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Neopetrosia pandora de Laubenfels, 1954 Figure 1D, 2D, 3D, Table 1 Neopetrosia pandora de Laubenfels, 1954: 81, Fig. 49. Material examined: Holotype: USNM 23046, Palau, Matalim, East Ponape, 1 August 1949, 5m depth, coll. M.W. de Laubenfels. Description (amended from de Laubenfels 1954): A repent or sprawling ramose sponge, reaching a maximum length of at least 13 cm. The diameter of the branches is 9 mm; oscules are about 2 mm in diameter and 2 cm apart. Colour. Colour in life is dull olive drab. Consistency. Slightly spongy but also somewhat stiff, tearing very easily. Spicules. Oxeas in a range of 100- 119.8 -150 x 2.5- 2.9 -5 µm. Skeleton. Less dense, more irregular isodictyal spicule network with one size of spicule. Remarks: De Laubenfels (1954) described that the consistency of the type specimen was slightly spongy, somewhat stiff and tearing very easily. The surface of the type specimen does not possess an ectosomal specialisation, which is a typical characteristic of sponges from Family Chalinidae. Little or lack of spongin in skeleton was observed. The spicules are also much thinner than the other spicules of type specimens and samples analysed in this study., Published as part of Setiawan, Edwin, Erpenbeck, Dirk, Wörheide, Gert & De Voogd, Nicole J., 2018, Bearing the wrong identity: A case study of an Indo-Pacific common shallow water sponge of the genus Neopetrosia (Haplosclerida; Petrosiidae), pp. 43-58 in Zootaxa 4500 (1) on page 48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4500.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5318940, {"references":["De Laubenfels, M. W. (1954) The Sponges of the West-Central Pacific. In: Oregon State Monographs, Studies Zoology. Oregon State College, Corvallis, pp. 1 - 306. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6516"]}

Dragmacidon cf. australe (Bergquist, 1970) (Fig. 2, 5) Pseudaxinella australis Bergquist, 1970: 20; Hooper & L��vi 1993: 1439; Hooper & Wiedenmayer 1994: 80; Alvarez et al. 2000: 196 Dragmacidon australis.��� Alvarez & Hooper 2002: 735 Dragmacidon australe.��� Alvarez & Hooper 2009: 27 Material examined. HOLOTYPE.��� NMNZ Por. 26, Takatu Channel, Northland, New Zealand, 11 m depth. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS.��� RMNH POR. 3610, Indonesia, Bali, NE-side Pulau Serangan, off lighthouse, 8.7213 ��S, 115.2586 ��E, 17 m depth, 5 April 2001, #Bali 14 /NV/ 050401 / 75, coll. N.J. de Voogd. RMNH POR. 3615, Indonesia, Bali, SE-end Tulamben beach, 8.2777 ��S, 115.5958 ��E, 30 m depth, 12 April 2001, #Bal 22 / 110401 / 164, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 18711, Thailand, West of Ko Kudi, Samet Islands, Rayong, 12.57672 ��N, 101.5094 ��E, 4 m depth, 28 October 2001, coll. Sumaitt Putchakarn. Description. Shape (Fig. 5 A, B). Thickly encrusting and adapting to the substrate shape to massive-globular. Approximately 3���18 cm in diameter and/or 2 cm thick. Colour. Deep orange to red Consistency. Hard to incompressible in preserved stage. Oscula. From inconspicuous or minute, up to 5 mm in diameter, depending on the specimen. Surface. Brush-like, regularly covered with short and broad conules, fused laterally, creating a microreticulation at surface. Conules end with brushes of spicules. Skeleton (Fig. 5 C). Plumoreticulated to halichondroid; formed by thick plumose or plumo-echinated multispicular tracts, up 200���300 ��m thick, forming an irregular reticulation of large, rounded to oval meshes. Main tracts connected by shorter and relatively thinner plumose tracts. Spicules (Fig. 5 D, Table 4). Oxeas, 332.6���421.6 ��m x 14.2���24.4 ��m and styles 280.2���430.1 ��m x 13.4���20.7 ��m in similar proportions. Remarks. The material examined here is very similar in all their morphological and skeletal characteristics to that reported from northern Australia by Alvarez & Hooper (2009). This species is also very similar to Dragmacidon reticulatum (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) from the Central West Atlantic both in external morphology and spicule composition. A specimen from Thailand was also available for examination and is referred here to D. austral e with some hesitation. This specimen differed from the rest of the material examined in that is thinly encrusting and the reticulation of the skeleton seems to be incomplete and represented only by short plumose tracts ascending from a basal skeleton formed by spicules without any orientation and detritus. Unusual dichotriaenes and lophotriaenes were observed in the basal skeleton but is assumed here these spicules are foreign. Distribution. Dragmacidon australe was first recorded for New Zealand (Temperate Australasia realm). Additional records from GBR (Tropical Southwestern Pacific province) and northern Australia (Sahul Shelf province) were reported in Hooper & L��vi (1993) and Alvarez & Hooper (2009). This revision extends the distribution range of this species to Western Coral Triangle and Sunda Shelf [?](Fig. 2) provinces of the Central- West Indo-Pacific realm. The wide distribution of Dragmacidon australe suggests this species might be both a broadcaster and cosmopolitan or it might represent a complex of cryptic species that can be differentiated only with the use of genetic methods. No morphological characters are currently available to distinguish the different geographical populations. Specimen Locality Oxeas Styles RMNH POR. 3610 Bali 332.6���421.6 ��m (372.6 �� 22.6) 280.2���430.1 ��m (363.7 �� 38.7) x 14.2���24.4 ��m (18.6 �� 2.3) x 13.4���20.7 ��m (17.7 �� 1.8) ZMA Por. 18711 Thailand 247.1���414.8 ��m (332.6 �� 46.4) 268.9���497.6 ��m (367.2 �� 63.7), Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 457-459, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Bergquist, P. R. (1970) The marine fauna of New Zealand: Porifera, Demospongiae, Part 2. (Axinellida and Halichondrida). New Zealand Oceanographic Institute. Memoir, 51, 1 - 85, pls 81 - 20.","Hooper, J. N. A. & Levi, C. (1993) Axinellida from the New Caledonia Lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 7, 1395 - 1472. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1071 / IT 9931395","Hooper, J. N. A. & Wiedenmayer, F. (1994) Porifera. In: Wells, A. (Ed), Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 12. CSIRO, Melbourne, pp. 1 - 624.","Alvarez, B., Crisp, M. D., Driver, F., Hooper, J. N. A. & Van Soest, R. W. M. (2000) Phylogenetic relationships of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) using morphological and molecular data. Zoologica Scripta, 29, 169 - 198. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1046 / j. 1463 - 6409.2000.00029. x","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2002) Family Axinellidae. In: J. N. A. Hooper & Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds), Systema Porifera. A Guide to the Supraspecific Classification of the Phylum Porifera. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 724 - 747.","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the order Halichondrida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from northern Australia. Family Axinellidae. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 25, 17 - 42.","Ridley, S. O. & Dendy, A. (1886) Preliminary report on the Monaxonida collected by H. M. S \" Challenger \". Part I. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 5), 18, 325 - 351."]}

