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 Dysidea variabilis ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 ) ( Fig. 20 C–D; 22D) Selected synonymy: Amphimedon variabilis Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 :80 . Dysidea variabilis ; Wiedenmayer 1977 :146; van Soest 1978 :52. Material examined . CNPGG –1217, CNPGG –1405 Alacranes reef ( 22º23’42.7”N , 89º42’20”W ) depth 9 m , 1/ VIII/2009 . CNPGG –1289 Alacranes reef ( 22º23’12.89”N , 89º40’44.72”W ) depth 18 m , 13/XII/2011 . Description . It is a massive-globular sponge with several lobes of different sizes scattered over entire sponge ( Fig. 22 D). Lobules collapse when the sponge is out of the water. Overall size 10 cm high, 8.7 cm in width. Enveloped by a white ectosomal veil, and covered by a lot of sediment when alive. Oscules only on top of the sponge, 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter, surrounded by a thin and delicate membrane, which collapses in alcohol ( Fig. 20 C). The conules are not obvious under water but displayed when the sponge is out of the water; 1–4 mm in height. The consistency is compressible but crumbly. The color is light orange when alive, beige in alcohol. Skeleton . The ectosome consists of a dense and irregular reticulation of fibres containing foreign material like sand and spicules. The choanosomal skeleton is made up by fibres 45–85 µm in diameter, stuffed with sand and spicules; it forms rectangular meshes ( Fig. 20 D), 120–170 µm in width. Distribution and ecology . St. Thomas ( Duchassaing & Michelotti 1864 ); Florida (de Laubenfels 1936 ). The specimens were collected in coral reef environments, associated with dead coral, gorgonians and sponges, such as A plysina fistularis and A. cauliformis , between 9 and 18 m depth. This is the first record of the species in Mexico and the southern Gulf of Mexico . Remarks . Dysidea variabilis was originally recorded red in color when alive ( Duchassaing & Michelotti 1864 ). Nevertheless, two colors have to be taken into account for the present species, the originally red and the orange color cited by de Laubenfels (1936) , van Soest (1978) , and the one described here. Rützler et al. (2009) register this species within the waters of the GMx, and attribute such information to de Laubenfels (1953) . However, de Laubenfels does not mention this species in its work of 1953.