Beaufortia
INSTITUTE OF TAXONOMIC ZOOLOGY (ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM)
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM
Vol. 43 no. 11 December 31, 1993
Suberitidae (Demospongiae, Hadromerida) from
the North Aegean Sea
EleniVoultsiadou-Koukoura.*& Rob W. M. van Soest**
*Department University ofThessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
**Institute of Taxonomic (Zoological Museum), University ofAmsterdam,
P.O.Box 94766, 1090 GTAmsterdam, TheNetherlands
Keywords: Sponges, Hadromerida, Suberitidae, North Aegean Sea
Abstract
Sampling in the North Aegean Sea yielded nine species of the family Suberitidae, four of which, Pseudosuberites sulphureus,
P. Suberiles for the fauna ofthe Eastern and three hyalinus, ficus and S. syringella, are new Mediterranean, more, S. carnosus, S.
and S. records for the fauna of the Sea. For each of the nine the domuncula, massa, are new Aegean species comments on
systematics, as well as geographical and ecological informationis given. A redescription is given of the littleknown species
Suberites massa Nardo. A review ofthe distributionof all Mediterranean Suberitidae is also presented, in which it is con-
in materialhave been from the Eastern cluded that a further three species not represented our reported Mediterranean,
and P. the viz. Laxosuberites ectyoninus, Prosuberites longispina, epiphytum. Six suberitids reported from other parts of Mediterra-
nean so far have not been found in the Eastern Mediterranean.
INTRODUCTION siadou-Koukoura, et al. 1991; Voultsiadou-
Koukoura & Van Soest 1991a,b; Voultsiadou-
of Eastern Mediterranean is Koukoura & the results of the Knowledge sponges Koukouras, 1993),
that of other of the Med- have been and are poor compared to parts sponge collecting being re-
iterranean Van 1994: Recent several science and (cf. Soest, Fig. 2). ported; species new to appar-
collecting activities in the North Aegean Sea ently endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean
been of have been described. have organized especially for the purpose
of The increasing this knowledge, and thus enabling present paper deals with the Hadromerid
Eastern Suberitidae. five more firmly based conclusions on alleged family Thusfar, only species of
Mediterranean endemism and generally low di- this family were reported from Greek waters:
In Voult- versity. an ongoing series of papers (e.g. Rhizaxinella pyrifera (Delia Chiaje), Terpios fugax
176 & Duch. Mich., Laxosuberites ectyoninus Topsent, fined a separate family Polymastiidae as having Prosuberites longispina Topsent and P. epiphytum a differentiated cortex and a radiating skeleton).
(Lamarck). From other Eastern Mediterranean Lévi "Hadromerida (1973): ... without digitate
localities also Suberites domuncula (Olivi) (Sea of papillae. The skeleton, often confused in the in-
S. Marmara and Black Sea), carnosus (Johnston) terior, is generally radiating at the periphery."
Nardo (Suez Canal) and S.massa (Sea of Marma- (translated from French) (Lévi defined a separate
ra) were recorded. family Polymastiidae as having "...generally two
The of this is three of ...with purpose paper to give new syste- or categories tylostyles; digitate
matic, ecological and zoogeographical informa- erect papillae...").
the the and of the tion on Suberitidae of Aegean Sea Bergquist (1978): "...radial arrangement
more generally of the Eastern Mediterranean, as skeleton is evident only at the surface. The spi-
of of have in the well as an account the distribution the spe- cules confused orientation deeper re-
in in cies belonging to this family the Mediterrane- gions of the sponges, but a few cases may as-
an. sume a loose axial orientation." (Bergquist defin-
ed a separate family Polymastiidae as having
MATERIALAND METHODS "..tylostyles... always divisible into two or three
clear size Microscleres but categories. are rare,
A total of 105 specimens were examined, collect- acanthose micro-oxeas can be present. The
ed from various localities in the North Aegean ...body with erect oscular and pore-bearing papil-
Sea. Sampling was made by SCUBA diving, lae is characteristic for the family").
fishing nets, dredges and grabs, in depths from 3 Hartman (1982) follows Bergquist's definition
to about 150 m. The examined material is de- closely, but assigns spined centrotylote diactinal
posited in the Museum of the Department of Zo- "microscleres" to the suberitids instead of to the
ology, University of Thessaloniki and partly in polymastiids.
the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam.