Axinella balinensis sp. nov (Fig. 2, 3) Material examined. HOLOTYPE.— RMNH POR. 3607, Indonesia, Bali, E-side Nusa Dua, off Club Med Hotel, N of channel, 8.785 °S 115.2317 °E, 15 m depth, 4 April 2001, #Bal 12 /NV/ 040401 /055, coll. N.J. de Voogd. PARATYPE.— RMNH POR. 3611, Indonesia, Bali, Tanjung Benoa, Loloan Benoa, Indonesia, 8.7627 °S, 115.2336 °E, 25 m depth, 7 April 2001, #Bal 17 /NV/ 070401 /086, coll. N.J. de Voogd. Description. Shape (Fig. 3 A). Bushy to flabelliform, 12 cm high by 15 cm wide, on short peduncle; with multiple branches, fused at base. Colour. Beige, orange. Oscula. Inconspicuous, irregularly distributed, with raised or flushed transparent rims, less than 1 cm. Surface. Pierced by subectosomal spicules, covered with flat and broad projections, in rows, longitudinally oriented. Skeleton (Fig. 3 B–C). Without ectosome specialisation. Choanosomal skeleton plumose and axially compressed. Extra-axial skeleton mostly halichondroid, but with longitudinal plumose-halichondroid axes diverging towards periphery. Spicules (Fig. 3 D, Table 2). Mixture of oxeas, thick and thin, styles, thick and thin anisoxeas in a large size range, 138.4–708.3 x 5.9–22.2 µm. Remarks. The material examined is assigned to Axinella provisionally for several reasons. The skeleton is axially compressed from which plumose tracts diverge in confusion towards surface. The spicule composition consists of oxeas and styles. It shares characteristics of the external shape, surface, and skeleton with dictyonellid genera such as Acanthella, but it lacks the typical strongyles that form part of the skeleton of that genus; or Phakettia, where the skeleton is usually formed by large styles; or Dictyonella, where there are no oxeas in the spicule complement and species are generally lobate. The skeleton and surface characteristics also resemble the doubtful axinellid genus Reniochalina, (Alvarez & Hooper 2009), but no sign of spination in the megascleres was found. The material might also belong to a new genus not related to Axinellidae. Thus additional, independent evidence from genetic studies is necessary to conclude with reliability the generic position of this species. Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 2). Found between 15–25 m depth. Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Phycopsis pesgalli sp. nov (Fig. 2, 9) Phycopsis NT0038.��� Przeslawski et al. 2014, 2015 (listed only). Material examined. HOLOTYPE.��� RMNH POR. 6539, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Sarena Kecil, 1.4571 ��N., 125.2253 ��E, 20 m depth, 17 February 2012, #LEM 34 / 170212 / 265, coll. N.J.de Voogd. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL.��� RMNH POR. 3618, Indonesia Bali, N side of Nusa Penida, Tanjung Biasmuntig, 8.6731 ��S, 115.4869 ��E., 30 m depth, 20 April 2001, #Bal 31 /NV/0200401/ 246, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 12271, Indonesia Haingsisi, Samau Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, 10.1358 ��S, 123.63 ��E, 0���36 m depth, 2 February 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, dredge. ZMA Por. 13355, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Bone Tambung, SW Sulawesi, 5.033 ��S, 119.3 ��E, 15 m depth, 18 June 1997, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 14505, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, NW Kapoposang Island,, 4.6885 ��S, 118.937 ��E, 26 m depth, 2 May 1998, coll. B.W. Hoeksema. Description. Shape (Fig. 8 A, C). Bushy or branching on a thin and long peduncle up to 1 cm diameter. Specimens up to 5 cm high by 3 cm wide. Branches, 5���10 mm diameter fused at base, with round trips. Oscula. Not seen. Consistency. Flexible, hardly compressible. Surface. Covered with conules organised in rows, up to 2 cm long, pierced by choanosomal spicules isolated or in plumose tracts. Skeleton (Fig. 9 B, D). Plumose-halichondroid, differentiated in axial and extra-axial regions. Extra-axial region consists of plumose, short or long processes, 200���800 ��m thick, and single spicules, both projecting perpendicularly from axial skeleton. Longer processes divide and thin out near surface. Axial skeleton compressed in cross section, tightly packed with interwoven strongyles. Spongin fibres ill-defined at extra-axial region; clear collagen bounding skeleton. Spicule tracts multispicular, longitudinal, wavy and anastomosing in axial region and diverging toward extra-axial region and through surface processes. Spicules (Fig. 9 E, Table. 8). Strongyles, thin, wavy, sinuous 331.6���1545.8 x 5 ���19.1 ��m. Styles, straight, or slightly curved, or with narrow bases, or bent near base, or transitional to anisoxeas, 259.8���885.4 x 5.6���28.8 ��m. Anisoxeas and oxeas, with stepped tips, straight or slightly curved or even sinuous, less frequent, 338.7���1040.9 x 5.2���30.6 ��m. Remarks. The species described here is very similar in external shape to the New Caledonian species Phycopsis fusiformis (L��vi, 1967), P. epakros (Hooper & L��vi, 1993) and P. papillata (Hooper & L��vi, 1993). These species, which are nearly identical and likely to be conspecific, have also similar skeletal organisation and spicule composition to P. pesgalli sp. nov., but both length and width of spicules is significantly smaller, and the strongyles, in particular, are difficult to find and ���fragile��� (found broken in the spicule preparations) (see Table 8). Until more information becomes available to determine whether these skeletal differences are driven by environmental variables, we consider that the material herein described from the Central Indo-Pacific is not conspecific with that so far described from New Caledonia. Phycopsis hirsuta Carter, 1883, from Southern Australia and type species of the genus, is similar to P. fruticulosa Carter, 1883 from Tasmania, and has similar spicule composition to the new species but differs in external morphology and in the skeletal organisation, especially at the axial region, where a vague reticulation of spongin fibres occurs. Phycopsis hispidula (Ridley, 1884), described as Protoschmidtia), and recorded for the Central Indo-Pacific, has a reticulated skeleton of primary and secondary fibres cored with paucispicular tracts of oxeas and is suggested here to belong to Amphimedon [comb. nov., type, BMNH 1881.10.21.311��� 2, Albani I., northern Australia, 6���8 m depth, coll. HMS Alert; examined]. Table 8. Spicule dimensions of Phycopsis pesgalli sp. nov. Locality Strongyles Oxeas/anisoxeas Styles/anisoxeas RMNH POR. 6539 (holotype) Lembeh 728.6 ��� 1168.2 ��m (954.2) x 5.1 ��� 14.3 341.6 ��� 833.8 ��m (549) x 7.6 ��� 14.7 ��m (9.5)[9] ��m [22] RMNH POR. 3618 Bali 938.3 ��� 1322.5 ��m (1075.7 �� 125.9) [12] 338.7 ��� 1040.9 ��m (724.9 �� 210.9) 407.8 ��� 883.2 ��m (630.1 �� 150.5) x 7.6 ��� 11.4 ��m (9.2 �� 1) [12] x 5.2 ��� 30.6 ��m (15 �� 6.2) x 6.8 ��� 17.9 ��m (12 �� 2.8) ZMA Por. 12271 Lesser Sunda 359.3 ��� 1545.8 ��m (1026.6 �� 259.6) 392.4 ��� 869.6 ��m (648.1 �� 158) x 5 ��� 19.1��m (11 �� 2.9) x 10.7 ��� 23.5 ��m (17.1 �� 3.3) ZMA Por. 14505 Sulawesi 331.6 ��� 1186.4 ��m (942 �� 217.1) [19] 384.6 ��� 885.4 ��m (697.6 �� 132.2) x 5.4 ��� 14.4 ��m (9.2 �� 2.1) [19] x 5.6 ��� 17.9 ��m (10.9 �� 3.4) NTM Z 6874 Bonaparte Gulf 619.8 ��� 1287.7 ��m (909.9 �� 232.5) [10] 352.6 ��� 781.2 ��m (602.3 �� 135.8) 259.8 ��� 634.2 ��m (448.8 �� 148.7) [11] [11] x 8 ��� 16.3��m (11.9 �� 2.6) [10] x 13.4 ��� 24.8 ��m (19.5 �� 4) [11] x 15 ��� 28.8��m (20.6 �� 4.1) [11] Phycopsis hirsuta (Carter) * Type, South Australia) 300 ��� 690 ��m (502 �� 136.45) 310 ��� 410 ��m (366 �� 34.7) [10] 310 ��� 410 ��m (355 �� 34.7) x 5 ��� 13 ��m (8.8 �� 2.1) [10] x 5 ��� 12 ��m (9.9 �� 2.3) [10] x 5 ��� 12 ��m (9.1 �� 2.1) [10] Phycopsis fusiformis (Levi) ** Type, New Caledonia) 414 ��� 900 ��m (664) 224 ��� 350 ��m (267.5) x 2.5 ��� 6 ��m (3.5) x 6 ��� 11 ��m (8.2) Phycopsis epakros (Hooper & Levi) ** Type, New Caledonia) 424 ��� 448 ��m (448.2) vestigial 134 ��� 328 ��m x 2.5 ��� 5 ��m (3.4) x 2.5 ��� 5 ��m (3.5) Phycopsis papillatus (Hooper & Type, New Caledonia) 140 ��� 243 ��m (190.1) vestigial Levi)** x 1.5 ��� 4 ��m (2.4) Measurements from * Alvarez & Hooper (2002), ** Hooper& Levi (1993) Distribution. The new species is found in the Lesser Sunda and Sulawesi MEOWs, between 26���66 m depth (Fig. 2). The species is known by the common name ���chicken feet��� and is widespread through the Indo-Pacific as reflected in the collections of Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau, but not yet described or formally recorded from those localities. The species also occurs in the Bonaparte Gulf MEOW (Przeslawski et al. 2014; Przeslawski et al. 2015). Etymology. Named after the growth form resemblance of chicken-feet (pes, Latin for foot; gallus, Latin for chicken)., Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 466-469, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Battershill, C. & Smith, T. (2014) Sponge biodiversity and ecology of the Van Diemen Rise and eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, northern Australia. Hydrobiologia, 730, 1 - 16. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 013 - 1799 - 8","Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Kool, J., Bridge, T., Caley, J. & Nichols, S. (2015) Implications of sponge biodiversity patterns for the management of a marine reserve in northern Australia. PLoS ONE, 10, e 0141813. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0141813","Levi, C. (1967) Demosponges recoltees en Nouvelle-Caledonie par la Mission Singer-Polignac. Expedition Francaise sur les recifs coralliens de la Nouvelle-Caledonie. Editions de la Foundation Singer-Polignac 2.","Hooper, J. N. A. & Levi, C. (1993) Axinellida from the New Caledonia Lagoon (Porifera: Demospongiae). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 7, 1395 - 1472. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1071 / IT 9931395","Carter (1883) Contributions to our knowledge of the Spongida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 5), 12, 308 - 329, pls. 311 - 314.","Ridley, S. O. (1884) Spongiida. In: Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Voyage of H. M. S. ' Alert' 1881 - 2. British Museum, Natural History, London, pp. 366 - 684.","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2002) Family Axinellidae. In: J. N. A. Hooper & Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds), Systema Porifera. A Guide to the Supraspecific Classification of the Phylum Porifera. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 724 - 747."]}

