Shallow Suberitida (Porifera, Demospongiae) from Peru Author Cóndor-Luján, Báslavi Universidad Científica del Sur, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Carrera de Biología Marina, Antigua Panamericana Sur Km 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru Author Arteaga, Alvaro 0000-0001-6001-8358 Universidad Científica del Sur, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Carrera de Biología Marina, Antigua Panamericana Sur Km 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru & aarteagabengoa 14 @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 6001 - 8358 aarteagabengoa14@gmail.com Author Polo, Christian 0000-0001-6775-8156 Universidad Científica del Sur, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Carrera de Biología Marina, Antigua Panamericana Sur Km 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru & cpolobio @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 6775 - 8156 cpolobio@gmail.com Author Arroyo, Yessenia 0000-0003-2477-7079 Universidad Científica del Sur, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Carrera de Biología Marina, Antigua Panamericana Sur Km 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru & ysabel 0396 @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 2477 - 7079 ysabel0396@gmail.com Author Willenz, Philippe 0000-0003-4127-9346 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Rue Vautier 29, B- 1000, Bruxelles, Belgium & Université Libre de Bruxelles, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Avenue F. D. Roosevelt, 50, B- 1050, Bruxelles, Belgium philippe. willenz @ naturalsciences. be; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 4127 - 9346 philippe.willenz@naturalsciences.be Author Hajdu, Eduardo Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Invertebrados, Quinta da Boa Vista, S / N, 20940 - 040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil text Zootaxa 2023 2023-04-17 5264 4 451 489 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5264.4.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.4.1 1175-5326 7836930 675A2650-4738-4DDB-8970-1FE4307F6B3C Suberites aff. latus Lambe, 1893 ( Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Table 8 , Table 9 ) Type locality. North Coast of Vancouver Island , Canada ( 50°48′0″N 128°3′0″W ) . Material examined. Thirteen specimens. MNRJ 12882 , Islote , Atenas Beach , Paracas , Ica ( 13°49′38.71′′S 76°18′07.41′′W ), 1.8 m depth , coll. Y. Hooker , Ph. Willenz and & N. Mostajo , 13.XII.2008 . MNRJ 13688 , Bajo Norte , Foca Island , Piura ( 05°12′02.80″S 81°12′31.30″W ), 14.3 m depth , coll. Y. Hooker , M. Rios & Ph. Willenz , 11.XII.2009 . MNRJ 13697 and MNRJ 13698 , Foca Island , Piura ( 05°11′43.70″S 81°12′57.80″W ), 13.4 and 11.6 m depth , respectively, coll. Y. Hooker , M. Rios & Ph. Willenz , 13.XII.2009 . MNRJ 14200 , La Cabrillera , Foca Island , Piura ( 05°12′09.30″S 81°12′39.90″W ), 10.7 m depth , coll. E. Hajdu and W. Vieira , 11.XII.2009 . MNRJ 14202 , Bajo Norte , Foca Island , Piura ( 05°12′02.80″S 81°12′31.30″W ), 12 m depth , coll. E. Hajdu and W. Vieira , 11.XII.2009 . UCSUR 07-000014 , San Lorenzo Island 2, El Callao , Lima ( 12°05′23.07″S 77°11′45.24″W ), 10 m depth , coll. L. Aguirre , XII. II.2010 . UCSUR 07-000016 , San Lorenzo Island 1, El Callao , Lima ( 12° 5′46.71″S 77°11′29.46″W ), 5 m depth , coll. L. Aguirre , IX. XII.2009 . UCSUR 07-000052 , Atenas Beach , Paracas , Ica ( 13°49′13.16″S 76°18′2.81″W ), 7 m depth , coll. K. Farfán , 01.II.2019 . UCSUR 07-000054 , Station P 06, Pachacamac Islands , Lima ( 12°17′40.49′′S 76°53′53.89′′W ), 5 m depth , coll. B. Moreno , 04.III.2019 . UCSUR 07-000068 , La Vuelta , Pucusana , Lima ( 12°28′01.89′′S 