Lundbeck, 1910
Species Overview
Histodermella ingolfi Lundbeck (1910) is a bladder-like deep water sponge recorded from Ireland and Iceland. It differs from similar sponges of the genus Coelosphaera in having spined acanthoxeas.
Taxonomic Description
Colour: Yellowish white in alcohol (choanosome deeper yellow). Shape, size, surface and consistency: Thick-walled, rounded or elongated bladder-like body, giving off thin-walled fistules. Size up to 30 mm long by 10 mm in diameter. Spicules: (Histodermella ingolfi spics) Megascleres: Tylotes 250-600 x 19 µm; acanthoxeas, very heavily spined, 200-250 x 16 µm. Microscleres: Arcuate isochelae 20 µm; sigmas: 16 µm. Skeleton: Tangential tylotes form a crust-like ectosome; choanosome without coherent skeleton, acanthoxeas scattered in the surface and interior. Ecology: Deep water, down to 900 m, in crevices of dead Lophelia. Distribution: Off Iceland, SW Ireland. Etymology: Named after the North Atlantic Danish Ingolf Expedition, 1900. Type specimen information: In the Zoologisk Museum of Copenhagen (ZMK).
Remarks
The genus Histodermella is closely related to Coelosphaera, differing from it primarily by the characteristic acanthoxeas. Source: Stephens, 1920. |