By comparing the various definitions of the fami-
SYSTEMATIC REMARKS AND DESCRIP- ly Suberitidae, there are few definite characters
TIONS by which it can be identified without referring to
the Polymastiidae: Suberitidae do not have pa-
Family Suberitidae Schmidt, 1870 pillae (but some Polymastiidae such as certain
Aaptos species, also lack them, while other non-
Remarks on the definition of the family, includ- polymastiid Hadromerids, like Cliona, sometimes
brief of its and its distinct- have there should be cortical ing a survey history, papillae), no spe-
from is ness the closely related family Polymastii- cialization (but it as yet unclear to which ex-
Suberiti- in other than dae Gray, 1867, which shares with the tent that exists genera Polymastia)
dae the absence of aster- or streptaster micro- and no clear megasclere size categories are al-
scleres: lowed (but Suberites species frequently have a
" Schmidt (1870): without special cortical clearly smaller tylostyle size in the peripheral
The character all authors structures.... spicules in confusion or in reticulate bouquets). only agree
directed is the confused of the choanosomal tracts.... spicules in the periphery out- upon nature
wards..." from in- however the skeletons of (translated German) (Schmidt skeleton; e.g. Rhizaxinella
of Suberites described be- cludes Radiella and part of the Polymastia species, spp., and also that massa
in axial which are now grouped in the family Polymastii- low, are well organized an skeleton of
dae ). aligned larger tylostyles and an extra-axial skele-
Topsent (1900): "Clavulida normally without ton of radiating bundles of smaller tylostyles. We
differentiated radiat- with that the Sube- microscleres; no cortex; no agree Boury-Esnault (1987)
in ing skeleton. Megascleres almost constantly ty- ritidae-Polymastiidae are need of a critical re-
lostyles." (translated from French) (Topsent de- vision.
177 The following nine suberitid species, belonging to thors) that the Mediterranean and North Atlan-
four found in the collected material: tic of the genera were specimens present species are conspecif-
ic with the South Atlantic ones remains to be
Genus Pseudosuberites Topsent, 1893 demonstrated. Several specimens described from
the Mediterranean have considerably smaller spi-
Suberitidae with tangential Halichondria-like de- cules than the maximum given by Ridley &
tachable ectosomal skeleton, covering large sub- Dendy (1100 by 25 pm) and Topsent (1900)
dermal spaces; choanomal skeleton also a Hali- (1200 by 26 pm), viz. Vacelet (1969): 660 by 22
chondria-like On confused mass of tylostyles (re- pm, Pulitzer-Finali (1983): 810 by 17 pm. the
phrased after Topsent, 1900). other hand, specimens described by Uriz (1988)
from deep water off Namibia, show considerably
Pseudosuberites sulphureus (Bowerbank, bigger spicules (up to 2030 pm ).
1866)
Genus Terpios Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
Suberanthusflavus;Von Lendenfeld, 1896: 144, pl. V,
VII, XII (not: Halichondriaflava Lieberkiihn, 1859). "Thinly encrusting Suberitidae with gelatinous
choanosome containing small tylostyles in disor-
Two specimens were collected on the coast of the derly arrangement" (Topsent, 1900)(translated
Sithonia Peninsula (Singitikos Bay), at a depth of from French).
