Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 62 (1) 3-19 (1992) SPB Academie Publishing bv, The Hague A revision of Atlantic Asteropus Sollas, 1888 (Demospongiae), including a description of three new species, and with a review of the family Coppatiidae Topsent, 1898 Eduardo Hajdu & Rob W.M. van Soest 1 Laboratorio de Poriferos, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do 2 Rio de Janeiro, Cep. 21941 Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; Institute of Taxonomie Zoology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 4766, 1009 AT Amsterdam, The Netherlands Keywords: taxonomy, Asteropus, Coppatiidae, Demospongiae Abstract necida. A associação de Asteropus e outros génerosrelacionados à família Coppatiidae Topsent, 1898 é discutida, levando à con- clusão de que a família é certamente um taxon polifilético rela- Various records of A. simplex Carter, 1879 from the Atlantic cionado Van a vários grupos de Astrophorida (Hooper, 1986; are assigned to three new species of the sponge genus Asteropus Soest, 1991). viz.: brasil and Sollas, 1888, A. iensis sp. n., A. vasiformissp. n., A. A. niger sp. n., whereas simplex s.s. is restricted to the Indo- Pacific. A worldwide study of Asteropus specimens resulted in the conclusion that two species groups exist, namely “simplex ”- Introduction like species (with true sanidasters), and “sarasinorum”- like spe- cies (with spiny microrhabds), as previously observed by Berg- Examinationof several western Atlantic specimens quist (1965, 1968). A newly discovered microsclere complement 1879 recorded as Asteropus simplex Carter, (cf. of trichodragmata in the first group strengthens the need for generic distinction of both lineages, and accordingly the name Boury-Esnault, 1973; Van Soest & Stentoft, 1988; MelophlusThiele, 1899 is reinstated for the “sarasinorum” spe- Muricy et al., 1991), as well as undescribed materi- cies group. A key to the West Atlantic species of Asteropus is al, revealed the existence of several distinct species provided. The family allocation of Asteropus and associated which all showed differences with A. simplex sensu genera in the Coppatiidae Topsent, 1898 is discussed, with the Carter (1879). It is the of this to conclusion that the family is undoubtedly a polyphyletic assem- purpose paper related various Van describe and these blage to astrophorid groups (Hooper, 1986; compare new species. Soest, 1991). revealed As by the present study, many Astero- share unknown pus specimens a previously comple- ment of trichodragmata, linking them to the genus Resumo Holoxea Topsent, 1892 and focussing our attention on distinction among genera in the family to which são As citações de Asteropus simplex o Atlântico referidas is attributed.A further para Asteropus usually purpose três a novasespécies de Asteropus , viz.: A. brasiliensis sp. n., A. of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of the vasiformis sp. n. e A. niger sp. n.; A. simplex s.s. fica restrito classification of this group. A brief historical sur- ao Indo-Pacífico. O estudo de espécimens de Asteropus de todo is to outline the mundo resultou conclusão de dois de vey necessary problem. o na que grupos espécies estão envolvidos, espécies tipo-“simplex” (com sanidasters ver- Topsent (1898) erected the family Coppatiidae dadeiras) e espécies tip microrabdes o-“sarasinorum” (com es- (replacing Epipolasidae Solías, 1888, which does pinadas), como já notado Bergquist (1965, 1968). Um por fulfill for not the requirement family names; the recente descoberto complemento de tricodragmas no primeiro name Epipolasidae was never fixed by application necessidade de ambas li- grupo reforça a distinção genérica de of a type genus name - Article 35, ICZN), for nhagense assim sendo, o nome Melophlus Thiele , 1899 é recupe- rado para o grupo de espécies t ipo-“sarasinorum”. Uma chave sponges belonging to rather distinct lineages: Top- identificação as de para espécies do Atlântico Ocidental é for- sentia Berg, 1899 (as Anisoxya Topsent, 1898) and Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 04:39:43PM via free access 4 E. Hajdu & R. W.M. van Soest - Revision of Atlantic Asteropus Sollas, 1888 Spongosorites Topsent, 1896 (both Halichondri- ious ancorinid genera possessing triaenes. In the this various da); Hemiasterella Carter, 1879 and Tethya course of paper genera of Coppatiidae various order Lamarck, 1814 (as Magog Solías, 1888) (possibly are compared to Ancorinidaein to ar- 1867 rive the allocation of Hadromerida); Jaspis Gray, (as Coppatias at proper family Asteropus. Solías, 1888) and Asteropus Solías, 1888 (probably Astrophorida). He stressed the possession of eu- asters and diactinal megascleres, and absence of tri- Material and methods aenes, as the shared derived characters for this Hentschel added the group. Later, (1923) genera The Brazilian Asteropus specimens are deposited in the collec- Cryptotethya Dendy, 1905 (= Tethya), Diastra tion of Porifera in the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ POR). They were collected during an ecological survey Row, 1911 (a possible synonym of Stelletta fauna of the sponge of Arraial do Cabo, southeastern Brazil Schmidt, 1862), and