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Sponges are recognized as a diverse and abundant component of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems worldwide. In Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary region within the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, sponges thrive among diverse biological and geological habitats between 16–200+ m deep (i.e., coral reefs and communities, algal nodules, and coralline algae reefs, mesophotic reefs, patch reefs, scarps, ridges, soft substrate, and rocky outcrops). A synoptic guide is presented, developed by studying common sponge species in the region, through direct sampling and in-situ photographic records. A total of 64 species is included: 60 are Demospongiae (14 orders), two are Hexactinellida (one order), and two are Homoscleromorpha (one order). Thirty-four taxa are identified to species and 13 were identified to have affinity with, but were not identical to, a known species. Fifteen taxa could only be identified to genus level, and the species remain as uncertain (incerta sedis), with the potential to represent new species or variants of known species. One specimen received only a family assignation. This study extends geographic or mesophotic occurrence data for eleven known species and includes several potentially new species. This work improves our knowledge of Gulf of Mexico sponge biodiversity and highlights the importance of the region for scientists and resource managers.

Sponges are recognized as a diverse and abundant component of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems worldwide. In Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary region within the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, sponges thrive among diverse biological and geological habitats between 16-200+ m deep (i.e., coral reefs and communities, algal nodule and coralline algae reefs, mesophotic reefs, patch reefs, scarps, ridges, soft substrate, and rocky outcrops). We present a synoptic guide developed by studying common sponge species in the region, through direct sampling and in situ photographic records. A total of 63 species are included: 60 are Demospongiae (14 orders), 2 are Hexactinellida (1 order), 2 are Homoscleromorpha (1 order). Thirty-nine taxa are identified to species and 11 were identified to have affinity with, but are not identical to, a known species. Thirteen taxa could only be identified to genus level at this time, and the species remain as uncertain (incerta sedis), with the potential to constitute new species or variants of known species. One specimen received only a family assignation. This study extends geographic or mesophotic occurrence data for 11 known species and includes several potentially new species. This work improves our knowledge of Gulf of Mexico sponge biodiversity and highlights the importance of the region for scientists and resource managers.

Background:Among all present demosponges, lithistids represent a polyphyletic group with exceptionally well preserved fossils dating back to the Cambrian. Knowledge of their recent diversity, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean (TWA) where they are common in deep waters, is scarce making any comparison between present and past major ‘lithistid’ faunas difficult. In addition, the lack of sufficient molecular and morphological data hamper any predictions on phylogenetic relationships or phylodiversity from this region. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI, Fort Pierce, Florida) holds the largest collection of TWA lithistid sponges worldwide, however, the majority remain to be taxonomically identified and revised. Methods/Principal Findings:In this study we provide sequences of 249 lithistid demosponges using two independent molecular markers (28S rDNA (C1-D2) and cox1 mtDNA). In addition, a morphological documentation of 70 lithistid specimens is provided in the database of the Sponge Barcoding Project (SBP). This integrated dataset represents the largest and most comprehensive of the TWA lithistids to date. The phylogenetic diversity of ‘lithistid’ demosponges in the Bahamas and Jamaica are high in comparison to other TWA regions; Theonellidae and Corallistidae dominate the fauna, while Neopeltidae and Macandrewiidae are rare. A new tetractinellid suborder, one new genus and several new species are recognized and the Pacific ‘lithistid’ genera,HerengeriaandAwhiowhio, are reported from the TWA for the first time. The higher-taxa relationships of desma-bearing tetractinellids are discussed and topics for revision suggested. Conclusion:This first integrative approach of TWA ‘lithistid’ demosponges contributes to a better understanding of their phylogenetic affinities, diversity and bathymetric distribution patterns within the TWA. As in the Pacific, the TWA ‘lithistid’ demosponges dominate deep-water habitats. Deeper taxonomic investigations will undoubtedly contribute to a better comparison between present major ‘lithistid’ faunas and their fossil record in the Mesozoic.