76°47′55.36′′W ), 10 m depth , coll. D. Cuba , 09. V .2019. UCSUR 07-000074 , Island of Pucusana , Pucusana , Lima ( 12°28′41.64″S 76°47′54.96″W ), intertidal, coll. G. de la Cruz , 05.X.2019 . UCSUR 07-000077 , Emisor de Sechura , Piura ( 05°42′19.27″S 80°51′27.44″W ), 7 m of depth, coll. C. Gutierrez & L. Aguirre , 7.IX.2019 . Description. Thin encrusting to massive ( Fig. 8A , 9A ), with rather small lobes ( Fig. 9B ). Largest specimen (UCSUR 07-000077) measures 8.8 x 4.1 x 5.9 cm (length x width x height). Notable and small oscula (≤ 3 mm ), scattered on the surface or situated on top of the lobes ( Fig. 8A, B , 9A, B ). Slightly compressible texture and somewhat hispid surface, but soft to the touch. Colour. Orange in life ( Fig. 8A, B , 9A, B ), fading into light brown, light beige, light grey or dirty white in ethanol. Skeleton. Ectosomal, dense layer of small and large tylostyles arranged in tufts ( Fig. 8C, D , 9C ). Choanosomal skeleton formed by ascending multispicular tracts of large tylostyles towards the surface, surprisingly resembling a reticulated arrangement ( Fig. 8D , 9C ). These tracts form an erratic path, leaving polygonal meshes behind. Spicules. Megascleres. Tylostyles I, small, ectosomal, mostly curved and with sharp apex (70–203 x 2–8 μm, Fig. 8E , 9D , Table 8 ). Tylostyles II, large, ectosomal and choanosomal, slightly bent and with sharp apex (150–310 x 2–10 μm, Fig. 8F , 9E , Table 8 ). All tylostyles are thickest in the middle and bear well marked tyles (I: 3–8 μm; II: 5–10 μm, Fig. 8G, H , 9F, G ). Microscleres. Centrotylote strongyles or oxeas, ectosomal and spined, common, rare, or absent (17–50 μm, Fig. 9H–K , Table 8 ). Ecology. This species was found attached to hard substrate (natural or artificial). Specimens from the southernmost localities (Paracas and Pucusana) were close to red algae, anemones ( Anthotoe chilensis ), mytillids and decapods. Specimens at Foca Island were found growing on barnacles and subject to strong currents, and one of them (UCSUR 07-000077) was collected associated with a small crab and amphipods. Previous reports indicate that S. latus was generally found on Pagurus hermit crabs or less frequently, on mollusc shells ( Lambe 1893 ; de Laubenfels 1961 ; Lee et al. 2007 ; Austin et al. 2014 ). Geographical and bathymetrical distributions. Suberites latus has a wide distribution range in the NE Pacific, including British Columbia ( Lambe 1893 ; Austin et al. 2014 ), Alaska ( Lambe 1895 ; Austin et al. 2014 ), California ( de Laubenfels 1932 ; Lee et al. 2007 ), Oregon ( Long 1968 ) and Washington ( de Laubenfels 1961 ; Long 1968 ) and has been reported down to 183 m depth ( Lambe 1895 ; Lee et al. 2007 ; Austin et al. 2014 ). Suberites aff. latus occurs along the coasts of Peru in Foca Island (05°), San Lorenzo Island, Pachacamac Islands, Pucusana (12°) and Paracas (14°). MEOW in Peru : Guayaquil, Central Peru and Humboldtian ecoregions ( Spalding et al. 2007 ). From intertidal to 14 m depth (this study). Remarks. Suberites latus was originally described by Lambe (1893) as a subhemispheric and broadly lobated sponge, with confused choanosomal structure, composed of two tylostyle categories (I: 170 x 9 μm; II: 294–524 x 13 μm), occurring in British Columbia . Briefly after, Lambe (1895) reviewed his previous specimens adding new ones from Alaska and found centrotylote strongyles (32 x 3–4.9 μm). Further descriptions of this species claimed to confirm these characteristics ( Lambe 1895 ; Laubenfels 1961 ; Lee et al. 2007 ; Austin et al. 2014 ; Table 9 ). TABLE 8. Spicule measurements of Suberites aff. latus . Min=minimum, Max=maximum, SD=standard deviation, N=number of spicules measured.
