Topsent, 1924

Species Overview

Mycale (Aegogropila) retifera Topsent (1924) is a thinly encrusting red sponge with a smooth easily detachable skin. It has a soft consistency. It is a rare species, originally described from the Mediterranean but also recorded from Roscoff.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Red.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Thin, small encrustations. Surface smooth. Consistency soft.
Spicules: Megascleres: Subtylostyles ("mycalostyles"), straight, with elliptical head, with axial canal visible in the head, not particularly fusiform, gradually tapering towards the pointed end: 260-290 x 6-7.5 µm.
Microscleres: Three size categories of anisochelae: largest, with outcurved middle alae, with thick falces, rare, solitary or in rosettes of 5-6: 28-31 µm; middle sized, with almost straight middle alae, numerous: 18-20 µm; smallest: 11-15 µm; two size categories of sigmas: 60-68 x 3-5 µm and 22-26 µm; toxas numerous and variable in length and thickness: 40-130 x 0.8 µm (mostly 40-75 µm), the smallest may show bizarre curves and shapes.
Skeleton: Ectosomal skeleton a reticulation of tangential tracts of about 3 spicules in cross section, easily detachable. Choanosomal skeleton consists of plumose bundles of megascleres.
Ecology: On stones or epibiont on other sponges, from shallow water to at least 60 m.
Distribution: Mediterranean, Roscoff.
Etymology: The name refers to the net-like surface.
Type specimen information: The type is in the Paris Museum.

Remarks

The peculiar toxas and the colour make this species readily distinguishable from its closest relative, M. (A.) contareni.
Source: Topsent, 1924.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Class Demospongiae
Order Poecilosclerida
Suborder Mycalina
Family Mycalidae
Genus Mycale
Subgenus Aegogropila
Species Mycale retifera

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Synonym of Mycale (Aegogropila) retifera Topsent, 1924

Scientific synonyms and common names

Mycale retifera n.sp. Topsent, 1924: 104, fig. 10; Burton, 1957: 33; Cabioch, 1968: 230; Borojevic et al., 1968: 18

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., 1924. Révision des Mycale de l'Europe Occidentale. Ann. Inst. Océanogr. Monaco, 1: 77-118

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