Paracordyla Hallmann, 1912 (Muricy, 1989; Muricy et al., 1991, recorded as A. simplex). Scolopes Solías, 1888). This assemblage has not (= Data about specimens quoted in "Material examined" are as of been accepted as one monophyletic origin by complete as possible. A ofthe ofA. brasiliensis is modern authors dueto major differences in skeletal fragment holotype sp. n. deposit- ed in the collections of the Museum Amsterdam well distinct Zoölogisch arrangement, as as spicule types, habit, (ZMA), number POR 9761. Additional material from the collec- and chemical constituents. tions of ZMA, the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris there is of However, a group generacurrently ac- (MNHN), the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), and cepted by some authors (e.g. Bergquist, 1968) as the United States National Museum, Washington (USNM) was studied for comparison. Section and spicule mounts for light comprising the Coppatiidae. They share a spicular made methods described diactinal in microscopicstudy were according to by complement of megascleres arranged a Riitzler (1978). SEM preparations of spicules were made as confused/radialchoanosomal pattern and asterose described by Buizer & Van Soest (1977). "In toto" SEM prepa- microscleres. The ectosomal skeleton is a tangential rations were treated with 20% HNOj for 3-12 h, after which layer of megascleres (as opposed to the tangential they were coated with a thin layer of gold. microscleres found in certain astrophorid genera like Penares Gray, 1867 and Erylus Gray, 1867). Systematic descriptions This group includes the genera Jaspis Gray, 1867, Asteropus Solías, 1888, Holoxea Topsent, 1892, Genus Asteropus Solías, 1888 Melophlus Thiele, 1899, and Lamellomorpha Berg- quist, 1968. In this group, Neamphius De Lauben- Type species: Stellettinopsis simplex Carter, 1879, fels, 1953 also seems to fit, although this is uncon- by monotypy (Article 68d, ICZN). firmed due to its possession of amphiasters. The Coppatiidae are here considered to be close to the Diagnosis. - Ancorinidae without triaenes, with a Astrophorida, based on the observation that tangential ectosomal skeleton of megascleres; with reduced radiality, rarity/absence of triaenes, and oxyasters and sanidasters, to which trichodragmata presence of tangential microxea is also found in may be added. some Astrophorida of the family Ancorinidae. A similar point of view, though much reduced in scope, was expressed by Burton & Rao (1932), Asteropus brasiliensis sp. n. Bergquist (1968) and Bergquist & Hartman (1969). (Fig. 1 a-d; Pl. I A-F) The family allocation of Asteropus in the Cop- patiidae was formally challenged by Dendy (1916a) Asteropussimplex sensu Boury-Esnault, 1973: 273, text-fig. 14; and, more recently, also by Van Soest & Stentoft Hechtel, 1976: 249 and 252; Muricyetal., 1991: 1187, 1190(non (1988). Bergquist (pers. comm.) also expressed Stellettinopsissimplex Carter, 1879). doubts over it. These authors suggest that Astero- Material examined. - Holotype: UFRJ POR 3022, Pedra Ver- and also other pus possibly coppatiid are genera melha (22°59.17'S 41°59.57' W; Arraial do Cabo, southeastern Ancorinidae without simply triaenes, related to var- Brazil), 3 m depth. Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 04:39:43PM via free access 5 Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 62 (I) - 1992 brasiliensis Fig. 1. Asteropus sp. n., spicules: a, oxeas; b, oxy- Scales are in aster; c, sanidaster; d, trichodragma. µm. Additional material: UFRJ POR 3371 (fragment from Paratypes: UFRJ POR 2575, Praia dos Anjos, 3 m depth, Pernambuco State 19' S coll. E. Hajdu, 09/V/1987; UFRJ POR 2814, Praia do Forno, MNHN NBE 1025), coast (08° and m depth, 1961/62 (Boury-Esnault, 4.5 m depth, 07/III/1988; UFRJ POR 2889, 2908, 2913, 34°39'W), 75 "Calypso" recorded A. 2915a, all four from Pedra Vermelha, 6.5-7 m depth, 1973; as simplex). lO/V/1987; UFRJ POR 2974, Pedra Vermelha, 6 m depth, coll. G. UFRJ POR 3027, Pedra Vermelha, Muricy, 24/VI11/1987; - is Description. The sponge cushion-shaped to 5 3 UFRJ POR 3038, Pedra Vermelha, m depth, coll. m depth; size of 2 subglobose. Specimens attain a 25 cm by G. Muricy, 08/111/1988. Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 04:39:43PM via free access 6/I E. Hajdu & R. W.M. van Soest - Revision of Atlantic Asteropus Sollas, 1888 Plate I. brasiliensis Asteropus sp. n.: A, sanidaster; B, sanidaster; C, oxyaster and sanidasters; D, oxyaster; E, trichodragmata; F, trichodragma. Scales are all 5 µm long. Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 04:39:43PM via free access Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 62 (1) - 1992 7 4 cm high. They are firm, hardly compressible. fusiform, tapering gradually, slightly curved at Their colour alive is dark brown where exposed to mid-length. the light, gradually becoming clearer towards the Microscleres: Sanidasters (Fig. 1 c; Pl. I A-B) base of attachment of the which is fre- sponge, spined all over. Spines usually larger at end of rays. The choanosome is white. quently dirty-white. Rays up to 15, showing no tendency for a concen- There is an easily discernible cortex, about 1 mm tric arrangement.