Discorhabdella ruetzleri n. sp. (Figure 2) Material collected: Holotype HBOM 003:02021 (sample 10 – V – 15 – 2 – 021). Type locality: Gulf of Mexico, north Pulley Ridge, 80 m deep, on a ledge. Mohawk ROV dive 149. Collected by John Reed. Coordinates: latitude 25 0 16.8990 N, longitude 83 0 37.7850 W. Etymology: the species is named in honor of Dr. Klaus Rützler, our mentor and an important contributor to the knowledge of sponges from the Caribbean and world-wide. External morphology: thinly encrusting (1–3 mm) with amorphous, bulgy protuberances (Fig. 2A). Surface prominently hispid microscopically. Orange reddish color alive; white in spirit. Spicules: long principal tylostyles to subtylostyles with predominantly smooth tyles, and less abundant slightly tuberose tyles in a ratio of 7:1 (Fig. 2B); principal subtylostyles measure 470– 598 –810 x 5 –10.5–13 µm in length and width; small ectosomal substylostyles with smooth elongated tyles (260– 300 –340 x 3–4 –7.55 µm), sigmas (12–18 x – 29.6 – 40 x 2.5 – 5 – 7.5 µm, with spiny heads 7.5 – 15 – 20 µm wide (Fig. 2C, D); some pseudoastrose acanthostyles with a smoothly elongated apical spine, others with spiny areas distal from the terminal end of the apical spine (Fig. 2C, E); several smaller smooth forms of the acanthostyles are considered early growth forms of this spicule category. Extremely thin microspined oxea (15–18 µm Skeleton: The skeletal arrangement consists of a hymedesmoid arrangement of a single layer of large principal tylostyles to subtylostyles, which pierce the sponge surface. The tyles of the principal megascleres are embedded in a spongin layer that is also echinated by densely packed pseudoastrose acanthostyles; ectosomal smooth subtylostyles are around and between the principal choanosomal subtylostyles. Sigmas and microxea are abundant in the ectosome. Two isochelae observed in the choanosme in one transversal section. Remarks: Pseudoastrose acanthostyles typical of genus, and with the apical spine described for D. hindei Boury-Esnault, Pansini & Uriz, 1992 and D. urizae Maldonado, Carmona, Van Soest, & Pomponi 2001 are abundant in this species (Fig. 2C). The species presents skeletal similarities to D. urizae and D. littoralis, the two species described from the eastern Pacific side of Panama. D. ruetzleri n. sp. is very similar in skeletal composition to D. urizae Maldonado et al. 2001, a dark red thin crust originally collected on a boulder between 53 – 75 m deep in the Gulf of Chiriqui, off the Pacific coast of Panama, and later collected from the Gulf of California at 344 m (Aguilar-Camacho et al. 2012). The main difference between D. ruetzleri n. sp. and D. urizae is the predominance of smooth tylostyles (both ectosomal and choanosomal) in D. ruetzleri n. sp. versus the predominant and strongly tuberose tyles of D. urizae principal choanosomal tylostyles. The species are futher distinguished by the thickness of the principal tylostyles and the considerably smaller microoxea in D. ruetzleri n. sp. (Table 1). The discretely spined microxea of D. urizae and the shape and size of the pseudoastrose acanthostyles, with the spinose bulgy tyle and shortened spined base are very similar to D. ruetzleri n. sp., suggesting a potential common origin of these two species. D. littoralis Maldonado et al. 2001 from the eastern Pacific lacks isochela, while in D. ruetzleri n. sp. they are very rare but observed in one skeletal section. The smooth subtylostyles of D. littoralis share similarity with the subtylostyles of D. ruetzleri n. sp. The color in D. urizae is described as dark red, and D. littoralis is bright red orange, while for D. ruetzleri n. sp. the color is orange reddish that in spirit becomes completely white.

