(Carter, 1874b)

Species Overview

Esperiopsis villosa (Carter, 1874b) is a massive lobate northern deep-water sponge, which has been recorded only a few times, and only once from shallow-water. It differs from other Esperiopsis species in possessing very large sigmas (microscopic examination). Its live colour is unknown.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Grey in the dry state.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Massive, lobular, erect. Size up to 6 x 3 x 2.5 cm. Surface villous, due to spicules tufts protruding beyond the skin. Oscules scattered here and there irregularly. Consistency fibrous.
Spicules: (Esperiopsis villosa spics) Megascleres: Styles with constricted necks: 590 x 4-5 µm. Microscleres: Palmate isochelae, in two categories: long and narrow, with recurved alae: 100 µm, and short and wide: ca. 60 µm; giant sigmas 160-170 µm.
Skeleton: A reticulation of strongly developed multispicular fibres with some loose spicules in the interstices. Surface skeleton a crust of tangential megascleres.
Ecology: 36-2000 m
Distribution: Norway, Scotland, Faroes.
Etymology: The name refers to the hairy condition of the surface.
Type specimen information: The type is in the Natural History Museum, London: BMNH 1882.7.28.55A (Esperiopsis villosa Carter).

Remarks

This species is ill-known and further studies are necessary.
Source: Carter, 1874b.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Demospongiae
Order Poecilosclerida
Suborder Mycalina
Family Esperiopsidae
Genus Esperiopsis
Species Esperiopsis villosa

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Esperiopsis villosa (Carter, 1874)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Esperia villosa n.sp. Carter, 1874b: 213, pl. XIII figs. 13-15, pl. XV fig. 36
Esperiopsis villosa: Burton, 1930a: 490

Burton, M., 1930a. Norwegian sponges from the Norman collection. Proc. zool. Soc. London, 2: 487-546.

Carter, H.J., 1874a. Descriptions and figures of deep-sea sponges and their spicules from the Atlantic Ocean, dredged up on board HMS "Porucpine", chiefly in 1869; with figures and descriptions of some remarkable spicules from the Agulhas Shoal and Colon, Panama. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (4) 14: 207-221, 245-257, pls. XIII-XV.

Lundbeck, W., 1905. Porifera. Part II. Desmacidonidae (pars). Danish Ingolf Exped., 6 (3): 1-219, 20 pls.

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