Axinella aruensis (Hentschel. 1912) (Fig. 2, 4) Phakellia aruensis Hentschel, 1912: 420 Axinella aruensis.��� Alvarez & Hooper 2009: 19 (and references within); Przeslawski et al. 2014, 2015 (listed only). Material examined. HOLOTYPE��� SMF 953, E side, Aru I., Indonesia, 31 August 1908, coll. Merton, H 2627. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS.��� RMNH POR. 2627, Indonesia, Spermonde Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Samalona, 5.1224 ��S, 119.3394 ��E, 12m depth, #NV/ 300500 /067, 30 May 2000, coll. N.J. de Voogd. RMNH POR. 5345, Indonesia, Halmahera, Ternate, Batu Angus, 0.8468 ��N 127.3666 ��E 3 m depth, 20 October 2009, # TER 11 / 301009 / 0 96. ZMA Por. 0 0 608, Indonesia, Rotti Isl., Cyrus bay, 10.8733 ��S, 123.0183 ��E, Lesser Sunda Islands, 34 m depth, 27 January 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 299. ZMA Por. 0 9004, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, E of Melolo, 9.9033 ��S, 120.725 ��E, Nusa Tenggara, 50 m depth, 15 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest. ZMA Por. 13282, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Kudingareng Keke, Sulawesi, 5.102 ��S, 119.286 ��E,, 15 m depth, 9 April 1997, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 15138, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Kudingareng Keke NW, 5.1 ��S, 119.3 ��E, Sulawesi, 15m depth, 4 June 1997, coll. B.W. Hoeksema. Remarks. Axinella aruensis and its common morphotypes were re-described by Alvarez & Hooper (2009) based on the type material of the species and an extensive number of specimens from northern Australian populations. The body for of the material examined here shares some similarities with both the typical form and the form ���I��� described by Alvarez & Hooper (2009). Further illustrations (Fig. 4) and spicule measurements (Table 3) are provided herein to complement the description. We noticed larger styles and oxeas in the specimen of Halmahera, Ternate (Table 3) than previously reported (Alvarez & Hooper 2009), and some resemblance of the body surface to Ptilocaulis cf. spiculifer (Fig. 3 B). Specimen Locality Oxeas Styles ZMA Por. 13282 SW Sulawesi 192.2���307.7 ��m (245.7 �� 30.2) 216.4���314.3 ��m (271.6 �� 29.9) x 7 ���15.7��m (11.6 �� 1.8) x 8.4���15.5 ��m (12.4 �� 1.8) ZMA Por. 0 0 608 Lesser Sunda, 254.5���329.7 ��m (290 �� 18.8) 198.6���311.1 ��m (257 �� 27) x 8.6���17.2 ��m (13 �� 2.6) x 11.9���15.7 ��m (13.5 �� 1.6) [9] QM G 301092 * Cartier Is, WA 281.2���450.2 ��m (360.7 �� 39.9) 242.8���419 ��m (301.1 �� 36) x 10.3���19.4 ��m (15.6 �� 2.2) x 12.6���20.3 ��m (16.8 �� 1.9) NTM Z000619* Melville I., NT 236.1���406 ��m (302.4 �� 39.4) 186���362.8 ��m (267.2 �� 43.3) [22] x 9.3���17.5 ��m (13.9 �� 2.3) x 9.8���17.1 ��m (14.1 �� 1.9) [22] NTM Z003141* Parry Shoals, NT 267.1���372.9 ��m (307.1 �� 23.3) 248.6���294.6 ��m (270.4 �� 18.8) [4] x 9.4���17.2 ��m (13.6 �� 2.3) x 11.1���16.7 ��m (13.9 �� 2.3) [4] NTM Z005053* Darwin Harbour, NT 297.6���498.6 ��m (392.1 �� 47) 263.6���417.2 ��m (342.7 �� 37.6) x 7.3���22.5 ��m (16.5 �� 3.7) x 12 ���23.5��m (17.1 �� 2.9) NTM Z004465* Wessel Is, NT 194.4���396.4 ��m (299.5 �� 48.6) [24] 204.6���331.7 (269.7 �� 44.1) [15] x 5.6���17.4 ��m (12 �� 3.3) x 8.6���18 (13.8 �� 2.8) [15] *Data from Alvarez & Hooper (2009) Distribution. Axinella aruensis is a common species widely distributed through the Central West Pacific. Based on the material examined, its distribution can be extended to the Banda Sea, Sulawesi Sea/Makassar Strait and Lesser Sunda MEOW ecoregions of the Western Coral Triangle province (Fig. 2). It���s been recorded also for Sahul Shelf, Eastern Coral Triangle (Alvarez & Hooper 2009) and Northwest Australian Shelf provinces (Alvarez & Fromont unpublished results). The species is found from intertidal down to 50 m depth and even deeper in the Northwest Australian Shelf (Fromont & Alvarez, unpublished results)., Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 456-457, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Hentschel, E. (1912) Kiesel-und Hornschwamme der Aru und Kei-Inseln. Hamburg: Abhandlungen Senckenbergiana naturforschende Gessellschaft.","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the order Halichondrida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from northern Australia. Family Axinellidae. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 25, 17 - 42.","Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Battershill, C. & Smith, T. (2014) Sponge biodiversity and ecology of the Van Diemen Rise and eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, northern Australia. Hydrobiologia, 730, 1 - 16. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 013 - 1799 - 8","Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Kool, J., Bridge, T., Caley, J. & Nichols, S. (2015) Implications of sponge biodiversity patterns for the management of a marine reserve in northern Australia. PLoS ONE, 10, e 0141813. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0141813"]}

Phakellia atypica L��vi, 1961 (Fig. 2, 7) Phakellia atypica L��vi, 1961: 516. Material examined. RMNH POR. 2900, Indonesia, Bali, SE-end Tulamben beach, 8.2778 ��S., 115.5958 ��E, 40 m depth, 13 April 2001, #Bal 22 /NV/ 130401 / 181, coll. N.J. de Voogd. RMNH POR. 3053, Indonesia, Bali, N side of Nusa Penida, Tanjung Biasmuntig, 8.6730 ��S., 115.4869 ��E, 36 m depth, 20 April 2001, #Bal 31 /NV/ 200402 / 248, coll. N.J. de Voogd. RMNH POR. 6561, Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Tanjung Kusukusu, 1.4538 ��N., 125.2369 ��E, 16 m depth, 16 February 2012, #LEM 31 / 160212 / 237, coll. N.J.de Voogd. RMNH POR. 6628, Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Pulau Abadi, 1.4336 ��N., 125.2062 ��E, 18 m depth, 10 February 2012, #LEM 22 / 100212 /096, coll. N.J.de Voogd. ZMA Por. 0 9005, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, E of Melolo, Nusa Tenggara, 9.9033 ��S, 120.725 ��E, 50 m depth, 15 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest on Snellius II Expedition, Sta. 061/ V/06, dredge. ZMA Por. 0 9039, Indonesia, Nusa Tenggara, NE coast of Sumba, 9.95 ��S, 120.6 ��E, 50 m depth, 16 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest on Snellius II Expedition, Sta. 068/ V/04, 1.2 m Agassiz trawl. ZMA Por. 10822, Indonesia, Masidan, Kepulauan Aru, Maluku Province, 5.47 ��S, 134.8983 ��E, 57 m depth, 26 December 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 274. ZMA Por. 12287, Indonesia, Sapeh Strait, Lesser Sunda Islands, 8.3916 ��S, 119.073 ��E, 69 m depth, 14 April 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 049a. ZMA Por. 12332, Indonesia, Sapeh Strait, Lesser Sunda Islands, 8.3916 ��S, 119.073 ��E, 69 m depth, 14 April 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 049a. Description. Shape (Figs 7 A���C). Fan to cup-shaped, with irregular margins, on narrow peduncle, 3 cm long by 2 cm diameter. Specimens are up to 10 cm long by 11 cm in maximum diameter with walls 2���10 mm thick, but becoming thicker towards the peduncle. Colour. Orange live. Beige in alcohol. Consistency. Rough to touch, spiculose, flexible and compressible. Oscula. External face with minute pores less than 1 mm; inner face with larger pores up to 3 mm diameter regularly distributed. Surface. External face covered irregularly with conulose and hispid-thin projections up to 1 cm long, single or joined laterally, forming meandroid valleys up to 1 cm high and giving surface a clathrous appearance; membranous transparent skin pierced by minute pores. Inner face, irregularly conulose and with fewer or without long projections. Both inner and outer surface marked by choanosomal longitudinal fibres, especially near the margins. Surface at peduncle area is free of projections; micro-hispid. Skeleton (Fig. 7 D). Ectosomal skeleton not specialised. Choanosomal skeleton vaguely plumose to halichondroid; compressed in cross section in some regions of the specimen; without spongin fibres but thick multispicular tracts, up to 1 mm in diameter, loosely packed with interwoven spicules and ���plumo-echinated��� with single spicules, ascending toward surface, dividing, anastomosing and forming an irregular reticulation. Secondary tracts vague or ill-defined, diverging from main axes, multispicular and slightly plumose. Specimen Locality Strongyles Styles Toxiform oxeas RMNH POR. Bali 1065.7���2001.8 ��m 783.3���1255.4 ��m 2900 (1586.6 �� 254.6) (1068.2 �� 114.5) x 7.1���14.4 ��m (10.8 �� 2) x 7.1���16.8 ��m (10.8 �� 2.5) RMNH POR. Bali 472.2���1348.8 ��m 596���1046.8 ��m 226.1���284.6 ��m 3053 (1095.1 �� 194.5) (837.3 �� 111.9) (249.8 �� 30.8) [3] x 8 ���16.8��m (13 �� 2.5) x 8.9���23.5 ��m (14.5 �� 3.5) x 5.4���6.5 ��m (5.8 �� 0.6) [3] ZMA Por. Maluku, 837.4���1810.6 ��m 619.6���1233.5 ��m 211.9���377.1 ��m 10822 Indonesia (1326.8 �� 291.6) (943.7 �� 135.5) (306.6 �� 46.5) [17] x 8 ���24.9��m (15.6 �� 4.1) x 7.6���23.2 ��m (15 �� 4.4) x 2.6���6 ��m (4.5 �� 1) [17] ZMA Por. Sunda Islands 965���1839 ��m (1444.9 �� 255.5) 946.3���1272.4 ��m 12332 (1116.5 �� 98.1) x 8.9���20.9 ��m (16.4 �� 2.9) x 9.1���23.3 ��m (17.1 �� 3.2) RMNH POR. North Sulawesi 1072.3���1807.3 ��m (1504.1) 844���1198.7 ��m (991.4) 224.8���371.3 ��m (272.4) 6561 x 6.3���25.4 (14.6)[10] x 4 ���20.4��m (12.3)[18] x 3.5 ���7.0 (5)[6] RMNH North Sulawesi 1053.2���1169.1 (1110.6) 802���1097 ��m (978.3) 284.8���362 ��m (322.8) POR. 6628 x 3.6���7.3 ��m (6) [3] x 8.3���25.3 ��m (16.8) x 2.9���7 ��m (5.5)[4] Philippines * 1700���2000 ��m 1200���1550 ��m x 16���30 ��m 200���600 ��m x 4���15 ��m (holotype) *Data from L��vi (1961) Spicules (Fig. 7 E, Table 6). Strongyles, sinuous, or irregularly bent; often in horseshoe shape, 1065.7��� 2001.8 ��mx 7.1���14.4 ��m. Styles, thin, long, slightly curved, 596���1272 ��m x 7.1���23.5 ��m. Toxiform oxeas, rare, or absent(not found in all specimens), 211.9���377.1 ��m. Remarks. We assigned the material examined to Phakellia atypica L��vi, 1961, from Philippines, based on the similarities of general shape, skeletal organisation, size of strongyles and styles and the presence of toxiform oxeas with highly pointed tips described for that species. The material examined, however, is variable in terms of external morphology (Fig. 7 A���C) and spicule composition and dimensions. As admitted by L��vi (1961), the skeleton is not typical of Phakellia and shows affinities to Acanthella or other genera with dictyonellid-like skeleton but lack the characteristic cartilaginous consistency of Acanthella spp. The material was compared also to Phakellia stelliderma L��vi & L��vi, 1989 from Eastern Philippines, but differs in general shape, which is described as a thin fan, 2 mm thick, with surface marked by a regular choanosomal reticulation. The choanosomal tracts are formed with interwoven strongyles and echinated by very large styles (up to 2 mm in length), and smaller styles (400���700 ��m) and projecting through the surface in regular bouquets. The material was also compared to the type of Phakellia columnata (Burton, 1928) [fragment of type BMNH 1926.10. 1.23, Andaman Sea, examined] from which it differs in external shape, skeletal characteristics, composition and size of spicules. The species is also very similar in external shape and skeletal architecture to Phakellia labellum (Lamarck, 1814) from Madagascar [fragment of type, MNHN LBIM DT 3385, examined]. In P. l ab e l l um the skeleton is formed only by styles and the strongyles are absent or reduced to thinly styles-transitional to strongyles. The styles are found in two size categories 167.4���253.1 ��m x 12.6���18.9 ��m and 326.8���1092.7 ��m x 6.3���14.3 ��m respectively, with the smallest forming a thick palisade at the subectosomal level. Other valid species of Phakellia from the Western Indo-Pacific Realm according to the WPD (i.e. P. crassistylifera Dendy, 1905: 192 and P. symmetrica Dendy, 1905) do not match the diagnosis of Phakellia and probably belong to Stylissa. Distribution. Philippines, Zamboanga (type locality), Indonesia (Bali, Maluku, Sunda Islands; Lesser Sunda MEOW ecoregion, Fig. 2). It is also recorded from Taiwan (De Voogd unpublished data). It is found between 36 and 69 m., Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 461-464, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Levi, C. (1961) Spongiaires des Iles Philippines, principalement recoltees au voisinage de Zamboanga. The Philippine Journal of Science, 88, 509 - 533.","Levi, C. & Levi, P. (1989) Spongiaires (MUSORSTOM 1 & 2). In: Forest, J. (Ed), Resultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM. Memoires du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle (A, Zoologie), 143, pp. 25 - 103.","Burton, M. (1928) Report on some deep-sea sponges from the Indian Museum collected by the R. I. M. S. \" Investigator \". Part II. Tetraxonida (concluded) and Euceratosa. Records of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, 30, 109 - 138, pls. 101 - 102.","Lamarck, J. B. P. d. M. (1813 - 1814) Sur les polypiers empates. Suite du memoire intitule: Sur les Polypiers empates. Suite des eponges. Annales du Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris 20 (6), 294 - 312 (published 1813), 370 - 386, 432 - 458 (published 1814). Annales du Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 20, 294 - 312 (published 1813), 1370 - 1386, 1432 - 1458. [published 1814]","Dendy, A. (1905) Report on the sponges collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. In: Herdman, W. A. (Ed.), Report to the Government of Ceylon on the pearl oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. Royal Society, London, pp. 57 - 246, pls 241 - 216."]}