4 attached coral Cladocora Remark: There has been m, to a colony of the a tendency among au-
thors - - confine caespitosa. The morphology and skeletal structure probably unwarranted to the use
conform to Topsent's (1900) description; tylos- of Terpios to thinly encrusting suberitids with
measured 300-500 4-12 De tyles x (im. poly-lobate tylostyle heads (cf. Laubenfels,
in in The species was not previously found the 1936:152), order to avoid confusion with Pro-
Eastern Mediterranean, but it has been widely suberites (encrusting Suberitidae with tylostyles
in the with reported elsewhere, both the Mediterranean erect on substrate points outward), and
(e.g. Topsent, 1925; Pulitzer-Finali, 1983) and Laxosuberites (encrusting or massive Suberitidae
on the Eastern Atlantic coasts (e.g. Topsent, with the tylostyles arranged in radiating tracts
P. be confused with P. mollis in surface defined 1900). sulphureus may ending bouquets) (both as by
Topsent (1925, 1934); the spiculeso f this West- Topsent, 1900). However, Terpios, Prosuberites and
Mediterranean Laxosuberites characters in various ern species, however, are appre- seem to occur
ciably smaller and thinner (up to 365 by 8 pm). combinations in different species. For example
the Indo-West Pacific species “Suberites” cruciatus
Pseudosuberites hyalinus (Ridley & Dendy, Dendy has the quadrilobate tylostyle-heads of
1887) Terpios combined with a Laxosuberites architec-
A ture. revision of encrusting suberitids might re-
Six in veal specimens were collected Thermaikos and that the differences between these "genera"
and off Pagasitikos Bays the coasts of Lesbos Is- are artificial.
of 60 - 150 rocks and land, at depths m, on co- ralligenous substrates. The morphology and skel- Terpios fugax Duchassaing & Michelotti, etal structure conform to Topsent's (1900) 1864 descriptions; the fusiform tylostyles measured
300-850x4-20 pm. Hymeniacidon gelatinosa Bowerbank, 1866: 222; 1874:
This is the first record of the species from the 95, pl. XXXVIII figs 7-8; 1882: 88.
Eastern Mediterranean. Originally it was de- Hymedesmia tenuicula Bowerbank, 1882: 62, pl.I fig. 5. scribed from the coast of Patagonia in the South
in Atlantic (Ridley & Dendy, 1887); Topsent's Two specimens were collected Thermaikos
decision all other au- of 25-30 encrustations (1898, 1900) (followed by Bay, at depths m, forming
178 on stones and polychaete tubes. The morphology in Thermaikos, Singitikos and Pagasitikos Bays,
and architecture conformed to Topsent's (1900) and off the coasts of Chios Island, at depths of
measured 250-400 4-6 30-150 substrates. description; spicules x pm. m, on muddy In almost all
cases the attached sponge was to empty gastro-
This species has been reported previously from pod shells, formerly inhabited by hermit crabs.
the Sea Peres & Pic- include 160-400 Aegean (Saronikos Bay) by Spicules tylostyles measuring x
in ard (1958); elsewhere the Mediterranean it was 2-8 p.m and centrotylote microrhabds measuring
Von 20-120 1-4 reported frequently (e.g. Lendenfeld, 1896; x |xm.
Topsent, 1900, 1925; Pulitzer-Finali, 1978). Ori- The species was not hitherto known from the
ginally, it was described from the Virgin Islands Eastern Mediterranean. Mediterranean records
(Caribbean), where it is a common species. are from the Adriatic (Von Lendenfeld, 1896),
Whether Von Lendenfeld's (1896) and Topsent's the coasts ofFrance (Topsent, 1934) and Spain
(1898,1900) decision that the Caribbean speci- (Uriz, 1978). Outside the Mediterranean, it is a
mens are conspecific with Mediterranean and common species off the coasts of Western Europe
is remains and Eastern Atlantic specimens correct, to (e.g. Van Soest, 1977) West Africa (e.g.
be demonstrated. Casual comparison of Carib- Uriz, 1988; Van Soest, 1993).
