Amphilectus strepsichelifer Van Soest, Beglinger, Vooged 2012, sp. nov.

Amphilectus strepsichelifer sp. nov.

Fig. 4

The name is a combination of strepsis (L.) = twisted, and chelifer (L.) = bearing chelae, reflecting the twisted condition of the chelae.

Holotype

ZMA Por. 07564, Cape Verde Islands, W of São Vicente, Canal de São 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.

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 µm.

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 µm.

Known only from the type locality between the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão, Cape Verde Islands (Fig. 1, loc. 4), hard bottom, at depths below 300 m.

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.