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LIBRARY

DEC 24 1969

POSTILLA
PEABODY MUSEUM
YALE UNIVERSITY

NUMBER 137. 29° SEPT. 1969

NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF
CORALLINE SPONGES (PORI-
FERA) FROM JAMAICA

WILLARD D. HARTMAN

POSTILLA

Published by the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University

Postilla includes results of original research on systematic, evolution-
ary, morphological, and ecological biology, including paleontology.
Syntheses and other theoretical papers based on research are also
welcomed. Postilla is intended primarily for papers by the staff of
the Peabody Museum or on research using material in this Museum.

Editors: Jeanne E. Remington and Nancy A. Ahlstrom

Postilla is published at frequent but irregular intervals. Manuscripts,
orders for publications, and all correspondence concerning publications
should be directed to:

Publications Office
Peabody Museum of Natural History
New Haven, Conn., 06520, U.S.A.

Lists of the publications of the Museum are available from the above
office. These include Postilla, Bulletin, Discovery, special publications,
and available back numbers of the discontinued journal, Bulletin of the
Bingham Oceanographic Collection. All except Discovery are available
in exchange for relevant publications of other scientific institutions
anywhere in the world.

NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF CORALLINE
SPONGES (PORIFERA) FROM JAMAICA

WILLARD D. HARTMAN

Department of Biology and Peabody Museum of Natural
History, Yale University, New Haven, Conn., 06520

(Received 10 June 1969)

ABSTRACT

Three new genera including four new species of coralline sponges
from Jamaica are described. The sponges are characterized by a
compound skeleton of aragonite, siliceous spicules and organic
fibrous elements and are related to Astrosclera, Merlia and Cerato-
porella.

POSTILLA 137: 39 p. 29 SEPT... 1969.

2 POSTILLA

INTRODUCTION

The rediscovery of Ceratoporella nicholsoni (Hickson, 1911) in
Jamaican waters reported by Hartman and Goreau (1966) has
been followed by the finding of four additional species of sponges
with a compound skeleton of aragonite, siliceous spicules and an
organic fibrous material. These coralline sponges occur in the same
general habitat of the fore-reef slope environment (Goreau and
Hartman, 1963) on the northern coast of Jamaica as does
Ceratoporella. Together with Astrosclera Lister (1900) and
Merlia Kirkpatrick (1908), the entire complex comprises a group
of sponges with certain affinities with the class Demospongiae but
with a notable difference in the presence of a basal mass of ara-
gonite intrinsic to the sponges. It is the purpose of this paper to
describe these four new species of Jamaican coralline sponges.
Their affinities to other sponges are uncertain, and no higher
categories are suggested at this time.

Stromatospongia, gen. nov.
TYPE-SPECIES. Stromatospongia vermicola, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. Coralline sponges in which an aragonitic basal mass,
varying in thickness from 3 mm to 4 cm, is associated with the
calcareous tubes of serpulid worms. The surface of the aragonite
is ornamented with lamellate or branched processes 0.8 to 2.0 mm
high. The siliceous spicules are acanthostyles secreted in the super-
ficial sponge tissue and later entrapped in argonite as the basal
calcareous mass grows upward. Often the siliceous spicules pro-
trude from the processes that arise from the surface of the basal
calcareous material. This arrangement seems to come about
through the fact that the heads of the spicules are joined together
by a loose network of fibrous organic material that also serves as a
matrix for the calcareous skeleton.

The living tissue of the sponges forms a thin veneer that fills in
the irregular spaces between the processes of the calcareous
skeleton, Its structural and functional organization is comparable
to that of most sponges of the Class Demospongiae. Dermal pores
perforate the surface of the tissue and open into vestibular cavities

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 3

leading into incurrent canals that in turn communicate with excur-
rent channels by way of choanocyte chambers. The excurrent
channels course to the surface and are there visible in living
specimens as obvious varicosities along the length of which
oscules open. The oscules may be localized at the center of stellate
regions of convergence of excurrent channels, and these may
leave faint depressions in the surface of the aragonite.

REMARKS. The generic name, feminine in gender, is derived from
stromato—(Greek), anything spread out-+ spongia (Greek),
sponge.

Stromatospongia vermicola, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. An encrusting species that always grows in association
with masses of tubes of a serpulid worm. Basal calcareous mass
seldom exceeding 3 mm in height above the substrate; the surface
of the aragonite is ornamented with multibranched processes.
Siliceous acanthostyles present with mean lengths of 165 to 187»
(range of means of three specimens) and mean widths of 6.2 to
8.0. (range of means of three specimens). The oscules may open
anywhere along the length of the superficial excurrent channels.
Living sponge tissue apricot to light salmon pink.

