Abyssocladia glomeris new comb. (Topsent, 1904) (Fig. 5)

Esperiopsis glomeris Topsent, 1904: 213, pl. XVII, fig. 3. Camptisocale glomeris (Topsent, 1904). Topsent (1927: 7).

Material examined: Schizotype (slides presently re-examined). MNHN DT 1000, off Terceira, Azores, NE Atlantic (stn 866, S.A.S. Le Prince de Monaco; 38.8806 / -27.3847), 599 m depth, coll. S.A.S. Le Prince de Monaco, R / V ‘Princesse Alice’, 02.VIII.1897.

Diagnosis: The only species of Abyssocladia with two categories of styles, 1400–1500 × 17–20 µm and 900–1000 × 7–8 µm, and only arcuate isochelae as microscleres (46–60 µm), often of abyssochelae morphology.

Brief Redescription (adapted from Topsent, 1904): The specimen is a whitish, elongated fragment, 20 mm long × 4 mm thick, without support; with soft consistency, smooth surface, and without distinct openings. The schizotype consists of a couple of slides with spicule dissociations and skeletal fragments.

Skeleton: Ectosome with tangential and compact bundles of styles II. Choanosome with styles I forming multispicular tracts. Microscleres abundant and randomly distributed (Fig. 5A; modified of Topsent 1904).

Spicules: Megascleres, styles in two categories. Styles I (Fig. 5A), smooth and straight sometimes slightly curved. Styles II (Fig. 5B), smooth and straight. According to Topsent (1904): styles I: 1400–1500 × 17–20 µm; styles II: 900–1000 × 7–8 µm. Microscleres, arcuate isochelae (Fig. 5C, D) with alae of both extremities ranging from totally separated to strongly interwoven as in abyssochelae: 46–60 µm (measures confirmed by the authors).

Distribution: Known only from its type locality, NE Atlantic, Azores, 599 m depth (Topsent, 1904).

Remarks: We propose the transfer of Echinostylinos glomeris (Topsent, 1904) to Abyssocladia Lévi, 1964 on account of its habit, skeleton and spicules, which appear more related to the latter genus, than to Echinostylinos or Phelloderma. The species originally described as Esperiopsis glomeris was transferred to Echinostylinos by van Soest and Hajdu (2002). Their rationale for the transfer actually supports our proposition, since they highlighted the skeletal similarity to Echinostylinos, but recognized the morphology of the isochelae in glomeris seemed to contradict this view, an observation they underestimated as likely of specific value only. Isochelae alone do not allow recognition of Abyssocladia spp. in many cases, but the typical branching shape and habit encourage us to transfer Esperiopsis glomeris to Abyssocladia.