bean specimens in the ZMA collection with the
the Suberites domuncula present material revealed that latter have (Olivi, 1792)
considerably thicker tylostyles (250-400 by 4-6
which show 25 found in Thermaikos and Ka- pm against 100-305 by 1-3.5 pm), specimens were also less strongly lobate/flattened heads than the vala Bays, and off the island of Lesbos, at depths
Caribbean of 3-110 and bot- specimens. m, on muddy coralligenous
As in toms. is customary this species, they were
Genus Suberites Nardo,1833 always attached to and completely surrounding
gastropod shells, in this case of Phyllomotus truncu-
"Massive, compact, velvety surface; no detacha- lus and Aporrhais pespelecani. Spicule sizes: tylos-
4-8 ble ectosome; confused skeleton; surface spicules tyles 100-350 x 4-8 |xm and oxeas 250-350 x
Often smaller and vertically arranged. gem- |im.
substrate." The is for the first time from mules, on the (Topsent, 1900) (trans- species reported
lated from French). the Aegean Sea, although it was already known
Remark: In accordance with most recent authors from the nearby Sea of Marmara and the Black
micro- Sea we consider specimens with centrotylote (Arndt, 1947). It is very common in the
Ficulina Western Mediterranean rhabds (assigned to a separate genus (e.g. Topsent, 1925;
Gray, 1867 in the older literature) congeneric. Sarà,1960; Riitzler, 1967; Uriz, 1978) and off
The confused skeleton referred to in the definition the coasts of West Africa (Van Soest, 1993). of Suberites often takes the form of an anastomos-
series of in Suberites carnosus ing aligned spicules ("reticulation") or, (Johnston, 1842)
branching forms, an axial concentration of
aligned spicules or tracts. Peripherally, the spi- Ten specimens were found in Thermaikos Bay
cules are arranged in bouquets, a feature shared and off Lesbos Island, at depths from 2 to 150 m,
with Laxosuberites. nine of which had the typical clavate form and
form. All one the incrusting the typical specimens
Suberites ficus (Linnaeus, 1767) were found attached on hard substrates, such as
stones or gastropod shells and the encrusting
Ficulinaficus; Von Lendenfeld, 1896: 94, pis.Ill, VI, form on the carapace and the walking legs of the
VII, XI. crab Inachus communisimus. Tylostyle sizes were
found to be 300-800 x 8-20 |im.
Over 30 specimens of this species were collected A wide variety of growth forms were asigned
179 Fig. 1. Suberites massa Nardo, long-branched fragments from the Aegean Sea (natural size)
to this species (cf. Topsent, 1900), from clavate Canal by Burton (1926), and generally is regard-
with and ed all the apical oscule, through thickly thinly ra- as very common over Mediterranean
These mose, to massively encrusting-lobose. (e.g. Boury-Esnault, 1973; Uriz, 1978). Records
in from Atlantic and growth forms are not readily recognizable the the the Indo-Pacific Oceans
from de- original area which the species was (e.g. Topsent, 1900; Berguist, 1968) indicate this
the British the cla- scribed (i.e. Isles), where only as an alleged cosmopolitan species.
vate (sometimes doubly clavate) growth form is
found (see Hiscock et al., 1984; Ackers et al., Suberites massa Nardo, 1847
form 1988). The clavate (fo.itypica sensu Topsent) Figs. 1-3.
i i is found throughout the Mediterranean and also
in Suberites occurs the Aegean Sea. Thinly ramose growth massa Nardo, 1847; Schmidt, 1862: 67,
forms (fo. ramosa sensu Topsent) have been re- pl.VII fig. 2 (cf. also Desqueyroux & Stone, 1992:
Suberites Von cently reassigned to a separate species, pi. 14 fig.80); Lendenfeld, 1896: 126, pi.4 figs.
syringella (Schmidt) (see below), while lobate 39-41.