DESCRIPTION. The calcareous skeleton. As this species spreads over
its substrate it lays down a thin layer of aragonite, usually less
than 3 mm in height. The sponge occurs inevitably in association
with certain serpulid worm tubes, but how this relationship begins
in the life of any particular sponge is unclear. Perhaps the young
sponges overgrow serpulid tubes initially. Later additional ser-
pulids overgrow the sponge only to be overgrown by the sponge
on which more serpulids settle and so on. The calcareous sponge
skeleton often extends into the interior of the serpulid tubes. The
eventual result of this interaction between the sponge and serpulid
tubes is the formation of massive associations of calcareous matter
from two sources measuring up to 40 cm in diameter and up to
10 cm in height (Fig. 1).

The surface of the aragonite laid down by the sponge is marked
(Figs. 13, 17) by numerous upright, multibranched processes, 1.5

4 POSTILLA

FIG. 1. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Holotype. YPM No. 6376.
Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 31-37 m. Entire specimen, X 0.75.

to 2.0 mm high, ornamented with low rounded bosses or spines
25 to 65 in height. The skeletal surface of S$. vermicola is, there-
fore, not provided with regularly arranged pits in which the sponge
tissue is organized into units as in Ceratoporella nicholsoni (Hart-
man and Goreau, in press); instead, the living tissue extends
down into irregular spaces left between the branching terminal
processes of the calcareous skeleton.

The aragonitic skeleton of S. vermicola is made up of scleroder-
mites (Fig. 21). Crystals of aragonite radiate in all directions
from centers of calcification that are usually located around spicule
heads. Secondary deposits of aragonite filling spaces at the base of
some of the surface processes are apparent here and there in
ground thin sections. This species spreads out laterally at a quite
rapid rate, but the calcareous base grows slowly in thickness. The
aragonite of §. vermicola has a faint pinkish-brown tint when
viewed under the microscope.

Siliceous and organic skeletal elements. The range of means
(with standard error) of the length of the siliceous acanthostyles
of three specimens (100 measurements per specimen) is 165
(+7.0) to 187 (+7.7)» and the overall range in length is 75 to

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 5

519. In width the means (with standard error) of three speci-
mens (100 measurements per specimen) range from 6.2 (+0.15)
to 8.0 (+0.18)», and the overall range in width is 3.3 to
13.0u. The spicules (Fig. 2) bear several rounded or flattened,
sometimes bifurcating, knobs on the head and whorls of spines
on the shaft. The whorls of spines tend to be closer together at the
head end. Typically the first whorl is recurved toward the pointed
end of the spicule; then follow one or two whorls with straight
spines. The remaining whorls of spines are recurved toward the
head end. The spicules become overgrown by aragonite as the
basal calcareous mass is built up, and they often protrude from
the calcareous processes at the surface. Many of those em-
bedded in aragonite are partially eroded (Fig. 21). The head of
each of the spicules, including those embedded in aragonite, is
surrounded by a mass of organic material continuous with sheet-
like expansions of the same substance that serves as an organic
matrix for the calcareous skeleton.

FIG. 2. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Siliceous spicules.

Living tissues of the sponge. The living tissues, varying from
apricot (Maerz and Paul, 1950, Pl. 10, F-7) to light salmon pink
(ibid., Pl. 10, A-7), form a thin veneer over the surface of the
aragonite and extend downward between the branched processes
that ornament the surface of the basal calcareous mass. The epi-
dermis is supported above extensive vestibular cavities by means
of vertical tracts of spicules and is perforated by ostia, 50 x 50
to 75 < 100u in major diameters (Fig. 3). Vertical incurrent
channels lead from the base of the subdermal cavities into the
choanosome where they subdivide and open into spheroidal, eury-
pylous choanocyte chambers, 16 to 20u in diameter (Fig. 25).

6 POSTILLA

FIG. 3. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Portion of surface of living
specimen showing ostia and a branching excurrent channel. Photographed
in laboratory. X 40.

The excurrent channels run to the surface where they are apparent
in living specimens as dilated tubes (Fig. 29) that may converge
upon oscular areas where one to three oscules open to the exterior,
or the oscules may open out anywhere along the length of the
channels. The oscules are elliptical in outline and vary in diameters
from 170 « 500u to 500 x 750; the dilated exhalant channels
on the surface of the sponge vary from 0.9 to 1.2 mm in width.

Egg cells, 40 « 254 in major diameters and with nuclei
12 in diameter and nucleoli 4» in diameter, are rare in sec-
tions. Several ellipsoidal cleaving embryos, probably at the 32-cell
stage, and measuring 44 x 334 in major axes, are present in
sections. Although fully developed larvae have not yet been found,
the available evidence suggests that this species incubates its
larvae.

SYMBIONTS. The association between §. vermicola and the uniden-
tified species of serpulid polychaete appears obligatory with respect
to the sponge. Whether or not the serpulid occurs independent of
the sponge is unknown.

Branching filamentous organisms are occasionally seen in the

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 7

organic matrix in decalcified thin sections of S$. vermicola. The
irregular course taken by the filaments and their anastomoses sug-
gest that the organisms are most probably Chlorophyta, but it is
possible that they are Cyanophyta.

