skeleton, f. cross section of peripheral skeleton, g–h. SEM images of spicules, g. larger oxea, g1. detail of apex of larger oxea, h. smaller oxea. FIGURE 18 . Neopetrosia ovata n. sp. , holotype RMNH Por. 9257, a. habit in situ, b. habit shortly after collecting, c–d. SEM images of the spicules, c. robust oxea, c1. detail of apex of robust oxea, d. thinner oxea, e. tangential view of ectosome, f. cross section of peripheral skeleton. Spicules . Oxeas. Oxeas ( Figs. 18c–d ), smooth, robust, slightly curved, uniform in length, but variable in thickness, 200– 235– 270 x 10.5– 14.5 – 15 µm . Ecology and distribution . In the sand at 149 m depth , at Klein Curaçao . Etymology. The name refers to the characteristic shape of the sponge. Remarks. Although spicule sizes and shapes are essentially the same as the above N. dutchi n. sp. the present new species differs clearly from it in the habit (a single upright globular mass vs. a mass of coalescing lobes in N. dutchi n. sp. ) and especially also the structure of the skeleton which is much denser and irregular with barely distinguishable meshes. In that respect it somewhat resembles Neopetrosia proxima ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 ) but in that species all the spicules are smaller than 200 µm , and its habit is encrusting with oscules raised on small lobes (see redescription in Zea 1987 ).