forms (fo. flava sensu Topsent) are assignable to Halichondria lobala Lieberkiihn, 1859: 353
Suberites massa Nardo. Thinly encrusting growth Halichondriaflava Lieberkiihn, 1859: 353
forms (fo. incrustans sensu Topsent) are difficult to Suberites lobatus Schmidt, 1862: 68 (cf. also Desquey-
from Prosuberites and be & 1992: 13 distinguish epiphytum, may roux Stone, pi. figs.76-79)
the initial of of mentioned stages one the species. Suberites flavus; Schmidt, 1862: 68 (cf. also Desquey-
of the This is the first record this species from roux & Stone, 1992: pl. 12 figs. 71-72)
Sea. it found in the Suez Aegean Previously, was Not: Suberanthusflavus sensu Von Lendenfeld, 1896
180 Fig. 2. Suberites massa Nardo, skeletal structure: left, longitudinal section showing surface spicule brushes on the left and
axial spicule bundles on the right, right, cross section through a branch showing surface brushes and axial bundles.
Suberites Fig. 3. Spicules of massa Nardo.
181 144 (= Pseudosuberites sulphureus) giving rise to a dense hispidation. Extra-axial ty-
Suberites 1868: 15. 180-350 hystrix Schmidt, lostyles measure (im not differing in
Suberites 1900: 231 from carnosusflavus ; Topsent, shape the large ones (Fig. 3).
This is the first record of the species from the
Aegean Sea. It was previously reported from the
Four specimens belonging to this species were Adantic European coasts (Arndt, 1935; Borojevic
found. Three are fragmentary branches foundin et al., 1968), the Adriatic (Von Lendenfeld, 1896)
of Marmara Thermaikos Bay (Cape Epanomi) at a depth and also from the Sea of (Arndt,
about 30 m, one is a mass of broken branches 1947). According to Von Lendenfeld (1896) and
(Fig. 1) presumably belonging to a single speci- other authors S. lobatus (Lieberkiihn, 1859) and S.
collected also in Thermaikos Gulf antarcticus S. men by dredg- Carter, 1882 are synonyms of massa.
ing at a depth of about 60 m. Although not orig- S. antarcticus var. mediterranea Ferrer-Hernandez,
from the Sea mention be 1922 is also of this inating Aegean must probably a junior synonym
made of well one very preserved branching erect species.
specimen from Rovinj (Adriatic Sea) stored in Most records of this species, other than those of
the of the ZMA in- with collections (reg.no. 10471; no Von Lendenfeld(1896), concern specimens
massive from which formation available on its habitat). a base issue branches of va-
All the often short thick specimens had same general structure: rying length, merely outcrops;
with almost branching elongate, erect branches, the occurrence of long-branched forms such as
found is generally flattened but in some places cylindrical. by us apparently much rarer.
Their thickness varied from 4 to 12 mm. The col-
or is beige to brownish in alcohol. Consistency is Suberites syringella (Schmidt, 1 868)
firm and moderately elastic, easily torn. Surface
is smooth, finely rugose in some places with a Raspailia syringella Schmidt, 1868: 10, pl.2 fig. 9
minutely velvety feeling due to the spicules pro- Suberites carnosus var. ramosus Topsent, 1900: 235, pi.7
from the surface. 1978: 44. truding sponge figs. l-2;Uriz, 74, fig.
In all is Suberites 1938: 13 specimens there a clearly recognizable carnosus var. syringella; Topsent, axial well skeleton surrounded by a distinguisha- Suberites syringella; Pulitzer-Finali, 1978: 24, fig. 2; ble The axial peripheral layer (Fig. 2). part may 1983: 483.