Phakellia cf. tropicalis Alvarez & Hooper, 2009 (Fig. 2, 8) Phakellia tropicalis Alvarez & Hooper, 2009: 29; Przeslawski et al. 2014, 2015 (listed only) Material examined. ZMA Por. 0 9017, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, E of Melolo, Nusa Tenggara, 9.9033 ��S, 120.725 ��E, 50 m depth, 15 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest on Snellius II Expedition, Sta. 061/ V/ 18. ZMA Por. 0 9139, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, E of Melolo, Nusa Tenggara, 9.8917 ��S, 120.7117 ��E, 75 m depth, 13 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest on Snellius II Expedition, Sta.051, dredge. ZMA Por. 12218, Indonesia, Saleh Bay, N coast of Sumbawa, Lesser Sunda Islands, 8.3166 ��S, 117.6833 ��E, 274 m depth, 14 February 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 312, trawl. ZMA Por. 0 1226, Indonesia, Lesser Sunda Islands, 8.5 ��S, 119.125 ��E, 73 m depth, 12 February 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 312, trawl. ZMA Por. 12252, 12268, 12356, Indonesia, Solor Strait, mid channel off Kampong Menanga, Lesser Sunda Islands, 8.4152 ��S, 123.043 ��E, 113 m depth, 8 February 1900, coll. Siboga Expedition, Sta. 305, dredge. Remarks. The material examined includes a collection of specimens from the area of Lesser Sunda very similar in shape and skeletal organisation to Phakellia tropicalis. The Lesser Sunda specimens are found deeper, down to 274 m depth, than the northern Australian populations, and have thicker and longer spicules. Some specimens are infested with the Parazoanthus. Further illustrations (Fig. 8) and spicules measurements (Table 7) are provided here for comparative purposes. This species was first described from northern Australia and assigned to Phakellia provisionally because it shares characteristic of the skeleton with the dictyonellid genus Acanthella, and surface characteristics with axinellid genera such as Axinella and Cymbastela. The species is genetically related to Axinella and Dragmacidon spp. (Alvarez et al. 2000; Redmond et al. 2013), which are characterized by different morphologies, skeletal organisation and spicule composition. Alvarez & Hooper (2009) also suggested that the species might belong to a new genus which could accommodate species of erect form and ���bubaris-like��� skeletons currently assigned to hidden Acanthella and Phakellia. Distribution. The species was first described for the Sahul Shelf (with the majority of records reported from northern Australia (i.e Bonaparte Gulf and Arnhem Coast to Gulf of Carpenteria MEOW) (Alvarez & Hooper 2009). It is also found in the Northwest Australian Shelf province (Alvarez & Fromont unpublished data). Assuming that this material is conspecific with P. tropicalis, the distribution of the species is wider than initially thought and should be extended to the Central-Indo Pacific province (Fig. 2). x 3.7���9.5 ��m (7 �� 1.6) x 9 ���16.4��m (13.8 �� 2) NTM Z004463* Wessel Is 293.1���800 ��m (553.4 �� 134.6) 273.6���658.2 ��m (439.6 �� 111.1) x 4.4���8.4 ��m (6.6 �� 1.1) x 8.3���16 ��m (11.2 �� 2.2) QM G 312926 * Papua New Guinea 277.8���696.3 ��m (476.4 �� 117.6) [24] 239.6���490.6 ��m (343.5 �� 69.5) x 4.2���8.4 ��m (6.3 �� 1.1) x 5.9���11.5 ��m (8.7 �� 1.8) *Data from Alvarez & Hooper (2009), Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 464-466, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the order Halichondrida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from northern Australia. Family Axinellidae. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 25, 17 - 42.","Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Battershill, C. & Smith, T. (2014) Sponge biodiversity and ecology of the Van Diemen Rise and eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, northern Australia. Hydrobiologia, 730, 1 - 16. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 013 - 1799 - 8","Przeslawski, R., Alvarez, B., Kool, J., Bridge, T., Caley, J. & Nichols, S. (2015) Implications of sponge biodiversity patterns for the management of a marine reserve in northern Australia. PLoS ONE, 10, e 0141813. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0141813","Alvarez, B., Crisp, M. D., Driver, F., Hooper, J. N. A. & Van Soest, R. W. M. (2000) Phylogenetic relationships of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) using morphological and molecular data. Zoologica Scripta, 29, 169 - 198. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1046 / j. 1463 - 6409.2000.00029. x","Redmond, N. E., Morrow, C. C., Thacker, R. W., Diaz, M. C., Boury-Esnault, N., Cardenas, P., Hajdu E., Lobo-Hajdu, G., Picton, B. E., Pomponi, S. A., Kayal, E. & Collins, A. G. (2013) Phylogeny and Systematics of Demospongiae in Light of New Small-Subunit Ribosomal DNA (18 S) Sequences. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 53, 482 - 494. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1093 / icb / ict 078"]}

Dragmacidon durissimum (Dendy, 1905) (Fig. 2, 6) Thrinacophora durissima Dendy, 1905: 187 Sigmaxinella durissima.��� Dendy 1922: 113 Axinella durissima.��� Burton 1959: 259 Dragmacidon durissima.��� Hallmann 1917: 639; Alvarez & Hooper 2002: 735 Dragmacidon durissimum.��� Alvarez & Hooper 2009: 28 Material examined. ZMA Por. 0 0 460, Philippines, Sulu Archipelago, anchorage off N Ubian, Sulu Islands, 6.125 ��N, 120.433 ��E, 23 m depth, 28 June 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition. ZMA Por. 0 0 461, Indonesia, Banda anchorage, Maluku, 4.5398 ��S, 129.9084 ��E, 9 m depth, 22 November 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition. ZMA Por. 18621, Thailand, Ko Thai-ta-Mun, South of Ko Si-chang, Chonburi, Chon Buri, 13.1024 ��N, 100.8077 ��E, 5 m depth, 19 September 2001, coll. Sumaitt Putchakarn. Description. Shape (Fig. 6 A). Massive, hemispherical. Colour. Beige in ethanol. Oscula. Inconspicuous, flushed, irregularly distributed, up to 5 mm diameter. Surface. Papillose, uniformly covered with small short processes, blunt, with a dermal membrane stretching over conules. Skeleton (Fig. 6 B). Plumoreticulated with multispicular tracts, packed with spicules in all directions, vaguely plumose or plumo-echinated, 150���350 ��m thick, connected by shorter and thick tracts nearly at right angles, forming an irregular reticulation of oval and large meshes. Main tracts projecting through surface and ending in surface conules or short processes. Spicules (Fig. 6 C���D, Table 5). Oxeas, 247.8���381 ��m x 8.7���19 ��m; Styles 196.3���370 ��m x 8.9���20.7 ��m; trichodragmata up to 15 um long, rare (Fig. 6 C). Specimen Locality Oxeas Styles Tricodragmata ZMA Por. 460 Philippines 247.8���364.1 ��m 196.3���338.4 ��m ~ 15 x 5���10 ��m (320.8 �� 28.1) (274.7 �� 34.3) x 8.7���16 ��m (12.8 �� 1.8) x 8.9���20.7 ��m (14.1 �� 2.7) ZMA Por. 461 Maluku 283���381 ��m (334.7 �� 21.2) 241.2���370.7 ��m (292.5 �� 30.9) x 10.3���19 ��m (12.5 �� 1.9) x 9.7���18.2 ��m (13.5 �� 2.1) ZMA Por. 18621 Thailand 232.6���361.5 ��m 182.8���547.6 ��m (298.7 �� 34.7) (322.4 �� 79.3) x 9.7���16.9 ��m (13.4 �� 1.7) x 8.3���18.8 ��m (14.4 �� 2.8) QM G 300181 * Ashmore Reef, 229.8���312.7 ��m (283.2 �� 18) 203.1���312.5 ��m 15��� 20 x 5���10 ��m WA by 7.4���19 ��m (13.4 �� 3.1) (251.8 �� 33.4) by 11.7��� 16.4��m (13.7 �� 1.2) *Data from Alvarez & Hooper (2009) Remarks. The material examined agrees in all its characteristics with Dragmacidon durissimum. It is very similar to D. austral e, in external and skeletal characteristics but can be differentiated from it by the presence of trichodragmata. As previously indicated (Alvarez & Hooper 2009) these species are similar to the Western Atlantic D. reticulatum and the West African D. lunaecharta (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) which are also distinguished by the presence of trichodragmata in the latter. Distribution. Based on the material examined the distribution of Dragmacidon durissimum can be extended to Indonesia (i.e MEOW Banda Sea), Philippines (i.e. MEOW Palawan/ North Borneo) and Gulf of Thailand (Fig. 2). These and records from Alvarez & Hooper (2009) indicate that this Indian Ocean species, has a wider distribution than previously thought., Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on page 460, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Dendy, A. (1905) Report on the sponges collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. In: Herdman, W. A. (Ed.), Report to the Government of Ceylon on the pearl oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. Royal Society, London, pp. 57 - 246, pls 241 - 216.","Dendy, A. (1922) Report on the Sigmatotetraxonida collected by H. M. S. \" Sealark \" in the Indian Ocean. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 18, 1 - 164, pls. 161 - 118.","Burton, M. (1959) Sponges. Scientific Reports of the John Murray Expedition 1933 - 34, 10, 151 - 281.","Hallmann, E. F. (1917) A revision of the genera with microscleres included, or provisionally included, in the Family Axinellidae, with descriptions of some Australian species. Part iii (Porifera). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 41, 634 - 675, pls 629, 633, 638 - 644. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 15326","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2002) Family Axinellidae. In: J. N. A. Hooper & Van Soest, R. W. M. (Eds), Systema Porifera. A Guide to the Supraspecific Classification of the Phylum Porifera. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 724 - 747.","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the order Halichondrida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from northern Australia. Family Axinellidae. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 25, 17 - 42.","Ridley, S. O. & Dendy, A. (1886) Preliminary report on the Monaxonida collected by H. M. S \" Challenger \". Part I. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 5), 18, 325 - 351."]}

