(Topsent, 1888b)

Species Overview

Forcepia (Leptolabis) luciensis (Topsent, 1888b) is a thinly encrusting sponge with pointed papillae. It has characteristic strongly curved-curled microscleres (microscopic examination). It is a southern species.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Brown.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Encrusting, surface provided with laterally flattened, pointed papillae. No size recorded, but presumably small and thin. Consistency soft.
Spicules: Megascleres: Ectosomal tylotes, smooth: 250-310 x 4-5 µm; choanosomal acanthostyles: 65-150 x 4-5 µm. Microscleres: Arcuate isochelae: 15-30 m; forceps ("micro-labis"), U-shaped with thin, parallel legs, or with one or both legs curved, sometimes spirally curved, microspined: legs 5-10 µm long, 2-7 µm apart; sigmas, if present and proper: 35-90 µm.
Skeleton: Hymedesmoid, with acanthostyles erect on the substrate; tylotes occurring in bundles at the surface.
Reproduction: In the fall (Mediterranean).
Ecology: Deeper water below 20 m, agglutinating sand grains and pebbles.
Distribution: Roscoff, Plymouth; Mediterranean, Cape Verde Islands.
Etymology: Named after Luc-sur-Mer on the W coast of France.
Type specimen information: The type is in the Muséum Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Remarks

This is a distinct species due to the peculiar small forceps. Apparently, sigmas are variably present (not in the type).
Source: Topsent (1904).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Demospongiae
Order Poecilosclerida
Suborder Myxillina
Family Coelosphaeridae
Genus Forcepia
Subgenus Leptolabis
Species Forcepia luciensis

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Synonym of Forcepia (Leptolabis) luciensis (Topsent, 1888)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Dendoryx luciensis n.sp. Topsent, 1888b: xxxvii
Leptosia exilis n.sp. Topsent, 1892b: xxii
Leptosia luciensis: Topsent, 1901: 353
Leptolabis luciensis: Topsent, 1904: 184, pl. XV fig. 8; Burton, 1957: 34; Cabioch, 1968: 235; Borojevic et al., 1968: 23.

Borojevic, R., L. Cabioch and C. Lévi, 1968. Spongiaires. Inventaire Faune Marine de Roscoff. 44 pp.

Burton, M., 1957. Plymouth Marine Fauna. 3rd ed. Porifera. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K.: 26-36.

Cabioch, L.,1968. Contribution à la connaissance de la faune des spongiaires de la Manche occidentale. Démosponges de la région de Roscoff. Cah. Biol. mar., 9: 211-246.

Topsent, E., 1888b. Notes spongologiques. Arch. Zool. exp. gén., (2) 6 (notes and revue): xxxiii-xliii.

Topsent, E., 1892b. Diagnoses d'éponges nouvelles de la Méditerranée et plus particulièrement de Banyuls. Arch. Zool. exp. gén., (2) 10 (notes and revue): xvii-xxviii.

Topsent, E., 1901. Considérations sur la faune des spongiaires des côtes d'Algérie. Éponges de la Calle. Arch. Zool. expér. gén., (3) 9: 327-370, pls. XII-XIV.

Topsent, E., 1904. Spongiaires des Açores. Rés. Camp. sci. Prince Albert Monaco, 25: 1-280, pls. 1-18.

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