Specimen Spicules Length (μm) Width (μm) N
Min Mean SD Max Min Mean SD Max
UCSUR Tylostyles I 70 96.0 10.9 110 4 4.9 0.4 6 30
07-000014 Tylostyles II 150 237.2 32.6 310 4 5.7 1.1 8 30
UCSUR Tylostyles I 70 112.3 21.2 145 2 4.4 1.3 8 20
07-000016 Tylostyles II 150 210.8 39.9 280 4 5.0 0.4 6 20
UCSUR Tylostyles I 90 115.1 15.9 145 2 4.6 0.7 5 20
07-000052 Tylostyles II 150 214.9 32.1 280 4 5.5 1.2 8 24
Centrotylotes 18 31.6 7.3 50 - - - - 21
UCSUR Tylostyles I 80 113.6 16.8 145 2 3.6 0.9 5 30
07-000054 Tylostyles II 170 224.5 35.8 285 4 5.0 0.4 6 20
Centrotylotes 18 25.0 4.7 30 - - - - 4
UCSUR Tylostyles I 95 125.9 17.2 145 4 5.3 1.2 8 20
07-000068 Tylostyles II 178 217.7 21.2 275 4 7.1 1.6 10 28
UCSUR Tylostyles I 80 123.6 21.5 145 2 4.1 1.1 6 20
07-000074 Tylostyles II 150 195.1 30.4 275 2 4.3 0.8 5 26
Centrotylotes 28 36.3 6.9 43 - - - - 3
UCSUR Tylostyles I 110 124.5 13.3 145 5 4.8 0.6 6 20
07-000077 Tylostyles II 155 220.1 44.3 280 4 5.9 1.2 8 24
Centrotylotes 22 33.4 8.1 50 - - - - 20
MNRJ Tylostyles I 92 121.8 20.1 161 3 5.5 1.4 7 20
12882 Tylostyles II 194 238.6 20.2 274 5 7.6 1.4 9 20
Centrotylotes 43 - - - - - - - 1
MNRJ Tylostyles I 95 129.9 19.8 171 3 4.2 0.7 5 20
13688 Tylostyles II 207 239.9 17.5 275 4 5.0 0.9 7 20
Centrotylotes 17 29.1 7.3 44 - - - - 20
MNRJ Tylostyles I 104 147.3 27.4 203 3 4.7 0.9 7 20
13697 Tylostyles II 200 245.7 29.0 300 3 5.5 1.2 8 20
MNRJ Tylostyles I 77 102.4 20.9 162 3 4.4 0.6 5 20
13698 Tylostyles II 193 244.3 17.6 269 3 6.7 1.3 8 20
The Peruvian specimens mostly match the descriptions of Austin et al. (2014) from NE Pacific, mainly in the skeleton arrangement and spicule characteristics. In our analysed specimens, the tendency to form reticulated choanosomal meshes, the presence of ectosomal tufts of small and large tylostyles and the two categories of tylostyles and centrotylote strongyles/oxeas of similar sizes were also observed. Concerning the presence of microscleres, Austin et al. (2014) indicated that microspined centrotylote strongyles/oxeas could be common, rare, or absent among specimens, which is also observed in the specimens from Peru , without any notorious restriction by location. Despite this, there are some differences. While species of Austin et al. (2014) can have encrusting to massive amorphous form and brownish yellow to brownish red-orange colour in life, the Peruvian specimens are encrusting to massive but with rather small lobes and orange in life. Moreover, Austin et al. (2014) reported S. latus from deeper ( 150 m ) subarctic waters (Alaska). FIGURE 8. Suberites aff. latus Lambe, 1893 . A–B, live specimen (MNRJ 13698); C, tangential section of the ectosome in ground section (MNRJ 13698); D, skeleton architecture in transverse ground section (MNRJ 13698); E–F, tylostyles I & II, respectively; G–H, tylostyles heads of E–F. Scale bars: A, approx. 2 cm; B, 1 cm; C, 200 µm; D, 500 µm; E–F, 100 µm; G–H, 20 µm. FIGURE 9. Suberites aff. latus Lambe, 1893 . A–B, live specimen of the encrusting form (MNRJ 13688); C, skeleton architecture in transverse ground section (MNRJ 13688); D–E, tylostyles I & II respectively; F–G, tylostyles heads of D–E; H–K, centrotylotes. Scale bars: A, approx. 5 cm; B, 1 cm; C, 500 μm; D–E, 100 μm; F–G, 20 μm; H–K, 10 μm. TABLE 9. Comparative table of records of Suberites latus including locality, external morphology, skeleton organisation and spicule category and sizes.