Ptilocaulis cf. spiculifer (Lamarck, 1814) (Figs 2, 10��� 11) Spongia spiculifera Lamarck, 1813 ���1814: 449 Axinella spiculifera.��� Ridley 1884: 617; Dendy 1922: 115. Ptilocaulis spiculifer. ��� Topsent 1932: 111; Burton 1959: 266. Pulitzer-Finali 1993: 289 Material examined. Palawan/ North Borneo: NTM Z 5850, Malaysia, Sabah, N Gaya I., off Kota Kinabalu, 6.0345 ��N, 116.0064 ��E, 10���18 m depth, 23 October 2005, coll. B. Alvarez. NTM Z 5851, Malaysia, Sabah, N Gaya I., off Kota Kinabalu, 6.0345 ��N, 116.0064 ��E, 10���18 m depth, 23 October 2005, coll. B. Alvarez; NTM Z 852, Malaysia, Sabah, North Bay, off Kota Kinabalu, 6.0783 ��N., 116.0791 ��E, 10���20 m depth, 29 October 2005, coll. N. Plitcher; RMNH POR. 2389, Indonesia, Berau, East Kalimantan, SE Kakaban island, 15 m depth, 21 October 2003, # BER 36 / 211003 / 215 coll. W, Renema; RMNH POR. 4280, Indonesia, Berau, East Kalimantan, Sangalaki island, 2.0855 ��N 118.3911 ��E, 5 m depth, 15 August 2008, # BER 108 / 150808 /079, coll. N.J. de Voogd; RMNH POR. 4342, Indonesia, Derawan Islands, Maratua island, ���midnight���, 2.2386 ��N, 118.6538 ��E, 10 m depth, 20 August 2008, #Ber 114 / 200808 / 141, coll. N.J. de Voogd. Sulawesi Sea/Makassar Strait: ZMA POR. 17369, Indonesia, North Sulawesi, North Bunaken I., Sachiko Point, 1.6303 ��N, 124.7706 ��E., 12 m depth, 9 May 2002, #MD01/ 090502 /005, coll. N.J. de Voogd, RMNH POR. 2373, Indonesia, N Sulawesi, Bunaken Island, Alung banua, 1.6303 ��N, 124.7706 ��E, 5 m depth, #MD07/ 150502 /043, coll. N.J. de Voogd; RMNH POR. 2622, Indonesia, South Sulawesi, 5.8289 ��S, 120.7036 ��E, Tanjung Bira, Pulau Liukan, 25 m depth, #BIR05/ 230501 /246, 23 May 2001, coll. N.J. de Voogd; RMNH POR. 2650, Indonesia, Sulawesi SW, Bira, Pulau Liukan, 5.6509 ��S, 120.4473 ��E, 14 m depth, 5 July 2002, # BIRA / 050702 / 324, coll. N.J. de Voogd; ZMA Por. 0 0 468, Indonesia, N Bay, Biaru Island, Sulawesi, 2.1295 ��S, 125.385 ��E, 27 m depth, 17 July 1899, coll. Siboga Expedition Sta. 123, dredge; ZMA Por. 13198, Indonesia, Kudingareng Keke, SW Sulawesi, 5.102 ��S, 119.286 ��E, 15 m depth, 2 June 1997, coll. N.J. de Voogd; ZMA Por. 13310, Indonesia, SW Sulawesi, Langkai island, 5.019 ��S, 119.063 ��E, 9 m depth, 10 May 1997, coll. N.J. de Voogd. Banda Sea: ZMA Por. 17687, Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Tanjung Bira, Pulau Liukan, 25 m depth, 5.8289 ��S, 120.7036 ��E, 23 m depth, 23 May 2001, #BIR05/ 230501 / 246, coll. D. Erpenbeck & N.J.de Voogd. Lesser Sunda: RMNH POR. 2328, Indonesia, Bali, SE-end Tulamben beach, 8.2778 ��S, 115.5958 ��E., 10 m depth, #Bal 22 /NV/ 100101 /124, 10 April 2001, coll. N.J. de Voogd; RMNH POR. 3613, Indonesia, Bali, Tulamben beach, 'Liberty wreck', 8.2738 ��S 115.5911 ��E., 30 m depth, 10 April 2001, #Bal 21 /NV/ 100401 / 116, coll. N.J. de Voogd. ZMA Por. 0 0 896, Timor Leste, anchorage between Nusa Besi and NE Timor, 8.42 ��S, 127.3066 ��E, 27���54 m depth, 15 November 1900, coll. Siboga expedition, Sta 282, dredge. ZMA Por. 0 8394, Indonesia, of Komodo, Selat Linta, Nusa Tenggara, 8.5833 ��S, 119.57 ��E, 4���11 m depth, 18 September 1984, coll. R.W.M. van Soest on Snellius II Expedition, Sta.079/ III/ 19. Sunda Shelf: RMNH POR. 2090, Indonesia, NE Java, Thousand Island, Lancang Island, 5.9269 ��S, 106.5914 ��E, 6 m depth, 21 September, 2005, #SER 13 / 210905 / 128, coll. N.J. de Voogd. Description. Shape (Figs 10 A���E). Very variable: bushy with short branches or projections, on short and broad peduncle; branching, digitate, erect, or creeping, with single or multiple branches, 1���2 cm diameter, sometimes fused near the tips in fan shape, or becoming broad or dividing towards tips, arising from common base or peduncle, thick, short or long up to 6 cm long, or arising from multiple points of attachment. Specimens up to 35 cm high by 15 cm wide Colour. Red, orange or cream. Beige in alcohol; some specimens with pink tinge. Oscula. Inconspicuous, irregularly distributed, few, flush, covered by transparent thin membrane, up to 5 mm diameter. In some specimens with thin exhalant channels radiating away or with other openings observed in the dermal membrane. Minute pores (ostia) evenly distributed between the conules and surface reticulation. Specimen Locality Styles [Styles [[Strongyles RMNH POR. 3613 Lesser Sunđa (Bali) 231.6 / 324.9 ��m (286.7 �� 20.1) 405.2 / 500.1 ��m (452.6 �� 67.1) [2] 151.5 / 236 ��m (204.3 �� 29.6) [13] X 9.9 / 16.6 ��m (13.8 �� 1.8) X 8.3 / 12.4 ��m (10.3 �� 2.9) [2] X 6.7 / 23.1 ��m (17.6 �� 4.5) [13] ZMA Por. 896 Lesser Sunđa (Timor Leste) 245.5 / 282.1 ��m (258.4 �� 11.3) 148 / 203.2 ��m (167.5 �� 21.1) [5] X 4.4 / 16.3 ��m (13.1 �� 2.4) X 13.3 / 18.5 ��m (16 �� 2.2) [5] ZMA Por. 8394 Lesser Sunđa (E of Komođo) 314.1 / 426.8 ��m (365.9 �� 25.5) 130.3 / 352 ��m (225.9 �� 101.3) [6] X 11.2 / 22.5 ��m (16.4 �� 2.6) X 14 / 21.8 ��m (18.4 �� 3.3) [6] RMNH POR. 2389 Palawan/ North Borneo 242.3 / 301.9 ��m (266 �� 15.6) X 6.3 / 14 ��m (10.3 �� 1.9) RMNH POR. 2650 Sulawesi 249.2 / 335.8 ��m (284.4 �� 20.8) X 5.5 / 14.5 ��m (10.9 �� 2.5) RMNH POR. 2373 Manađo 240.4 / 300.4 ��m (270.3 �� 18.3) 42.1 / 152.7 ��m (78.3 �� 43.9) [5] X 6.3 / 11.9 ��m (9.3 �� 1.4) X 4 / 8.6 ��m (6.9 �� 1.9) [5] RMNH POR. 2090 Sunđa Shelf 281.3 / 368.4 ��m (325.2 �� 24.2) 543.7 / 779.1 ��m (635.3 �� 59.7) [20] X 7 / 14.4 ��m (11.2 �� 1.7) X 8.2 / 15 ��m (11.7 �� 1.5) [20] ZMA Por. 17687 Banđa Sea 199.7 / 276.3 ��m (246.9 �� 20) MNHN DT 3345 (Lectotype)* Bass Strait, Victoria 270 / 300 ��m 575 / 700 ��m X 15 / 17 ��m X 11 ��m X 3 / 14.3 ��m (10.8 �� 2.8) Measurements from * Topsent (1932) Consistency. Soft, slightly compressible, flexible, spongy. Surface. Covered with spiky, blunt conules in short bushy specimens. Otherwise, uniformly covered with ���scopiform��� or flattened, spatula-like conules, 1���5 mm long, closely spaced, fused laterally at base, projecting from longitudinal choanosomal fibres and forming a surface reticulation of round meshes or meandering channels. Transparent membrane, partially collapsed in preserved specimens, stretched over conules. Near peduncle of erect specimens is smooth, with short or no conules. Skeleton (Figs 11 A���B). Without ectosomal specialisation. Plumoreticulated, slightly compress in axis of branches; with ascending fascicles of primary tracts projecting from axial region, irregularly, loosely or tightly connected by secondary tracts or single spicules, or anastomosing, converging at subectosomal level and ending in small and ill-defined spicule brushes or longer plumose tracts corresponding with surface conules. Primary tracts multispicular, slightly embedded in clear spongin; secondary tracts uni-paucispicular, invested in clear spongin. Spicules (Fig. 11 E, Table 9). Styles, slightly curved or less often bent, with pointed ends or less often round ends some with subtylote bases, in one size category, thinner forms common in some specimens, 199.7���426.8 x 3 ��� 24.2 ��m. Larger styles, in very low frequency only in some specimens 405.2���779.1 x 8.2���15 ��m. Short straight strongyles, in low frequency, 42.1���352 x 4 ���23.1 ��m, only in some specimens; some with a pointy end (observed in ZMA Por. 0 0 896 and ZMA Por. 08394). Broken spicules are common in preparations suggesting spicules might be fragile relatively to homologous ones find in another species. Remarks. The material examined is assigned to the allegedly wide distributed Ptilocaulis spiculifer. The type specimen (Lectotype MNHN DT 3345, JNA Hooper pers.comm.) was re-described by Topsent (1932) under Ptilocaulis, noticing the similarities with Ptilocaulis digitatus Topsent, 1928 described from Cape Verde. The external morphology and the spicule composition of Ptilocaulis spiculifer seems to be variable at the intraspecific level. The second and larger category of styles is absent or in very low frequencies in many of the specimens examined (Table 9). This was also noticed by Topsent (1932) and Pulitzer Finalli (1993). Short and thick strongyles, often with modifications were found in very low frequency as well only in some specimens (Table 9). The specimen ZMA Por. 0 0 896, is assigned to this species with some doubt. The surface is covered by conules as in other specimens but only in the tips of the branches, while the rest is smooth and have an Axinella- like appearance and star-shape oscules also common in that genus; the skeleton agrees with the rest of the material. It is quite remarkable that the material examined here is also very similar to the one described under Ptilocaulis walpersi by Alvarez et al (1998). The CW Atlantic populations are characterised also by a great diversity of growth forms, and have nearly identical skeletons, and spicule composition and size. Other species of Ptilocaulis recorded by the WPD, for adjacent areas are: Ptilocaulis arbora (Sim, Kim & Byeon, 1990) described originally under Homaxinella, is transferred here to Phakettia arbora (Sim, Kim & Byeon, 1990), based on the description provided by the authors (comb. nov. here established). Ptilocaulis echidnaeus (Lamarck, 1814) [fragment of holotype, MNHN DT 640, examined] is a dubious Ptilocaulis and might be related to Trikentrion (Van Soest et al. 2015); Ptilocaulis trachys (De Laubenfels, 1954) from the Marshall Is (Eastern Indo-Pacific) is transferred here to Phakettia (comb. nov.; type specimen USNM 22990; examined). Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data have shown consistently that Ptilocaulis spiculifer and other species of Ptilocaulis including the type species P. gracilis Carter, 1883 and its junior synonym of P. walpersii (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) are genetically related to Reniochalina stalagmites Lendenfeld, 1888, and to the raspailiid Axechina raspailioides Hentschel, 1912 (Redmond et al. 2013 and references within). As discussed in Alvarez and Hooper (2009) neither Ptilocaulis and Reniochalina, have the typical raspailiid ectosomal skeleton which is clearly present in Axechina and a synapomorphy of the family Raspailiidae (Hooper 2002), which leaves these relationships unresolved (but see discussion below). Distribution. The species is common throughout a great number of ecoregions of the Western Triangle Province (i.e, Banda Sea, Lesser Sunda, Palawan/ North Borneo, Southern Java, Sulawesi Sea/Makassar Strait) (Fig. 2). Also known from adjacent provinces (Java Transitional, (Naturalis collections), Tropical Western Pacific (Coral Reef Research Foundation collections), Northeast Australian Shelf (Queensland Museum collections). The species type locality is King Island, Tasmania, Australia and it was recorded for the Indian Ocean by previous authors (see under list of synonyms). It is found from 4���30 m depth., Published as part of Alvarez, Belinda, De Voogd, Nicole J. & Soest, Van, 2016, Sponges of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) in Indonesia, pp. 451-477 in Zootaxa 4137 (4) on pages 469-473, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4137.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271937, {"references":["Lamarck, J. B. P. d. M. (1813 - 1814) Sur les polypiers empates. Suite du memoire intitule: Sur les Polypiers empates. Suite des eponges. Annales du Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris 20 (6), 294 - 312 (published 1813), 370 - 386, 432 - 458 (published 1814). Annales du Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 20, 294 - 312 (published 1813), 1370 - 1386, 1432 - 1458. [published 1814]","Ridley, S. O. (1884) Spongiida. In: Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Voyage of H. M. S. ' Alert' 1881 - 2. British Museum, Natural History, London, pp. 366 - 684.","Dendy, A. (1922) Report on the Sigmatotetraxonida collected by H. M. S. \" Sealark \" in the Indian Ocean. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 18, 1 - 164, pls. 161 - 118.","Topsent, E. (1932) Eponges de Lamarck conservees au Museum de Paris. Deuxieme partie (I). Archives du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. 6 ª Serie, 8, 61 - 124, pls. 121 - 126.","Burton, M. (1959) Sponges. Scientific Reports of the John Murray Expedition 1933 - 34, 10, 151 - 281.","Pulitzer-Finali, G. (1993) A collection of marine sponges from east Africa. Annali del Museo civico di Storia naturale Giacomo Doria, 89, 247 - 350.","Topsent, E. (1928) Spongiaires de l'Atlantique et de la Mediterranee provenant des croisieres du Prince Albert Ier de Monaco. Resultats des Campagnes Scientifiques Accomplies sur son Yacht par Albert Ier, Prince Souverain de Monaco, 74, 1 - 376, pls. 371 - 311.","Sim, C. J., Kim, H. Y. & Byeon, H. S. (1990) A systematic study on the marine sponges in Korea 8. Tetractinomorpha. The Korean Journal of Systematic Zoology, 6 123 - 144.","De Laubenfels, M. W. (1954) The Sponges of the West-Central Pacific. Oregon State Monographs, Studies Zoology, 1 - 306. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6516","Carter (1883) Contributions to our knowledge of the Spongida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 5), 12, 308 - 329, pls. 311 - 314.","Hentschel, E. (1912) Kiesel-und Hornschwamme der Aru und Kei-Inseln. Hamburg: Abhandlungen Senckenbergiana naturforschende Gessellschaft.","Redmond, N. E., Morrow, C. C., Thacker, R. W., Diaz, M. C., Boury-Esnault, N., Cardenas, P., Hajdu E., Lobo-Hajdu, G., Picton, B. E., Pomponi, S. A., Kayal, E. & Collins, A. G. (2013) Phylogeny and Systematics of Demospongiae in Light of New Small-Subunit Ribosomal DNA (18 S) Sequences. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 53, 482 - 494. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1093 / icb / ict 078","Alvarez, B. & Hooper, J. N. A. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the order Halichondrida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from northern Australia. Family Axinellidae. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 25, 17 - 42."]}