RANGE AND HABITAT. Known at present only from the northern
coast of Jamaica where it occurs from Maria Buena Bay, Trelawny
Parish, eastward to Salt Gut, St. Mary Parish. It is especially
common in the fore-reef slope environment of Runaway Bay and
Discovery Bay at depths of 10 to 95 m. The sponge occurs on
rock walls or on the reverse sides of large reef corals, always in
deep shade. Its maximum size is reached below 60 to 70 m; above
30 m, individuals are quite small.

HOLOTYPE. Peabody Museum, Yale University (YPM) No. 6376
(Fig. 1). Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 31-37 m. Collected by T.F.
Goreau, March 31, 1965.

Repositories of paratypical material: United States National
Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; British
Museum (Natural History), London; Institute of Jamaica, Kings-
ton. About 20 lots of specimens from Runaway Bay and Discovery
Bay, Jamaica, were studied.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER SPECIES OF STROMATOSPONGIA. S.
vermicola may be distinguished from the following species by its
habit of growing in association with tangled masses of serpulid
tubes on which it deposits a thin layer of aragonite. The upright,
branched processes of the calcareous skeleton are higher and less
closely spaced than those of the other species of the genus, and
the siliceous spicules are somewhat shorter and stouter. Its apricot
to light salmon pink color in life is distinctive.

REMARKS. The specific name is derived from vermis (Latin),
worm + —colus (Latin), inhabiting.

Stromatospongia norae, Sp. NOv.

DIAGNOsIs. A species that takes the form of rounded, mammillate
masses extensions of which encrust the tubes of serpulid worms
that tend to grow away from the central mass of the sponge.

8 POSTILLA

The basal mass of aragonite may reach a height of 4 cm above the
substrate; the surface of the calcareous skeleton is ornamented
with upright lamellate processes. Siliceous acanthostyles present
with mean lengths of 195 (+10.6)y to 215 (+9.5), (range of
means of three specimens) and mean widths of 5.5 (+0.11),
to 6.1 (+0.16)u (range of means of three specimens). The
oscules open to the exterior where a group of excurrent channels
converge. Faint impressions of the stellate patterns so formed by
the excurrent channels may occasionally be seen on the surface of
the basal aragonitic mass. The living sponge tissue varies in color
from cream to ecru biege.

DESCRIPTION. The calcareous skeleton. The aragonitic skeleton of
this species has a basic rounded, mammillate form (Fig. 4), but
cornuate processes are frequently present representing serpulid
worm tubes that become associated with and encrusted by the
sponge and grow out away from its central mass (Fig. 5). The
largest specimens known at present are 7 cm across in the case
of the mammillate form and 20 cm in greatest length for the
cornuate form.

Closely set, short, lamellate processes, up to 0.8 mm high,
seldom exceeding 1 mm in length, and terminating in low, rounded
bosses, arise from the surface of the basal aragonitic mass
(Figs. 14, 18). In some areas of the surface several such lamellae
run parallel to one another and thus mark off furrows into which
the living tissue extends. On other areas the lamellae are shorter
and are arranged irregularly, leaving depressions of varying shapes.
In fine structure the aragonite resembles that of §. vermicola with
sclerodermite units (Fig. 22) formed of crystals radiating from
centers of calcification which are frequently the organic material
that surrounds the heads of entrapped siliceous spicules.

Siliceous and organic skeletal elements. The siliceous acantho-
styles (Fig. 6) are similar in form to those of S. vermicola but are
somewhat longer and thinner. The range of means (with standard
error) of the length in three specimens (50 measurements per
specimen) is 195 (+10.6) to 215 (+9.5) and the overall
range in length is 75 to 519. In width the means (with standard
error) of three specimens (50 measurements per specimen) range
from 5.5 (+0.11) to 6.1 (+0.16)» and the overall range in
width is 2.7 to 9.1u. The heads of the spicules bear several rounded

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES

>?)

FIG. 4. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Holotype. YPM No. 7770. Run-
away Bay, Jamaica; 26-28 m. Mammillate specimen, X 1.1.

FIG. 5. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Paratype. YPM No. 6463. Runaway
Bay, Jamaica; 34 m. Cornuate specimen, 1.5. Photo by Fritz Goro.

or somewhat flattened, often bifurcating knobs, and the shaft is
ornamented with whorls of spines. The first one or two rows of
spines at the rounded end of the spicule are recurved toward the
pointed end, the next one or two rows are straight and the re-
maining whorls are made up of spines recurved toward the head

POSTILLA

es

FIG. 6. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Siliceous spicules. Scale II refers to
spicule A.
FIG. 7. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Siliceous spicules.

