Marine sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Gulf of México, new records and redescription of Erylus trisphaerus (de Laubenfels, 1953) Author Ugalde, Diana Author Gómez, Patricia Author Simões, Nuno text Zootaxa 2015 3911 2 151 183 journal article 42349 10.11646/zootaxa.3911.2.1 8baa9579-e863-47db-b025-7acc20458ac0 1175-5326 238815 5C32A1B4-E4AB-4BC3-8E8A-1BF435587D17 Topsentia bahamensis Diaz , van Soest & Pomponi, 1993 ( Fig. 12 A–C) Synonymy: Topsentia bahamensis Diaz , van Soest & Pomponi, 1993 :290. Material examined . CNPGG –586 Sisal Banks reefs ( 21°26'21.50”N 90°17'7.9”W ), depth 15 m 02/XII/2011 . Description . Encrusting to massive sponge (3.5 × 2.5 cm long per width, 2.5 cm thick) with one solid fistular growth on top 4 cm in height, 10 mm in diameter ( Fig. 12 A). An oscule along the fistula is visible, that splits at the base. Color is white when alive and in alcohol; surface is smooth although micro-hispid at places, consistency is firmly compressible but easily crumbled. Skeleton . The ectosome is a layer of tangentially placed oxeas strewn in confusion, with many of the larger oxeas protruding beyond the surface. The choanosomal skeleton exhibits a vague reticulation in all directions, produced by ill-defined multispicular tracts with no trace of spongin, intermingled with single oxeas, also oriented in all directions, assembling a condensed mass ( Fig. 12 B). Spicules . Fusiform and slightly curved oxeas ( Fig. 12 C), in two size categories I: 196–507 × 5.2–14 µm, II: 556–820 × 13.5–28 µm. Distribution and ecology . Bahamas ( Díaz et al. 1993 ). The present specimen was found inhabiting shallower waters ( 15 m depth) than those of the original description, which stated 40 to 160 m . It is the first record for México and the Gulf of Mexico . Remarks . The present material matches the original description exactly, even for spicule sizes. Apparently it is not a common species around the Caribbean Sea. It probably inhabits Jamaica ( Lehnert & Soest 1996 ), but the specimen recorded there, lacks fistular growth, which is one of the main features of T. bahamensis . A species similar to the present one is the widespread T. ophiraphidites (de Laubenfels de 1934), but it differs in lacking an ectosomal tangential skeleton, together with a gray, brown or pink color alive and the presence of two or three category sizes of oxeas and strongyloxeas. These traits separate both species.