Genus Esperiopsis Carter, 1882 Remarks Currently, there are 33 species assigned to this genus (Van Soest et al. 2012). Possibly, some of the species may need to be transferred to other genera because of the interpretation of the morphological structure of the chelae (e.g. E. flava L��vi, 1993 and similar species with deformed chelae, which cannot be identified with certainty as palmate), others would have to be returned to Amphilectus if the style size difference would be no longer a valid discriminatory character of the two genera. Future studies using additional datasets (such as molecular sequences) are needed to clarify the status of Esperiopsis., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on page 11, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876

Amphilectus strepsichelifer sp. nov. Fig. 4 Etymology The name is a combination of strepsis (L.) = twisted, and chelifer (L.) = bearing chelae, reflecting the twisted condition of the chelae. Material examined Holotype ZMA Por. 07564, Cape Verde Islands, W of S��o Vicente, Canal de S��o Vicente, depth 348-354 m, coll. R. W.M. Van Soest, CANCAP 7 Expedition stat. 172/03, 16.8833��N 25.1167��W, rectangular dredge, 7 Sep. 1986. Description Pedunculate sponge (Fig. 4A), with long thin smooth stalk and abruptly attached small ovate main body. Main body flattened, but solid (not hollow). Upper surface somewhat rectangular, caused by preparation damage. Surface irregular, shaggy. Colour light brown alive, grey in alcohol. Size of main body 12 x 6 mm, stalk 35 mm long, 1.2 mm thick. SKELETON. Of main body plumose, rather than plumoreticulate, with diffuse spicule bundles directed at right angles to the surface (Fig. 4B), where they form loose brushes. Connecting spicules few and arranged irregularly. Chelae in loose groups in a subectosomal layer at the base of the surface brushes (Fig. 4C). Few chelae in the interior. SPICULES. (Fig. 4 D-E) Styles, palmate isochelae. STYLES. (Fig. 4D, D 1) Thin, slightly curved, 396- 430.5 -462 x 3- 4.6 - 7 ��m. PALMATE ISOCHELAE. (Fig. 4E) Predominantly with ���twisted��� shaft, causing the alae of opposite ends to face different angles, a minority of the chelae appearing ���normal��� but these are of the same size as the twisted ones, and upon closer examination appear to be slightly twisted as well, 32- 33.7 - 36 ��m. Distribution and ecology Known only from the type locality between the islands of S��o Vicente and Santo Ant��o, Cape Verde Islands (Fig. 1, loc. 4), hard bottom, at depths below 300 m. Remarks The species is assigned to Amphilectus on the same basis as A. utriculus sp. nov. The species stands out among stalked Amphilectus species (see above in the remarks on A. utriculus sp. nov.) by the peculiar twisted condition of the palmate isochelae. Additionally the thin stalk carrying the main body without a clear intermediate zone is characteristic and not found in the other North Atlantic Amphilectus species., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on pages 7-9, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876