!
nn

| Eel at 7 (Wrens)
SOy 50y

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 11

end of the spicule. The spicules are embedded in aragonite as
the calcareous skeleton grows upward and some of them become
partially eroded. An organic material surrounds the heads of the
acanthostyles and a sheetlike matrix may be observed in decalcified
thin sections.

Living tissues of the sponge. These vary in color from cream
(Maerz and Paul, 1950, Pl. 9, D-2) to ecru biege (ibid., Pl. 11,
E-4, “maple’”’). Ostia, 62 to 186 in diameter, circular to elliptical
in outline and distributed quite evenly over the surface of the
epidermis, lead into vestibular cavities from which vertical incur-
rent canals lead to the tissue masses that fill the spaces between
the surface lamellate processes of aragonite. Spheroidal choanocyte
chambers (Fig. 26), 15 to 17 in diameter, join the incurrent
and excurrent canals and the latter pass to the surface where they
characteristically form radiating patterns (Fig. 30) as they con-
verge upon the elliptical oscules, 350 > 500u in major axes. The
excurrent channels may leave faint, depressed stellate patterns on
the surface of the calcareous skeleton in some specimens.

SYMBIONTS. Every specimen examined during the preparation of
this description is associated with at least one serpulid worm tube
which it has encrusted, suggesting an obligatory relationship. These
worm tubes tend to grow out away from the central mass of the
sponge as though attempting to escape complete overgrowth by the
sponge. In S. vermicola, however, the serpulid tubes attach in
entirety to the sponge surface and will eventually be completely
covered by an aragonitic deposit secreted by the sponge.

Multibranching cavities, 1 in width, representing the galleries
of a boring organism, are common throughout the calcareous
skeleton of S. norae. In some instances they are filled with the dried
remains of chlorophyll-bearing cells and may have been formed
by a species of endolithic Chlorophyta or Cyanophyta.

RANGE AND HABITAT. Known at present only from the North Coast
of Jamaica where it ranges from Maria Buena Bay, Trelawny
Parish, eastward to Salt Gut, St. Mary Parish. It is moderately
common in the fore-reef slope environment of Runaway Bay
and Discovery Bay at depths of 8 to 85 m, but chiefly above 35 m.
It lives on the sides and ceilings of deep caverns and sub-reef
tunnels where little light penetrates.

12 POSTILLA

HOLOTYPE. YPM No. 7770 (Fig. 4). Runaway Bay, Jamaica.
26-28 m. Collected by T. F. Goreau, March 8, 1968.

Repositories of paratypical material: United States National
Museum; British Museum (Natural History); Institute of Jamaica.
Eight lots of specimens from Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay
were studied.

COMPARISON WITH STROMATOSPONGIA VERMICOLA. S. norae de-
posits a thicker basal layer of aragonite than its congener, and
the surface processes of the calcareous skeleton are lamellate in
form, shorter and more closely spaced. Its siliceous spicules are
somewhat longer and thinner. The color of the living tissues of
the sponge vary from cream to ecru biege.

REMARKS. The specific name is given in honor of Mrs. Nora I.
Goreau who has assisted greatly in studies of the histology of the
coralline sponges.

Hispidopetra, gen. nov.

TYPE SPECIES: Hispidopetra miniana, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. Coralline sponges varying in form from encrustations to
dome-shaped or irregular masses up to 15 cm in diameter and at
least 3 cm high. The surface of the aragonitic basal mass is covered
with numerous conspicuous processes, variable in shape and up to
7 mm high. The processes are covered with rounded spines, up to
50 high, from which protrude numerous partially embedded,
smooth, stylote, siliceous spicules, slightly curved and varying
greatly in length.

The living tissues vary in color from carmine to vermilion and
are similar to those of Stromatospongia in general organization.
Lophocytelike cells frequently occur.

REMARKS, The generic name, feminine in gender, is derived from
hispidus (Latin), bristly + petra (Latin), rock.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 13
Hispidopetra miniana, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. An encrusting to massive species reaching 15 cm in
diameter and 3 cm in height; the surface of the calcareous skeleton
is ornamented with processes up to 7 mm in height and of variable
shape. Siliceous smooth styles present with mean lengths of 269
(+6.9) to 301 (+10.8), (range of means of three specimens)
and mean widths of 5.4 (+0.11) to 7.4 (+0.16) (range of
means of three specimens). Oscules open anywhere along the
length of the superficial excurrent channels. Living sponge tissue
varies in color from carmine to vermilion.

DESCRIPTION. The calcareous skeleton. This species is encrusting
in early life (Fig. 9) and grows into dome-shaped or irregular
masses (Fig. 8) up to 15 cm in diameter and 3 cm high. The
surface of the aragonitic skeleton bears numerous processes,
obvious to the naked eye, arborescent, lamellate or knoblike in
form and up to 7 mm high. In some young, encrusting specimens
the processes are chiefly arborescent and in others they are knob-
like; but in larger specimens the processes are variable in shape.
The processes are covered with rounded spines, 25 to 50, high,
and the pointed ends of numerous long stylote siliceous spicules
protrude from these (Figs. 15, 19). Serpulid worm tubes, bear-
ing a keel 3 to 4 mm high, invariably overgrow older specimens,
and the sponge overgrows them in turn, often giving the keel
the aspect of a cockscomb.