Discorhabdella ruetzleri n. sp. (Figure 2) Material collected: Holotype HBOM 003:02021 (sample 10 ��� V ��� 15 ��� 2 ��� 021). Type locality: Gulf of Mexico, north Pulley Ridge, 80 m deep, on a ledge. Mohawk ROV dive 149. Collected by John Reed. Coordinates: latitude 25 0 16.8990 N, longitude 83 0 37.7850 W. Etymology: the species is named in honor of Dr. Klaus R��tzler, our mentor and an important contributor to the knowledge of sponges from the Caribbean and world-wide. External morphology: thinly encrusting (1���3 mm) with amorphous, bulgy protuberances (Fig. 2A). Surface prominently hispid microscopically. Orange reddish color alive; white in spirit. Spicules: long principal tylostyles to subtylostyles with predominantly smooth tyles, and less abundant slightly tuberose tyles in a ratio of 7:1 (Fig. 2B); principal subtylostyles measure 470��� 598 ���810 x 5 ���10.5���13 ��m in length and width; small ectosomal substylostyles with smooth elongated tyles (260��� 300 ���340 x 3���4 ���7.55 ��m), sigmas (12���18 x ��� 29.6 ��� 40 x 2.5 ��� 5 ��� 7.5 ��m, with spiny heads 7.5 ��� 15 ��� 20 ��m wide (Fig. 2C, D); some pseudoastrose acanthostyles with a smoothly elongated apical spine, others with spiny areas distal from the terminal end of the apical spine (Fig. 2C, E); several smaller smooth forms of the acanthostyles are considered early growth forms of this spicule category. Extremely thin microspined oxea (15���18 ��m Skeleton: The skeletal arrangement consists of a hymedesmoid arrangement of a single layer of large principal tylostyles to subtylostyles, which pierce the sponge surface. The tyles of the principal megascleres are embedded in a spongin layer that is also echinated by densely packed pseudoastrose acanthostyles; ectosomal smooth subtylostyles are around and between the principal choanosomal subtylostyles. Sigmas and microxea are abundant in the ectosome. Two isochelae observed in the choanosme in one transversal section. Remarks: Pseudoastrose acanthostyles typical of genus, and with the apical spine described for D. hindei Boury-Esnault, Pansini & Uriz, 1992 and D. urizae Maldonado, Carmona, Van Soest, & Pomponi 2001 are abundant in this species (Fig. 2C). The species presents skeletal similarities to D. urizae and D. littoralis, the two species described from the eastern Pacific side of Panama. D. ruetzleri n. sp. is very similar in skeletal composition to D. urizae Maldonado et al. 2001, a dark red thin crust originally collected on a boulder between 53 ��� 75 m deep in the Gulf of Chiriqui, off the Pacific coast of Panama, and later collected from the Gulf of California at 344 m (Aguilar-Camacho et al. 2012). The main difference between D. ruetzleri n. sp. and D. urizae is the predominance of smooth tylostyles (both ectosomal and choanosomal) in D. ruetzleri n. sp. versus the predominant and strongly tuberose tyles of D. urizae principal choanosomal tylostyles. The species are futher distinguished by the thickness of the principal tylostyles and the considerably smaller microoxea in D. ruetzleri n. sp. (Table 1). The discretely spined microxea of D. urizae and the shape and size of the pseudoastrose acanthostyles, with the spinose bulgy tyle and shortened spined base are very similar to D. ruetzleri n. sp., suggesting a potential common origin of these two species. D. littoralis Maldonado et al. 2001 from the eastern Pacific lacks isochela, while in D. ruetzleri n. sp. they are very rare but observed in one skeletal section. The smooth subtylostyles of D. littoralis share similarity with the subtylostyles of D. ruetzleri n. sp. The color in D. urizae is described as dark red, and D. littoralis is bright red orange, while for D. ruetzleri n. sp. the color is orange reddish that in spirit becomes completely white., Published as part of D��az, M. Cristina & Pomponi, Shirley A., 2018, New Poecilosclerida from mesophotic coral reefs and the deep-sea escarpment in the Pulley Ridge region, eastern Gulf of Mexico: Discorhabdella ruetzleri n. sp. (Crambeidae) and Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) vaceleti n. sp. (Hymedesmiidae), pp. 229-237 in Zootaxa 4466 (1) on pages 232-234, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4466.1.17, http://zenodo.org/record/1442092, {"references":["Boury-Esnault, N., Pansini, M. & Uriz, M. J. (1992) A new Discorhabdella (Porifera, Demospongiae), a new Tethyan relict of pre-Messinian biota. Journal of Natural History, 26, 1 - 7. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939200770011","Maldonado, M., Carmona, M. C., Van Soest, R. W. M. & Pomponi, S. A. (2001) First record of the sponge genera Crambe and Discorhabdella for the eastern Pacific, with description of three new species. Journal of Natural History, 35 (9), 1261 - 1276. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301750384293","Aguilar-Camacho, J. M. & Carballo, J. L. (2012) New and little-known Poecilosclerid sponges from the Mexican Pacific Ocean. Zoological Studies, 51 (7), 1139 - 1153."]}

Callyspongia (Callyspongia) pedroi sp. nov. (Figs. 1a���e, 2a���d) Material examined. Holotype: ANC 0 2.034, Cuba, Joint Cuba ��� U.S. Expedition R/ V F.G. Walton Smith, site C��� 12A, Faro Roncali (W coast, Cuba), 21.868604�� N 84.962657�� W, depth 62.5 m, mesophotic coral reef, 22 May 2017, Collectors: M. C. D��az & L. Busutil. Description. External morphology: Delicate cylindrical branches (3���6 mm in diameter, 10���14 cm long) that rarely anastomose, smooth surface to the naked eye, microconulose when observed microscopically (Fig. 1a���e). No distinct base, but specimens attach to the substrate at a few points. Oscules 1���3 mm in diameter (Fig. 1d���e), oval and flush with the surface, separated by 3���4 mm, arranged in rows on one side of the branch. The diameter at the tips sharply decreases, ending always in a pointed, bent end. Color light reddish to pink externally, tan internally. Tan in alcohol. Smooth surface, but rough to the touch. Soft, flimsy in consistency. No sand or foreign material on the surface. Subdermal round cavities (0.5���1 mm), abundant throughout the body, are evident to the naked eye (Fig. 1d). Spicules: Fusiform oxeas (Fig. 2d), 60��� 82.4 ���100 x 1.25��� 2.5 ���5 ��m. Skeleton: Ectosome and choanosome have well���developed primary and secondary tangential fibers (Fig. 2a��� c); no tertiaries can be distinguished. Primary fibers (20���40 ��m in diameter); secondary fibers (10���15 ��m in diameter). In the ectosome, large meshes (120���425 ��m in diameter) and smaller meshes (50���350 ��m). In the choanosome, a longitudinal section of the branch shows a peripheral condensation of the skeleton, with regular and condensed meshes at the surface that become more variable towards the interior of the branch. Meshes are angular, with various shapes ranging from triangular, to square or polygonal. Large primary meshes range from 200���500 ��m diameter, while smaller secondary meshes are 40���330 ��m. All fibers are cored, primaries with 1���6 spicules, and secondaries with 1���3 spicules (Fig. 2c). The presence of a peripheral condensation of the reticulation, and overall skeletal morphology indicates the closeness of this species with the subgenus Callyspongia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864. Distribution and ecology. Northwest, west, southwest, southeast and northeast coasts of Cuba (Table 2), mesophotic coral reef, depth range 44.4���102.4 m. At site C���50 (Table 1, depth 91.1 m) another specimen of similar size (12 cm long) and pink in color, similar to the holotype (Fig. 1b), was observed but not collected. Remarks. Based on external morphology, primarily the delicate nature of the branches, Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov. is similar to Callyspongia arcesiosa De Laubenfels, 1936 and Callyspongia (C.) densasclera Lehnert & Van Soest, 1999. However, Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov. differs from Callyspongia arcesiosa by the larger size of its fibers, and the diameter of the meshes that are at least double in size. The spicules of Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov. are 30% of the size of the spicules of Callyspongia (C.) densasclera, which is also described as having an abnormally dense conglomeration of spicules (measuring 184���232 x 6.5���8 ��m) in the fibers, a fact not observed for Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov. Callyspongia (C.) densasclera has hastate oxeas, occasionally styles, while in Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov., oxeas are always fusiform (Tables 3, 4)., Published as part of Busutil, Linnet, Garc��a-Hern��ndez, Mar��a R., D��az, M. Cristina & Pomponi, Shirley A., 2018, Mesophotic sponges of the genus Callyspongia (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida) from Cuba, with the description of two new species in Zootaxa 4466 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4466.1.9, http://zenodo.org/record/1442124, {"references":["Duchassaing de Fonbressin, P. & Michelotti, G. (1864) Spongiaires de la mer Caraibe. Natuurkundige Uerhandelingen van de Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen te Haarlem, 21 (2), 1 - 124.","De Laubenfels, M. W. (1936) A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas, in particular, and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication, 467 (Tortugas Laboratory Paper 30), 1 - 225.","Lehnert, H. & Van Soest, R. W. M. (1999) More North Jamaican deep fore - reef sponges. Beaufortia, 49 (12), 141 - 169."]}

Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) vaceleti n. sp. (Figure 3) Material collected: Holotype HBOM 0 0 3:0 2020 (sample 19 ��� IX ��� 11 ��� 1 ��� 007). Type locality: Gulf of Mexico, south of Pulley Ridge, 773 m deep, escarpment, on sediment. Collected by John Reed and Shirley Pomponi. Coordinates: latitude 24 0 39.600 N, longitude 83o55.0420 W. Etymology: The species is named in honor of Dr. Jean Vacelet, our mentor and an important contributor to the knowledge of sponge systematics and ecology from the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. External morphology: Blue, with irregular whitish spots, thin crust (1 mm thick), forming small patches (1 ��� 4 cm 2), growing over snails, sides of solitary corals, and calcareous tubes (Fig. 3A). Surface smooth and shiny. Discretely microhispid microscopically. Spicules: Large acanthostyles (280 ������ 345 ��� 400 x 10 ��� 10.3 ��� 12.5 ��m), with inflated head and large tuberculated spines (30 ��� 35 ��m diameter) (Fig. 3C); smaller acanthostyles (100 ��� 137 ��� 150 x 7.5 ��� 9 ��� 10 ��m) with spiny heads (12.5 ��� 15 ��m in diameter) microspined all along (Fig. 3D); tornotes with stongyloid to styloid morphology (370 ��� 461 ��� 540 x 7.5 ��� 8 ��� 10 ��m) (Fig. 3B); abundant arcuate isochela 45 ��� 60 ��m long, and a thick flattened shaft 5 ��� 10 ��m thick (Fig. 3E ��� F). Skeleton: An hymedesmioid arrangement of large and small acanthostyles, that stand singly erect on a strong spongin basal layer, and tornotes that are strewn in the choanosome and in the ectosome (Fig. 3C). Remarks: The combination of an intense blue color, large tornotes (> 400 ��m in length), and the size of the acanthostyles differentiate H. (H.) vaceleti n.sp. from other Hymedesmia spp. from the western Atlantic (Table 2). The closest species among the previously described Hymedesmia (Table 2) is H. (H.) nummota De Laubenfels 1936, a thin pale gray crust (0.5 ��� 2 mm thick), with an irregularly lumpy surface growing on a piece of dead coral, collected in deep water (1047 m) off the coast of Florida (between Dry Tortugas and Cuba). The other seven species of Hymedesmia currently described from the western Atlantic have considerably smaller and thinner tornotes (H. (H). nummota differ in size ranges from those in H. (H.) vaceleti n. sp. The size of the two types of acanthotylostyles of H. (H.) nummota are triple the length of those in H. (H.) vaceleti n. sp., while the tornote strongyloids of H. (H.)vaceleti n. sp. can be 100 ��m smaller than those in H. (H.) nummota. The size range of tornotes is very conserved and a significant character that distinguishes the different species of Hymedesmia from the western Atlantic (Van Soest, 2009). Therefore, taking into account the tremendous disparity in the size of acanthotylostyles and the distinct blue color of H. (H.) vaceleti, we consider these differences sufficient evidence to classify the Pulley Ridge specimen as a different species from H.(H.) nummota., Published as part of D��az, M. Cristina & Pomponi, Shirley A., 2018, New Poecilosclerida from mesophotic coral reefs and the deep-sea escarpment in the Pulley Ridge region, eastern Gulf of Mexico: Discorhabdella ruetzleri n. sp. (Crambeidae) and Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) vaceleti n. sp. (Hymedesmiidae), pp. 229-237 in Zootaxa 4466 (1) on page 234, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4466.1.17, http://zenodo.org/record/1442092, {"references":["De Laubenfels, M. W. (1936) A discussion of the sponge fauna of the Dry Tortugas in particular and the West Indies in general, with material for a revision of the families and orders of the Porifera. Carnegie Institute of Washington, 467 (30), 1 - 225.","Van Soest, R. W. M. (2009) New sciophilous sponges from the Caribbean (Porifera: Demospongiae). Zootaxa, 2107, 1 - 40."]}