Ulosa capblancensis sp. nov. Fig. 8 Etymology Named after the type locality, Cap Blanc. Material examined Holotype ZMA Por. 09959, Mauritania, off Cap Blanc, depth 11-35 m, coll. F.P. Vermeulen, 20.7°N 17.1667°W, 1906. Description Erect branches issue from a basal mass (Fig. 8A), which was presumable buried in the sandy substrate. Individual branches 8 mm diameter at the base tapering to blunt endings of 2 to 4 mm diameter. Individual branches up to 10 cm long. Basal mass (Fig. 8A 1) 3-6 cm thick, 4-5 cm in lateral expansion. Surface of basal mass and branches roughly conulose and porose, consistency rather firm, but soft to the touch. No apparent oscules. Possibly the specimen is somewhat macerated. COLOUR. Brownish red in alcohol, live colour unknown. SKELETON. (Fig. 8B) Forms a spongin-rich irregular reticulation with longitudinal meshes. Emphasis of the skeleton is on ascending fibres, which are cored by 2-9 spicules, whereas cross connections are predominantly cored by single spicules at widely differing angles, occasionally two or more spicules are in the connecting spongin-fibres but then these are not aligned. Meshes average 500 µm in length, distance between longitudinal fibres is 200-400 µm, fibres have a thickness of 100-220 µm depending not only on the amount of coring but also on spongin development. SPICULES. Robust styles only. STYLES (FIG. 8C, C 1) straight or slightly curved, isodiametrical over much of their length with sharply pointed endings, 648- 725.9 -843 x 18- 22.1 - 26 µm. Distribution and ecology Mauritania, on sandy platform off Cap Blanc, 10-35 m (Fig. 1, loc. 1). Remarks The growth form of the new species is similar in most respects to Ulosa stuposa, which was found in the same habitat. It is likely that colours differ (yellow-orange in typical U. stuposa, possibly red or redbrown in U. capblancensis sp. nov.). However, the major distinguishing features are (1) the structure of the skeleton, with weakly developed connecting fibres and thick irregular spongin-encased ascending spicule tracts, and (2) the relatively long and thick styles, on average twice or thrice as long and thick as those of U. stuposa (725 vs. 160 µm). The present species might easily be confused with a local species of Dictyonella Schmidt, 1868 [possibly identical or close to Dictyonella pelligera (Schmidt, 1864)], which shares possession of erect branches and long thick styles with U. capblancensis sp. nov. Differences are pointed surface projections, the plumose arrangement of the spicules, and the characteristic abundance of cells with refractile granules (see Rütlzer et al. 2003) of the Dictyonella species.

Esperiopsis cimensis sp. nov. Fig. 6 Etymology Named after the type locality, Ilheu de Cima. Material examined Holotype ZMA Por. 07282, Cape Verde Islands, SW of Ilheu Rombos, SE of Ilheu de Cima, depth 165 m, hard bottom with yellow calcareous sand, coll. R. W.M. Van Soest, CANCAP 7 Expedition stat. 030/05, 14.95��N 24.65��W, Van Veen grab, 23 Aug. 1986. Description Thinly encrusting on a large volcanic stone (Fig. 6A, arrow), alongside a specimen of Aplysilla Schulze, 1878. Size of crust 3.5 x 2 cm, thickness 1-2 mm. Colour: yellow alive, beige in alcohol. Surface optically smooth. Consistency soft. SKELETON. (Fig. 6B) Plumose, with strongly developed spicule bundles traversing the sponge at right angles to the surface, where they fan out. Few if any connecting spicules. No special ectosomal skeleton. There is a ���groundmass��� of microscleres crowding the space between the spicule bundles and adhering to it, mostly consisting of sigmas and small isochelae. Scattered larger chelae, rather rare, mostly occurring at the surface. SPICULES. (Fig. 6 C-E) Styles, sigmas, palmate isochelae. STYLES. (Fig. 6C, C 1) Long and thin, straight or slightly curved, 396- 431.4 -461 x 5- 6.4- 8 ��m. SIGMAS. (Fig. 6D) In two distinct non-overlapping size categories, both thin and strongly curved: (I) 76- 85.8 - 96 ��m (Fig. 6D 1), and (II) 36- 45.4 - 56 ��m (Fig. 6D 2). PALMATE ISOCHELAE. (Fig. 6E) In two distinct, non-overlapping size categories, the larger (I) ���normal��� in shape (Fig. 6E 1), 56- 69.4 - 84 ��m, the smaller (II) with incurved median alae (Fig. 6E 2), 14- 16.9 - 21 ��m. Distribution and ecology Only known from the type locality S of Ilheu de Cima, Cape Verde Islands (Fig. 1, loc. 5), on volcanic bottom with yellow sand, at 165 m depth. Remarks The new species appears to be a member of a group of morphologically similar North Atlantic deep-water species (see Table 1), sharing the encrusting habit, the size and shape of megascleres and two categories of both sigmas and chelae. Probably closest is Esperiopsis flagellum Lundbeck, 1905 from off SE Iceland. Clear differences exist in the shape of one of the sigma categories, as these of E. flagellum are ���flagellate��� (excessively incurved). The sigmas are also larger in size, up to 250 ��m in E. flagellum, whereas they are up to 400 ��m in the similar species E. macrosigma Stephens, 1916 from waters west of Ireland. E. praedita Topsent, 1890 from the Azores is also close, but the larger chelae category is smaller than in our new species, and the sigmas can be as large as 200 ��m. A less similar sponge is E. decora Topsent, 1904 from the Azores, sharing the overall spiculation, but having even larger (flagellate) sigmas, and in addition possessing trichodragmas and three instead of two size categories of chelae. Other Esperiopsis species described from the North Atlantic appear more distant: E. incognita Stephens, 1916 from Irish waters has smaller chelae and larger sigmas. E. strongylata (Alander, 1942) from the Skagerrak and E. strongylophora Vacelet, 1969 from the Western Mediterranean have strongylote megascleres instead of styles. The two remaining, more elaborately shaped, North East Atlantic Esperiopsis species also show differences in spicule sizes and categories: variably massive or ramose E. polymorpha Topsent, 1890 from the Azores has smaller chelae in a single category and smaller sigmas. Massive-erect or leafshaped E. villosa (Carter, 1874) has the size of the largest sigmas and chelae clearly in excess of those of our new species. Esperiopsis schmidti Arnesen, 1903 from Norwegian waters and Esperiopsis glomeris Topsent, 1904 have been assigned to the myxilline genus Echinostylinos Topsent, 1927 by Van Soest & Hajdu (2002a) on account of their possession of tridentate isochelae. Esperiopsis typichela Lundbeck, 1905 and Esperiopsis pedicellata Lundbeck, 1905 have been transferred to Amphilectus by Van Soest et al. (2012) as they do not possess sigmas. Esperiopsis lesliei Uriz, 1988 and Esperiopsis rugosus sensu Uriz (1988) both from Namibia, likewise do not have sigmas and belong to Amphilectus., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on pages 11-13, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Van Soest R. W. M. & Hajdu E. 2002 a. Family Phellodermidae fam. nov. In: Hooper J. N. A. & Van Soest R. W. M. (eds) Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges: 621 - 624 .. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York.","Uriz M. J. 1988. Deep-water sponges from the continental shelf and slope off Namibia (Southwest Africa): Classes Hexactinellida and Demospongia. Monografias de Zoologia Marina 3: 9 - 157."]}

Genus Ulosa de Laubenfels, 1936 Remarks The genus Ulosa is not well-established, with approximately 15 disjunctly occurring species (South Australia, North East Atlantic and Mediterranean, Indonesia, Central Pacific, and Brazil, see Van Soest et al. 2012). About half the number of species are only known from old dried types and/or are inadequately characterized. With the simple morphological features the genus remains to be established as a monophyletic group, and indeed as a member of the suborder Poecilosclerida, as the implied assumption of secondarily lost chelae lacks firm evidence. In fact, a recent study of 28S gene sequences of a large group of demosponges including poecilosclerid, hadromerid and halichondrid sponges (Morrow et al. 2012) indicated that at least one species of the genus Ulosa could be a member of the family Halichondriidae Gray, 1867. Here we will retain the genus as a member of Esperiopsidae until sequences of the type species of Ulosa will be obtained., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on page 14, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Morrow C., Picton B. E., Erpenbeck D., Boury-Esnault N., Maggs C. A. & Allcock A. L. 2012. Congruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes in Demospongiae: A new hypoythesis for relationships within the G 4 clade (Porifera: Demospongiae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62 (1): 174 - 190. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2011.09.016"]}