The aragonitic skeleton of Hispidopetra miniana is similar to
that of Stromatospongia in fine structure. Sclerodermites (Fig.
23), comprising crystals of aragonite radiating in all directions
from centers of calcification, are the basic units of the skeleton.
The centers of calcification are frequently located around the heads
of siliceous spicules. The aragonite of this species has a pinkish-
brown tint in thin sections when viewed under the microscope.

Siliceous and organic skeletal elements. The siliceous spicules
(Fig. 7) are smooth, slightly curved styles varying greatly in
length. The range of means (with standard error) of the length
of the styles of three specimens (100 measurements per specimen)
is 269 (+6.9) to 301 (+10.8), and the overall range in length
is 125 to 818. In width the means (with standard error) of three
specimens (100 measurements per specimen) range from 5.4

14 POSTILLA

FIG. 8. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Holotype. YPM No. 6843. Discovery
Bay, Jamaica; 55-57 m. Entire specimen, X 1.25.

FIG. 9. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Paratype. YPM No. 6459. Runaway
Bay, Jamaica, 25-28 m. 1.95. Photo by Fritz Goro.

(+0.11) to 7.4 (+£0.16), and the overall range in width is 1.3
to 10.4.

The rounded ends of the spicules are enclosed in an organic
material. A fibril-bearing flocculent substance serves as a matrix
for the aragonitic basal mass. Both the siliceous spicules and the
organic skeletal materials are enclosed within the calcareous skele-
ton as the sponge increases in size. Some of the siliceous spicules.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 15

but fewer than in Stromatospongia, show evidence of erosion after
entrapment in the aragonite.

Living tissues of the sponge. In most specimens the living tissue
of Hispidopetra miniana varies from carmine (Maerz and Paul,
1950, near PI. 2, L-5) to vermilion (near Pl. 2, L-12). Often the
color decreases in intensity toward the base of the sponge. An
occasional specimen is light pinkish-orange (near Pl. 2, D-10).

A thin, diaphanous, unpigmented exopinacoderm, often pierced
by spicules, stretches between the tips of the vertical calcareous
processes of the basal mass and is thus separated from the mesohyl
and choanosome by extensive cavities of the incurrent and excur-
rent water-conducting systems. Ostia, 50 to 100, in diameter in
living specimens, are usually rather sparsely distributed but occur
occasionally in groups of 50 or more. The extensive incurrent
cavities beneath the exopinacoderm lead into wide incurrent
canals that subdivide repeatedly and eventually communicate with
eurypylous choanocyte chambers (Fig. 27), 16 to 18, in diameter.
A complicated network of low excurrent canals, 0.5 to 0.6 mm
across in expanded sponges in the laboratory, runs above the
exopinacoderm (Fig. 31). Oscules, circular to elliptical in outline
and ranging up to 1.0 x 1.5 mm in diameter, open from these
canals at any point and not only at sites of anastomoses.

Large ovoid to pear-shaped cells, 10 « 20u in major diameters,
with nucleolate nuclei, 6 in diameter, and with processes that may
extend over 30u beyond the cell body, occur clustered at the base
of the tissue where it is in contact with the calcareous skeleton.
The processes are fibrillar in nature, and the cells may therefore
be compared with the lophocytes described from many other
sponges. The cell bodies are filled wih large granules and occa-
sionally bear food vacuoles. It is possible, in view of their localiza-
tion in the sponge, that these cells not only secrete elements of the
organic matrix but also may function as calcoblasts.

SYMBIONTS. Serpulid worms grow on the surface of the calcareous
skeleton of all older specimens of Hispidopetra miniana.

In living specimens the processes of the calcareous skeleton
are bright green. The organisms responsible for the color are
recognizable in ground thin sections of the skeleton where the
tips of the processes are filled with a tangle of filaments of two
sizes, 1.0u and 0.4 respectively. It is probable that these organ-_

16 POSTILLA

isms are boring Chlorophyta, although some of the filaments bear
a resemblance to those described by Duncan (1877, pl. 7, fig.
39-44) as boring fungi.

RANGE AND HABITAT. Known from the northern coast of Jamaica
where it ranges from Maria Buena Bay, Trelawny Parish, eastward
to Salt Gut, St. Mary Parish. It is common locally in the fore-
reef slope environment of Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay
at depths of 10 to 95 m and is restricted in these areas almost
entirely to overhanging surfaces in caves, crevices and under
ledges. The species increases in abundance and size of individuals
with depth.

This species is also known from the southern coast of Jamaica
where two specimens were dredged in 40 m south of Great Pedro
Bay by R/V Gosnold.