in be cylindrical or flattened cross section cover-
from of the Four found off ing 30 to 80% total width of the specimens were Chios Island, at a branch. It is made of tracts 50- of about 150 on of hard sub- up multispicular depth m, fragments
100 in the of (i.m diameter, vast majority which strate. The species is characterized by a repent
are straight, arranged parallell to one another, ramose growth form, with thin branches, not ex-
crossed by some wavy ones. They consist of large ceeding 3-4 mm in diameter. Axial and extra-
these axial skeletons tylostyles measuring 730-1000 x 14-20 pm; are not separately recognizable,
are straight or slighdy curved with a rounded or with choanosomal spicule bundles bending off to
end in subterminal head (Fig. 3). The peripheral skele- at the surface a confused mass of spicules;
ton consists of small tylostyles oblique or vertical bouquets are ill-developed. Typical tylostyle sizes:
the axial which in the choanosome: 450 5 in the to tracts, are not strictly organ- by Jim, peri-
ised. either lie in short 210 3 Size 150-500 They tracts or are ar- phery: by range: x 3-6
in ranged a confused manner with a general di- Hm.
rection towards the surface. Near the The has been from the sponge species not reported
the in It is known from surface, spicules are organized fan-shaped Eastern Mediterranean before. brushes (Fig. 2) vertical or slightly oblique to it. the coasts of Algeria (Schmidt, 1868), Banyuls
have of about 500 and Monaco They a ray length pm they (Topsent, 1900), Sicily (Topsent, 1928),
form an angle of about 30°. The small tylostyles (Topsent, 1934), Naples (Pulitzer-Finali, 1978),
the Corsica forming brushes penetrate the sponge surface (Vacelet, 1960; Pulitzer-Finali, 1983),
182 Table 1
Mediterranean Suberitidaeand their distribution in the Western Mediterranean (WM), Adriatic (AD), Eastern Mediterra-
and Indo-Pacific nean (EM), Aegean Sea (AS), Black Sea (BS), Atlantic (ATL) (IPC).
MEDITERRANEAN SUBERITIDAE WM AD EM AS BS ATL IPC
* * * Laxosuberites ectyoninus Topsent
* Laxosuberites * rugosus (Schmidt)
* * Prosuberites brevispinus Laubenfels
* * * * * Prosuberites epiphytum (Lamarck) *
* Prosuberites longispina Topsent * * * *
Prosuberites modestus Pulitzer-Finali *
* Prosuberites rugosus Topsent
* * Pseudosuberites hyalinus (Ridley & Dendy) * *
* Pseudosuberites mollis Topsent *
* * * * Pseudosuberites sulphureus (Bowerbank)
Rhizaxinella elongata (Ridley & Dendy) * * *
* Rhizaxinella gracilis (Von Lendenfeld) *
* * * * * Rhizaxinella pyrifera (Delle Chiaje)
* Suberitesficus (Linnaeus) * * * * *
* Suberites domuncula(Olivi) * * * * * *
* * * * * * * Suberites carnosus(Johnston)
* * * * * Suberitesmassa Nardo
* * * * * Suberites syringella (Schmidt)
* * * Terpios fugax Duch. & Mich. * *
Africa 1993: ovoid and possibly from West (Van Soest, group of'roots'; body globular, or cylindri-
pl. IC). cal, velvety or finely hispid, compact, with a
more or less radiating skeleton, and with an api-
To the well-established Suberites cal oscule" from summarize, spe- (Topsent, 1900) (translated cies known till from the Mediterranean up now French).
are the following: S. ficus (L.), S. domuncula (Olivi),
S. carnosus (Johnston), S. syringella (Schmidt) and Rhizaxinella pyrifera (Delle Chiaje, 1829)
S. massa (Nardo). A further two species are men-
in tioned in the checklist of Pulitzer-Finali (1983): 20 specimens were found Thermaikos and
Suberites bursa (Schmidt, 1862) and S. hystrix Strymonikos Bays, off the north coasts of Evia Is-
(Schmidt, 1868). The first is probably not a Sub- land and off Lesbos Island, at depths of 70-150 erites 1935: but remains ill- and rocks. Two of the (cf. Vosmaer, 421) m, on stones specimens
it has in known because never been redescribed (cf. found Thermaikos Bay were attached to the also Desqueyroux & Stone, 1992: pl. 11 figs. 64- scleractinian Caryophyllia smithi Stokes & Broderip.