Ulosa stuposa (Esper, 1794) Fig. 7 For synonymy, see Van Soest 1987. Material examined ZMA Por. 06567, Mauritania, off Cap Blanc, depth 15 m, bottom muddy, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 006/01, 20.8167��N 17.0167��W, 1.2 m Agassiz trawl, 7 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06705, Mauritania, SW of Cap Timiris, depth 12-18 m, bottom sand overlying limestone ridge, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 049/18, 19.0833��N 16.4167��W, rectangular dredge, 11 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06714, Mauritania, SW of Cap Timiris, bottom muddy sand, depth 30 m, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 053/05, 19.0833��N 16.4667��W, 2.4 m Agassiz trawl, 11 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06766, Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin, bottom muddy sand, depth 48-52 m, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 072/06, 20.0��N 17.4��W, 3.5 m Agassiz trawl, 13 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06859, Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin, bottom muddy sand, depth 50 m, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 137/01, 20.7167��N 17.35��W, 2.4 m Agassiz trawl, 21 Jun. 1988. Examined for comparison ZMA Por. 09932, Portugal, Algarve, E of Sagres, 37.0��N 8.9333��W, growing on Cystoseira alga, coll. J.H. Stock, 14 Aug. 1976. ZMA Por. 16490, France, Bretagne, Roscoff, Le Taureau, depth 25 m, 48.6633��N 3.8833��W, coll. M.J. de Kluijver, Jul. 1992. Ulosa digitata sensu Burton 1956, slide made from a specimen in the collections of the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen collected by the Atlantide Expedition Stat. 147, 09.4333��N 14.9667��W, depth 45 m, bottom shells and forams, 14 Apr. 1946. Description Long branches (Fig. 7A) issuing from a basal mass (presumably buried in the sand), dividing sparingly, surface irregularly conulose. Length of branches up to 10 cm, diameter 0.5-1.5 cm. Consistency soft, easily damaged. COLOUR. Variously reported as yellow, light brown, brown, blue-green or greyish. SKELETON. (Fig. 7B) A rectangular reticulation of thick spicule tracts, cemented by only little spongin, which is usually not visible. Tracts divisible in slightly thicker longitudinals of 35-100 ��m thickness with a core of up to 15 spicules, and thinner interconnecting tracts of 30-60 ��m thickness with a core of 2-10 spicules. Meshes formed by the tracts of widely divergent sizes 200-750 ��m. Loose spicules are observed among the tracts, but these are absent or rare in many specimens, which appear to be ���macerated���, possibly due to loss of tissue during alcohol preservation. SPICULES. (Fig. 7C, C 1) Styles only (no oxeote modifications were observed), sharply pointed, tending to be thicker in the middle than at the rounded end (���fusiform���), occasionally faintly ���centrotylote���, of rather variable size in the various specimens, but with limited variation within a specimen, 123- 161.2 - 192 x 4- 7.6 - 11 ��m. Distribution and ecology Mauritania, Cap Blanc, Banc d���Arguin and Cap Timiris, in sandy substrate at 12-52 m (Fig. 1, locs. 1-3). Elsewhere, widespread from the British Isles southward, Mediterranean, Lusitanian region, Atlantic islands; southernmost record Gulf of Guinea (see below). Remarks The West African material shows a range of growth forms including massively encrusting and branchingerect, in accordance with the variability elsewhere. Colours in Mauritanian specimens appear duller (mostly brownish) than in Western European material (cf. Van Soest et al. 2000) and spicule thickness on average appears greater than in northern specimens: in two specimens from Western France (ZMA Por. 16490) and Portugal (ZMA Por. 09932), examined for comparison, spicules measured 140-165 x 2-6 ��m. Nevertheless, there is overlap in these characters and conspecificity seems likely. Burton (1956) reported this species (as U. digitata) from Conakry, Guinea (9.4667��N 14.9667��W). It was described as forming a bush with branches 5-6 cm long and 0.5 cm thick. The skeleton is similar to Western European specimens and spicules conform as well (130-145 x 3-5 ��m). Apparently, the distribution of U. stuposa extends over much of the coastal waters of the Northeast Atlantic. A littoral species from Faial, Azores, Ulosa jullieni (Topsent, 1892) (1892: 137, pl. I, fig. 12, as Stylinos), has similar skeleton with slightly smaller spicules (120-130 ��m), but differs from U. stuposa primarily in growth form and surface (thickly encrusting with smooth surface and slightly elevated oscules). It is also recorded here from the piles of the pier of Villa Baleira, Porto Santo, 33.0562��N 16.334��W (ZMA Por. 21503, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest, 30 June 1990)., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on pages 14-16, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Van Soest R. W. M. 1987. Biogeographic and taxonomic notes on some Eastern Atlantic sponges. In: Jones W. C. (ed.) European Contributions to the Taxonomy of Sponges: 13 - 28. Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, County Cork.","Burton M. 1956. The sponges of West Africa. Atlantide Report: scientific Results of the Danish Expedition to the Coasts of Tropical West Africa, 1945 - 1946 4: 111 - 147.","Van Soest R. W. M., Picton B. E. & Morrow C. 2000. Sponges of the North East Atlantic. In: World Biodiversity Database CD-ROM Series, Windows / Mac version 1.0. ETI Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam."]}

Family Esperiopsidae Hentschel, 1923 Remarks Below we assign West African species to esperiopsid genera in accordance with the account of the family by Van Soest & Hajdu (2002b). Species with only a single chela size, and no other microscleres are assigned to Amphilectus. The species with sigmas included is assigned to Esperiopsis. Species without microscleres are assigned to Ulosa., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on page 3, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Hentschel E. 1923. Erste Unterabteilung der Metazoa: Parazoa, Porifera-Schwamme. In: Kukenthal W. & Krumbach T. (eds) Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichteder Stamme des Tierreiches. Vol. 1: Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata, Mesozoa: 307 - 418, figs 288 - 377. Walter de Gruyter und Co, Berlin and Leipzig.","Van Soest R. W. M. & Hajdu E. 2002 b. Family Esperiopsidae Hentschel, 1923. In: Hooper J. N. A. & Van Soest R. W. M. (eds) Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges: 656 - 664 .. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York."]}

Genus Amphilectus Vosmaer, 1880 Remarks Amphilectus differs from the closely related genus Esperiopsis in the lack of additional microscleres and the generally smaller size of the styles. The difference in the latter character was fixed on 400 ��m (Van Soest & Hajdu 2002b), but this is to be interpreted loosely, as several species in both genera possess styles with lengths just under or above 400 ��m. The genus to date contains 17 species (Van Soest et al. 2012), predominantly from temperate and cold water, evenly spread over the North Atlantic (five species), North Pacific (three species), South Atlantic (six species), and South Pacific waters (three species). The Atlantic species are summarized in Table 1., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on page 3, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Van Soest R. W. M. & Hajdu E. 2002 b. Family Esperiopsidae Hentschel, 1923. In: Hooper J. N. A. & Van Soest R. W. M. (eds) Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges: 656 - 664 .. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York."]}

Amphilectus cf. fucorum (Esper, 1794) Fig. 5 For synonymy, see Van Soest & Hajdu 2002b: 657. Material examined ZMA Por. 06775, Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin, depth 100 m, bottom muddy sand, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 072/14, 20.0��N 17.3��W, 2.4 m Agassiz trawl, 13 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06796, Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin, depth 48-52 m, bottom muddy sand with some calcareous gravel, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 082/19, 19.9833��N 17.5��W, 3.5 m Agassiz trawl, 14 Jun. 1988. ZMA Por. 06843, Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin, depth 95-100 m, bottom muddy sand with shells, coll. R.W.M. Van Soest & J.J. Vermeulen, Mauritania II Exped. Stat. 130/09, 20.4167��N 17.6667��W, 3.5 m Agassiz trawl, 20 Jun. 1988. Description The material consists of several fragments of encrusting to irregularly ramose sponges (Fig. 5A). Consistency, soft irregular surface, colour brownish alive and beige to whitish in alcohol. Size of individual fragments 2-3 cm. SKELETON. Irregularly plumoreticulate (Fig. 5B), with loosely defined spicule bundles connected by individual spicules, general aspect rather confused. Spicules barely protruding beyond the surface. Chelae clustered and singly occurring throughout the interior. SPICULES. Styles, palmate isochelae. STYLES. (Fig. 5C, C 1) Straight or slightly curved, relatively short and robust, 198- 237.6- 276 x 9- 11.4 - 14 ��m. PALMATE ISOCHELAE. (Fig. 5D) Of ���normal��� shape, but like in A. utriculus sp. nov., the shaft is slightly incurved. 19- 23.6 - 27 ��m. Distribution and ecology Mauritania, off Banc d���Arguin (Fig. 1, loc. 2), on muddy bottom below 50 m. Elsewhere, if identification is correct, along most of the coasts of Europe, including the Western Mediterranean. This is the southernmost record of the species if Southern Ocean records (see below) are considered not conspecific. Remarks By assigning these specimens to A. fucorum, the range of this species, which was already huge, is further extended along the East Atlantic coasts. The species is common and distinctly orange-coloured in shallow water habitats of the British Isles and the W coast of France, but according to Van Soest et al. (2000) deep-water specimens may loose their colour, and such specimens may be found down to 100 m. Skeleton and spicule characteristics of the present material fall within the recorded variation, although usually styles elsewhere are thinner than those of the Mauritanian specimens. Genetic comparisons may show diversity over the range of this species and such studies are needed to decide the specific identity of the Mauritanian populations. From the other Amphilectus species from the area described above, A. cf. fucorum differs in habit and chelae (A. utriculus sp. nov. has chelae twice the size, A. strepsichelifer sp. nov. has chelae with a twisted shaft). Amphilectus informis (Stephens, 1915) from the Atlantic coast of South Africa appears to be similar based on published data. According to the original description its chelae have an incurved shaft but apparently the frontal alae of the chelae are characteristic showing a ���tubercle in front view���. However, the illustration of this feature is indistinct. Samaai & Gibbons (2005) described the species also, but their illustrations do not clarify these alleged differences. Burton (1932, 1940) recorded A. fucorum from Tristan da Cunha, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and off the coast of Argentina. Thiele (1905) recorded it from Chile. Goodwin et al. (2011) described two new Amphilectus species from the Falkland Islands, which appear to cover the Burton and Thiele records. Bergquist & Fromont (1988) recorded the European species Esperiopsis normani (Bowerbank, 1866) and Esperiopsis edwardii (Bowerbank, 1866) from New Zealand waters, but both are now considered junior synonyms of Amphilectus fucorum. This is not to say that A. fucorum occurs in New Zealand, but merely that these records should be compared critically., Published as part of Van Soest, Rob W. M., Beglinger, Elly J. & de Voogd, Nicole J., 2012, Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species, pp. 1-21 in European Journal of Taxonomy 18 on pages 9-11, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.18, http://zenodo.org/record/3857876, {"references":["Van Soest R. W. M. & Hajdu E. 2002 b. Family Esperiopsidae Hentschel, 1923. In: Hooper J. N. A. & Van Soest R. W. M. (eds) Systema Porifera. A guide to the classification of sponges: 656 - 664 .. Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York.","Van Soest R. W. M., Picton B. E. & Morrow C. 2000. Sponges of the North East Atlantic. In: World Biodiversity Database CD-ROM Series, Windows / Mac version 1.0. ETI Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam.","Samaai T. & Gibbons M. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. African Natural History 1: 1 - 96.","Burton M. 1932. Sponges. Discovery Reports 6: 237 - 392, pls. 48 - 57.","Burton M. 1940. Las Esponjas marinas del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. (Parte 1). Anales del Museo argentino de ciencias naturales ' Bernardino Rivadavia' 40 (6): 95 - 121, pls. I-VIII.","Thiele J. 1905. Die Kiesel- und Hornschwamme der Sammlung Plate. Fauna Chiliensis III. Zoologische Jahrbucher Supplement 6: 407 - 496.","Goodwin C., Jones J., Neely K. & Brickle P. 2011. Sponge biodiversity of the Jason Islands and Stanley, Falkland Islands with descriptions of twelve new species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 91 (2): 275 - 301. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0025315410001542","Bergquist P. R. & Fromont P. J. 1988. The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Porifera, Demospongiae. Part. 4: Poecilosclerida. New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Memoir 96, New Zealand oceanographic institute, Wellington."]}