HOLOTYPE. YPM No. 6853 (Fig. 8). Discovery Bay, Jamaica;
55-57 m. Collected by Roma Chapman, July 20, 1966.

Repositories of paratypical material: United States National
Museum; British Museum (Natural History); Institute of Jamaica.
Ten lots of specimens from Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay,
Jamaica, were studied.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER CORALLINE SPONGES. Hispidopetra mini-
ana is readily distinguished from other Jamaican coralline sponges
by its carmine to vermilion color in life and its long, smooth stylote
siliceous spicules. The surface processes of the aragonitic basal
skeleton are more prominent (up to 7 mm in height) than in any
other known species and are often marked by protruding siliceous
spicules.

REMARKS. The specific name is the Latin word for vermilion.

Goreauiella, gen. nov.

TYPE SPECIES. Goreauiella auriculata, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. Coralline sponges with an auriculate or saucer-like form,
living attached to the substrate by a broad peduncle. Individuals
vary up to 16 cm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness. The surface

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 17

of the aragonite is covered with delicate arborescent processes,
up to 1 mm or more in height, and is marked by raised, branching
patterns that run to the edge of the skeleton. Siliceous spicules
in the form of short acanthostrongyles or truncate acanthostyles
are present and become embedded secondarily in the aragonitic
basal mass.

The living tissue forms a thin veneer that fills in the intricate
spaces between the surface processes of the aragonitic skeleton.
The organization of the tissue is similar to that described for
Stromatospongia except that in this form all the oscules open
at the edge of the sponge and the excurrent canals at the surface
run toward the peripheral oscules.

REMARKS. The genus, feminine in gender, is named in honor of
Dr. Thomas F. Goreau, who discovered the remarkable fauna of
coralline sponges on the Jamaican reefs.

Goreauiella auriculata, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS. With the skeletal characters of the genus. Living tissue,
various shades of light yellow, with a pattern of organization as
described above.

DESCRIPTION. The calcareous skeleton. The aragonitic basal mass
has an auriculate or shallow dishlike shape (Fig. 10), with the
edges upturned or curled downward, and is attached to the sub-
strate by a broad peduncle. Individual sponges range up to 16 cm
in longer diameter, but the calcareous skeleton is very thin, seldom
exceeding 3 mm. Numerous, closely set, delicate, arborescent
calcareous processes (Figs. 16, 20), from 0.5 to 1.1 mm in
height, arise from the surface of the calcareous skeleton; the
processes are covered with rounded spines, 12 to 40 high. When
viewed with the unaided eye the surface of the calcareous skeleton
of most specimens reveals raised multibranching patterns re-
sembling the delta systems of rivers (Fig. 10) and draining to
the very edge of the skeleton. Under a dissecting microscope it is
apparent that these raised areas result from an increased height of
the arborescent processes that cover the surface.

As in the other coralline sponges described, the basic units of

11

FIG. 10. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Holotype. YPM No. 6858. Run-
away Bay, Jamaica, 25 m. Entire specimen, X 1.4.

FIG. 11. Goreauiella auriculata sp. noy. Paratype. YPM No. 7773. Run-
away Bay, Jamaica, 26-28 m. Entire specimen with upright processes induced
by presence of commensal zoanthideans. X 1.3.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 19

the calcareous skeleton are sclerodermites (Fig. 24) made up of
crystals of aragonite radiating out from centers of calcification.
The aragonite is colorless in this species when ground thin sec-
tions are examined microscopically.

Siliceous and organic skeletal elements. The siliceous spicules
(Fig. 12) are relatively short rods of equal diameter throughout,
straight, slightly curved or with a pronounced curve; each is
ornamented with whorls of spines that vary greatly in size and
Orientation. Typically one end of the spicule is provided with
rounded knobs or a whorl of spines recurved toward the opposite
end; there follow one to three whorls of spines recurved in the
same direction. Then one or two whorls of straight spines occur
followed by many whorls of spines recurved toward the end with
blunt knobs. The tip of the spicule is provided with a whorl of
straight or recurved spines. The orientation of the spines is thus
reminiscent of that in Stromatospongia vermicola and norae,
although the spicules of these species are stylote and lack the
terminal whorl of spines. In Goreauiella auriculata the spines
vary in length from less than 1p to 5u. The spicules become em-
bedded in aragonite as the calcareous base builds up, and some
of them show evidence of erosion as in the other coralline sponges
described above. Mean values for length and width measurements

Na a

lOw

FIG. 12. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Siliceous spicules.

20 POSTILLA

(with standard errors) of spicules of three specimens (50 spicules
measured per specimen) are 60 (+1.5) to 68 (+2.3)p by 2.3
(+0.06) to 2.7 (+0.08)y. Overall ranges in length are 35 to
124, and in width, 1.3 to 3.9u.