Suberites All conformed de- 65), the latter is a junior synonym of specimens to Topsent's (1900)
1938: of S. 300- massa (cf. Topsent, junior synonym scription; spicules are tylostyles measuring
lobate 1200 7-20 flexous 800-2500 3- carnosus, form). x (im, tylostyles x
and 8 |im raphids 80-120 Jim.
Genus Rhizaxinella Keller, 1880 The species was previously reported from the
Aegean Sea (Saronikos Bay) by Vamvakas
"Suberitidae with a branched thin It is in the Western Mediterra- simple or pe- (1970). common duncle, normally attached to the substrate by a nean (e.g. Sarà, 1960).
183 Rhizax-
ZOOGEOGRAPHICALREMARKS inella R. Suberites massa Suberites elongata, pyrifera, ,
syringella, and Terpios fugax have an Atlanto-
Of the nine suberitids found in the Aegean Sea Mediterranean distribution. In addition, of Pseu-
Pseudosuberites during this survey, four species, viz. dosuberites mollis which has been recorded from
sulphureus, P. hyalnius, Suberites ficus and S. syringel- Aqaba by Burton (1952), Por (1978) mentions
la are new records for the fauna of the Eastern that it is an Anti-Lessepsian migrant, although
Eastern Mediterranean has Mediterranean. Three more species are new its presence in the
records for the fauna of the Aegean Sea: Suberites not been reported yet. Prosuberites brevispinus de-
domuncula and S. massa previously reported only scribed by De Laubenfels (1951) from the Black
from the Sea of Marmara (Arndt, 1947) and S. Sea has not been found elsewhere in the Mediter-
this carnosus from the Suez Canal (Burton, 1926). ranean, and it is possibly an endemic of area.
Apart from the nine species found during this The remaining six species, Laxosuberites ectyoninus,
three further L. Prosuberites P. Pseudo- study, suberitid species have been rugosus, modestus, rugosus,
and previously recorded from the Aegean Sea: Laxosu- suberites sulphureus, Rhizaxinella gracilis can be
endemics. berites ectyoninus Topsent and Prosuberites longispina characterized as Mediterranean
in Topsent in an ecological study carried out Up to the present, the status of the suberitid
of the Mediterranean is Saronikos Bay by Vamvakas in 1970 (the sponge faunain the above areas
and Pro- the 17 known from the material was identified by J. Vacelet), following: species are
suberites epiphytum (Lamarck) by Saritas (1973) off Western Basin, 12 from the Adriatic, 12 from the
the Turkish the 12 from the Eastern coasts. Thus, up to present, Aegean, Mediterranean,
4 from Sea. The lower number of twelve suberitid species are known from the Ae- and the Black
Sea. The number of is known found in the Adriatic and the Sea gean same species species Aegean
from the Eastern Mediterranean. in comparison to that found in the Western basin
hand the limited The number of Suberitidae species known up to could be attributed on one to
whole in- research effort carried in the former the present from the Mediterranean, out areas
cluding the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and secondly to the enrichment of the Western
Suberites basin with Adantic The low number is 18 (excluding two dubious species, see species. very
of in the Black is due above). These species are listed in Table I with species Sea presumably to
their distribution also given in the Western Medi- the reduced salinity of its waters. The above ob-
in with made terranean basin (including the French, Spanish, servations are accordance those on
the distribution of the keratose in the Western Italian and Algerian coasts), the Adriat- sponges
ic Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Eastern Mediterra- Mediterranean (Voultsiadou-Koukoura & Kou-
the the Black nean (including Sea of Marmara), kouras, 1993), as well as on the distibution of
Sea, the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The other animal groups such as decapod crustaceans
al. most important of the references taken into ac- (Koukouras et 1992).
the count are following: Von Lendenfeld, 1896;
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