Cliona grandis Samaai, Pillay & Janson 2019

Cliona grandis Samaai, Pillay & Janson, 2019

Fig. 15

Cliona grandis Samaai, Pillay & Janson, 2019: 12, fig. 3a–g.

PONTA DO OURO • 1 rounded fragment of about 3cm, preserved dry; 26°46′39.864″ S, 32°55′25.392″ E; Cloud break; 36 m deep; 22 May 2015; Torsani leg.; IMG0830 • 1 small flat, rounded portion, preserved dry, of about 3 cm; 26°49′29.579″ S, 32°53′50.819″ E; Blacks; 18 m deep; 24 May 2015; Torsani leg.; IMG0913 • 5 fragments, preserved dry; the larger about 5×2 × 2 cm; 26°49′29.579″ S, 32°53′50.819″ E; Blacks; 17 m deep; 11 Nov. 2015; Cerrano leg.; PdO2 • 1 rounded fragment of 5 cm preserved dry; 26°45′41.04″ S, 32°54′7.138″ E; Texas; 11 m deep; 15 Nov. 2015; Cerrano leg.; PdO19 • 1 single fragment 5× 3× 2 cm, preserved dry; 26°49′50.408″ S, 32°53′45.974″ E; Texas; 11 m deep; 15 Nov. 2015; Cerrano leg.; PdO22 • 3 fragments alcohol preserved; 26°45′41.04″ S, 32°54′7.141″ E; Doodles; 17 m deep; 7 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO22 • dried and alcohol preserved fragments; 26°49′50.408″ S, 32°53′45.977″ E; Doodles; 17 m deep; 7 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO23 • 3 alcohol preserved fragments, the larger about 7×3 × 1 cm; 26°49′50.408″ S, 32°53′57.659″ E; Close; 18.6 m deep; 9 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO27 • very small fragments, alcohol preserved; 26°49′55.65″ S, 32°53′13.413″ E; Three sisters; 23.9 m deep; 21 Feb. 2017; Cerrano leg.; PO64.

Sponge in encrusting stage (β) (IMG0830, PdO19, PdO22, PO22, PO23 and PO64) and massive stage (γ) (IMGO913 and PO23). Two main chromatic varieties, shifting from ochre to orange (Fig. 15 A–B) to pale or light yellow (Fig. 15 C–D). Specimens, dried and alcohol preserved, are brown in color. The consistence of the papillae and of the γ-stage forms is firm and incompressible. The body of the γ-stage is cavernous. The sponges in the γ-stage are full of foreign material, also derived by their erosion and engulfing activity.

SKELETON. In the papillae, long and slim tylostyles are organized in palisade, in other parts the skeleton is more confused.

SPICULES. Tylostyles (Fig. 15E) with a prominent head (Fig. 15F); in numerous tylostyles the axial canal and the vesicle in the tylo are evident. They measure 295–(307.87)–345 μm×2.5–(6.7)–7.5 μm.

This species was recently described by Samaai et al. (2019) from South Africa; it is widespread in the studied area where it develops a sort of biogenic fence up to 50 cm high.