That end of each spicule that bears blunt knobs is always en-
closed in an organic material, suggesting that the end in question
corresponds to the rounded end of the styles in Stromatospongia
and Hispidopetra. A fibril-bearing flocculent material remains as a
matrix after decalcification.

Living tissues of the sponge. The color of the living tissue of
Goreauiella auriculata varies from straw yellow (Maerz and Paul,
1950, Pl. 10, F-2) to chrome lemon (PI. 9, K-2) or yellowish-
gray. Ostia, 50 to 150, in diameter in the living sponge, are
evenly distributed over the exopinacoderm between the branching
excurrent canals. The ostia lead into vestibular cavities lying
beneath the exopinacoderm and these in turn lead into wide incur-
rent canals which, after branching, open into eurypylous choano-
cyte chambers (Fig. 28), 14 « 15 to 18 & 26, in major diameters.
The oscules, with diameters of approximately 300, open out
along the edge of the sponge where their positions are marked by
indentations in the periphery of the calcareous skeleton. The excur-
rent canals (Fig. 32) are transparent, dotted with fine white spots
and receive short side branches from the adjacent tissues as they
run along the surface of the sponge. The systems of branching
excurrent canals lie directly above the raised branching patterns
of the calcareous skeleton described above, suggesting that the
flow of water in the former influences the deposition of aragonite
beneath each canal.

SYMBIONTS. Orange-tan zoanthideans occasionally grow with
Goreauiella auriculata. The polyps often induce the formation of
processes of the calcareous skeleton (Fig. 11) reaching heights of
one cm and widths up to 6 mm. The zoanthideans, distributed
over the surface of the sponge at intervals of 6 to 8 mm, sit in
depressions in the calcareous skeleton. Whether or not the polyps
are interconnected by stolons is unknown.

Boring algae, probably Chlorophyta but possibly Cyanophyta,
with filaments 1.24 in width, are commonly present in the cal-
careous processes of the skeleton.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 21

RANGE AND HABITAT. Found on the northern coast of Jamaica
from Maria Buena Bay, Trelawny Parish eastward to Salt Gut,
St. Mary Parish. It is common in the fore-reef slope environment
of Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay at depths of 8 to more than
70 meters. It is most abundant in narrow passages in the reef
framework and occurs also in larger caves; in both habitats the
sponges are found attached to the ceiling of the cavities and
are suspended with the tissue side down.

HOLOTYPE. YPM No. 6858 (Fig. 10). Runaway Bay, Jamaica;
25 m. Collected by T. F. Goreau, March 8, 1968.

Repositories of paratypical material: United States National
Museum; British Museum (Natural History); Institute of Jamaica.
Eighteen specimens from Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay,
Jamaica, were studied.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER CORALLINE SPONGES. Goreauiella
auriculata is distinguished by its auriculate external form and
yellowish color in life. The siliceous spicules are short, truncate
acanthostyles with a terminal whorl of spines. The delicate
arborescent processes of the aragonitic basal skeleton and the
raised, branching patterns running to the edge of the skeleton are
additional distinctive features of this species.

REMARKS, The specific name is derived from auricula (Latin),
diminutive of auris, ear.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am deeply grateful to Thomas F. Goreau, University of the
West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, and the State University of New
York at Stony Brook, who entrusted the description of these
remarkable sponges to me. He and his diving associates, Eileen
A. Graham, Roma Chapman, Paul Chapman, Judith Lang and
the late R. S. Jackson collected the specimens upon which this
study is based. Nora I. Goreau and Aimorn Stewart assisted
in the histological work. T. F. Goreau and Fritz Goro kindly made
available to me the photographs accredited to them. I am also
indebted to A. H. Coleman and Diane M. Barker who assisted

22 POSTILLA

in the photography and to my wife, Shirley G. Hartman, who
prepared the drawings.

This study was supported in part by National Science Founda-
tion grant GB-7343.

LITERATURE CITED

Duncan, P. M. 1877. On some thallophytes parasitic within recent Mad-
reporaria. Proc. roy. Soc. London 25: 238-257.

Goreau, T. F., and W. D. Hartman. 1963. Boring sponges as controlling
factors in the formation and maintenance of coral reefs, p. 25-54.
In R. F. Sognnaes[ed.] Mechanisms of hard tissue destruction. AAAS
Publ. 75. Washington, D. C.

Hartman, W. D., and T. F. Goreau. 1966. Ceratoporella, a living sponge
with stromatoporoid affinities. Amer. Zool. 6: 563-564.

Hartman, W. D., and T. F. Goreau. [In press.] Jamaican coralline sponges:
their morphology, ecology and fossil relatives. In W. G. Fry [ed.]
Biology of the Porifera. Symp. zool. Soc. London, no. 25. Academic
Press, London.

Hickson, S. J. 1911. On Ceratopora, the type of a new family of Alcyonaria.
Proc. roy. Soc. London (B) 84: 195-200.

Kirkpatrick, Randolph. 1908. On two new genera of recent pharetronid
sponges. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., ser. 8, 2: 503-514.