Callyspongia (Cladochalina) alcoladoi sp. nov. (Figs. 3a���e, 4a���d) Material examined. Holotype: ANC 0 2.035, Cuba, Joint Cuba ��� U.S. Expedition R/V F.G. Walton Smith, site C��� 53B, Punta del Fraile (NW Punta Mais��, Eastern tip of Cuba), 20.323166�� N 74.232412�� W, depth 51.5 m, mesophotic coral reef, 5 June 2017, Collectors: M.C. D��az & L. Busutil. Description. External morphology: Delicate, smooth ropey and cylindrical branches (3���8 mm in diameter, 20��� 30 cm long), profusely branching and anastomosing, with a few spiny projections (2���4 mm wide, 2���4 cm long) that occasionally arise from the branches. The diameter is variable along the length of the branches, sharply decreasing at the tips, ending always in pointed ends (Fig. 3a���e). No distinct base, but specimens fixed to the substrate in two or three points. Oscules (1���2 mm in diameter) round and slightly sunken in relation to the surface (Fig. 3d���e), located in rows on one side of the branch, at variable positions (0.2���2 cm apart). Color gray-pinkish externally, tan internally. Tan in alcohol. Very smooth surface, visually and to the touch. Firm but compressible in consistency. No sand or foreign material on the surface. Abundant subdermal round cavities (0.25���0.8 mm) throughout the sponge are visible to the naked eye (Fig. 3d). Spicules: Oxeas (Fig. 4d), mostly mucronate, few fusiform, 67.6��� 73.3 ��� 85 x 1.5��� 2.3 ���3 ��m. Skeleton: Ectosome well���developed primary, secondary and tertiary tangential reticulation (Fig. 4 a���c). Primary fibers (30���150 ��m in diameter), secondary fibers (15���30 ��m) and tertiary fibers (8���16 ��m), with primary meshes (80���250 ��m), secondary meshes (70���210 ��m) and tertiary meshes (30���70 ��m). In the choanosome, a longitudinal section of the branch shows primary fibers (30���110 ��m in diameter) that run longitudinally along the branches and are connected by secondary fibers (8���25 ��m). Primaries occasionally anastomose forming wide, large meshes (60���500 ��m), while secondary or smaller, more abundant meshes (40���200 ��m) occur within them. Meshes are angular with various shapes ranging from triangular, to square or polygonal. Only primary and secondary fibers are cored, primaries with 1���6 spicules, and secondaries with 1���2 spicules (Fig. 4c). The pronounced development of a tertiary reticulation in the ectosome suggests the inclusion of this species in the subgenus Cladochalina Carter, 1885, despite the smooth surface of this species. Distribution and ecology. East wall of Bah��a de Cochinos (S coast of Cuba) and Punta del Fraile (NW Punta Mais��, Eastern tip of Cuba)(Table 2), mesophotic coral reef, depth range: 51.5���73.4 m. A larger specimen (approx. 1 m long) highly ramified and yellowish in color (Fig. 3b) was observed but not collected. Remarks. Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. does not represent the typical Cladochalina, which is characterized, by having the primaries forming bundles or fibrofascicles, and usually have species with spinose surface projections (i.e. mention here a couple of common Cladochalina species with spiny projections). However, the highly developed tertiary reticulation in the ectosome (typical among Cladochalina species), and the lack of a peripheral condensation in the reticle typical of the subgenus Callyspongia support the closer similarity of Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. to this subgenus. The occasional spinose projections observed in Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. may represent certain similarity to the spinose projections found in Cladochalina species. A comparative molecular study is necessary to validate the phylogenetic value of the current subgenera classification and the evolutionary relationships within the Callyspongia genus. Callyspongia (C.) pedroi sp. nov., Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. and Callyspongia (C.) strongylophora Hartman, 1955 have similar characteristics, such as lack of a distinct base, and branches with oscules arranged in rows. However, Callyspongia (C.) strongylophora forms a tangled mass of irregularly anastomosing and dividing branches, with strongylote spicules, while the other two species are branching, rarely anastomosing, and have oxeas as spicules (Tables 3, 4). Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. and Callyspongia (C.) scutica Van Soest, 2017 are close in morphology, due to their smooth surface and pointed ends of the branches, but Callyspongia (C.) scutica branches are often somewhat flattened, with a tendency to have the branches in one plane, while Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. has cylindrical branches, and branches in multiple planes. Furthermore, the primaries of Callyspongia (C.) alcoladoi sp. nov. in the ectosome are much thicker than those ones of Callyspongia (C.) scutica, and the fusiform oxeas are much larger in Callyspongia (C.) scutica (Tables 3, 4). Etymology. Both species are dedicated to Dr. Pedro M. Alcolado, who dedicated his life to the study of marine sponges and made important contributions to the knowledge of Caribbean sponge taxonomy and ecology., Published as part of Busutil, Linnet, Garc��a-Hern��ndez, Mar��a R., D��az, M. Cristina & Pomponi, Shirley A., 2018, Mesophotic sponges of the genus Callyspongia (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida) from Cuba, with the description of two new species in Zootaxa 4466 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4466.1.9, http://zenodo.org/record/1442124, {"references":["Hartman, W. D. (1955) A Collection of Sponges from the West Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula with Descriptions of Two New Species. Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean, 5 (3), 161 - 189.","Van Soest, R. W. M. (2017) Sponges of the Guyana Shelf. Zootaxa, 4217 (1), 1 - 225. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4217.1.1"]}

Genus Callyspongia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 Type species: Callyspongia fallax Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (by subsequent designation; Burton 1934). Diagnosis: Growth form varying greatly, from massive to ramose, lamellate, foliaceous to infundibuliform, tubular or lobate, repent or erect. Ectosomal skeleton a tangential network formed by secondary and, in places, finer tertiary fibers (triple mesh ectosomal layer), or less ramified and with regular size of mesh (single mesh ectosomal layer). Choanosomal skeleton, a well���developed network of primary longitudinal fibers, fasciculated or non��� fasciculated, spongin sheath always present. Primary fibers ramified to form secondary and tertiary fine fibers and a tertiary choanosomal network, or non���ramified, connected by short, parallel, non���ramified, secondary fibers. There may be a peripheral condensation of the choanosomal skeleton (Desqueyroux��� Fa��ndez & Valentine 2002)., Published as part of Busutil, Linnet, Garc��a-Hern��ndez, Mar��a R., D��az, M. Cristina & Pomponi, Shirley A., 2018, Mesophotic sponges of the genus Callyspongia (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida) from Cuba, with the description of two new species in Zootaxa 4466 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4466.1.9, http://zenodo.org/record/1442124, {"references":["Duchassaing de Fonbressin, P. & Michelotti, G. (1864) Spongiaires de la mer Caraibe. Natuurkundige Uerhandelingen van de Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen te Haarlem, 21 (2), 1 - 124.","Burton, M. (1934) Sponges. Scientific Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928 - 29, 4 (14), 513 - 621.","Desqueyroux-Faundez, R. & Valentine, C. (2002) Family Callyspongiidae de Laubenfels, 1936. In: Hooper, J. N. A. & Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds.), Systema Porifera, a guide to the Classification of sponges. Uol. I. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 835 - 851. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 1 - 4615 - 0747 - 5 _ 90"]}