Suberites latus Locality and ecology External morphology Ectosome Choanosome Spicule category and sizes (μm)
Lambe (1893) , original British Columbia Inter- Subhemispheric to lobated Dermal membrane Tylo- Confused Tylostyles I: 170 x 9
description tidal, on hermit crab Yellowish-brown (in spirit) styles I slighty protrud- Tylostyles II Tylostyles II: 294–524 x 13
ing the surface No microscleres
Lambe (1895) , Bering Sea and North Tylostyles I Tylostyles II Tylostyles I: 91 x 6
as S. suberea Pacific Subtidal Tylostyles II: 406 x 9
No hermit crabs Centrotylote strongyles: 32 x 3–4.9
de Laubenfels (1932) , California Subhemispherical to massive Tylostyles I packed and Fleshy and confused Tylostyles I: 70 x 5
as Ficulina suberea lata Intertidal to subtidal Bright orange (in life) protruding the surface Tylostyles II: 590 x 12
No hermit crabs Pale drab (preserved) No microscleres
de Laubenfels (1961) , as San Juan Islands, Massive Dense cortex Spicules densely packed Tylostyles: 280 x 5–180* x 6
Choanites suberea var. lata Washington Gray or white (in life) Spicules pointing to Distinctive gross canals Ectosomal probably smaller
On hermit crab surface Centrotylote microstrongyles: 24
Lee et al. (2007) California Semispherical and lobated Dermal membrane Confused Tylostyles: 90–680 x 2.5–12
Deep waters. Yellow-tan to yellow-orange Few tracts towards the Centrotylote strongyles: 12.3–56 x
On hermit crab (in life) surface 1.2–4.0
Yellowish-brown (in ethanol) Rare styles or oxeas
Austin et al. (2014) British Columbia and Thin crust to massive Dense layer of Irregularly distributed Tylostyles I: 103–153 x 5–10
Alaska Brownish yellow to brownish Tylostyles I aligned and Tylostyles II Tylostyles II: 203–360 x 5–12.5
Intertidal to deep waters red-orange (in life). protruding the surface Centrotylote strongyles or oxeas:
On hermit crab Tylostyles II 20–60 x 2.5–5
*Misprint for 380 or 480 ( Austin et al. 2014 ) The distance of the over 7,000 km existing between the occurrences of the Peruvian specimens and what was until now known as S. latus , besides the differences aforementioned, lead us to conclude that our Peruvian species should be better assigned as Suberites aff. latus . In previous descriptions of S. latus , there has been no mention of a reticulated skeleton, but rather a confused one ( Lambe 1893 ; de Laubenfels 1932 ; Lee et al. 2007 ). In addition, S. latus is usually found associated with hermit crabs ( Lambe 1893 ; de Laubenfels 1961 ; Lee et al. 2007 ; Austin et al. 2014 ), which was not observed in the specimens collected in Peru . Considering the species previously reported from the SE Pacific, namely Suberites cranium Hajdu, DesqueyrouxFaúndez, Carvalho, Lôbo-Hajdu & Willenz, 2013 from Chiloé Island ( Chile ), S. puncturatus Thiele, 1905 from Coquimbo ( Chile ) and S. ruber Thiele, 1905 from Almirantazgo Sound ( Chile ), clear differences can be highlighted when compared with the specimens from Peru . Suberites cranium presents nearly hemispheric habitus, ectosomal skeleton in palisade composed of tylostyles, mostly confused choanosomal skeleton and thicker tylostyles in both size categories (≤ 16 μm). Different from S . aff. latus , S . puncturatus presents tylostrongyles and S . ruber bears choanosomal tylostyles which are larger (≤ 700 μm), often sinuous and with heads irregularly shaped. Moreover, none of these species bears microscleres.