Lister, J. J. 1900. Astrosclera willeyana, the type of a new family of
sponges, p. 459-482. Jn Arthur Willey, Zoological Results, vol. 4.
Maerz, A., and M. R. Paul, 1950. A dictionary of color. McGraw-Hill

Book Co., Inc., New York. 2nd ed. 208 p.

FIG. 13. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Enlarged view of processes
on surface of aragonitic basal skeleton, living tissues removed. YPM No.
6379. Discovery Bay, Jamaica; 71 m. X 10.

FIG. 14. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Enlarged view of processes on
surface of aragonitic basal skeleton, living tissues removed. YPM No.
6463. Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 34 m. X 10.

23

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES

24 POSTILLA

FIG. 15. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Enlarged view of processes on
surface of aragonitic basal skeleton, living tissues removed. Numerous
siliceous spicules hispidate the processes. YPM No. 6460. Runaway Bay,
Jamaica; 38 m. X10.

FIG. 16. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Enlarged view of processes on
surface of aragonitic basal skeleton, living tissues removed. Lighter bands
represent lines of somewhat higher processes that are formed beneath
excurrent channels on surface. YPM No. 6465. Runaway Bay, Jamaica;
28 m. X 10.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES

25

26 POSTILLA

a4 vat F in’

FIG. 17. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. noy. Ground thin section of cal-
careous skeleton perpendicular to surface showing surface processes,
siliceous spicules embedded in aragonite and section of serpulid tube.
Ronse

FIG. 18. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Ground thin section of cal-
careous skeleton perpendicular to surface showing surface processes and
siliceous spicules embedded in aragonite. X 25.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 27

ee *
.
= Se

~ + r 20

FIG. 19. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Ground thin section of calcareous
skeleton perpendicular to surface showing surface processes from which
siliceous spicules protrude and sections of serpulid tubes. * 25.

FIG. 20. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Ground thin section of calcareous
skeleton perpendicular to surface showing outlines of surface processes.
Cavities represent clionid galleries. 25.

28 POSTILLA

FIG. 21. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Ground thin section of cal-
careous skeleton showing sclerodermite surrounding serpulid tube. Note
partially eroded siliceous spicule.e YPM No. 6377. Discovery Bay, Jamaica:
(AGM S25

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 29

FIG. 22. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Ground thin section of cal-
careous skeleton showing sclerodermite and siliceous spicules embedded in
aragonite. YPM No. 7770. Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 26-28 m. X 132.

30 POSTILLA

FIG. 23. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Ground thin section of calcareous
skeleton showing sclerodermite. YPM No. 6460. Runaway Bay, Jamaica:
38m. >< 132.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 31

FIG. 24. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Ground thin section of calcareous
skeleton showing sclerodermites. YPM No. 6464. Runaway Bay, Jamaica:
2s 2

||

32 POSTILLA

FIG. 25. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Decalcified thin section show-
ing choanocyte chambers. Hematoxylin and eosin; 7u section. X 1538.

FIG. 26. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Decalcified thin section showing
choanocyte chambers. Mallory’s phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin: 7
section. X 1538.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES

33

34 POSTILLA

FIG. 27. Hispidopetra miniana sp. nov. Decalcified thin section showing
choanocyte chambers. Hematoxylin and modified Mallory trichrome: 7u
section. X 1538.

FIG. 28. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Decalcified thin section showing
choanocyte chambers. Hematoxylin and modified Mallory trichrome; 84
section. 1538.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 35

ll

36 POSTILLA

FIG. 29. Stromatospongia vermicola sp. nov. Surface view of living speci-
men in situ showing expanded excurrent channels. Oscule opens out at
center of stellate pattern of channels at right top. Small dark dots represent
incurrent openings from the vestibular cavity into the choanosome of the
sponge. Runaway Bay, Jamaica, 40 m. 7. Photo by T. F. Goreau.

NEW JAMAICAN SPONGES 37

FIG. 30. Stromatospongia norae sp. nov. Surface view of living specimen
in situ showing stellate patterns of excurrent channels converging upon
oscules. Dark spots represent incurrent openings from the vestibular cavity
into the choanosome of the sponge. Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 25 m. X7.
Photo by T. F. Goreau.

38 POSTILLA

FIG. 31. Hispidopetra miniana sp. noy. Surface view of living specimen
in situ showing excurrent channels. Small dark spots represent incurrent
openings from vestibular cavity into the choanosome of the sponge. Run-
away Bay, Jamaica; 34 m. 7. Photo by T. F. Goreau.

FIG. 32. Goreauiella auriculata sp. nov. Surface view of living specimen
in situ showing dilated excurrent channels. Small dark spots represent incur-
rent openings from vestibular cavity into the choanosome of the sponge.
Runaway Bay, Jamaica; 25 m. X7. Photo by T. F. Goreau.

i

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