A new species of Thoosa (Demospongiae, Hadromerida) excavating precious coral Corallium sp. from Midway

Abstract

A new species of Thoosa, T. midwayi n. sp., excavating the scleraxis of Corallium sp. and collected in the Midway Islands, is described on the basis of its spicular complement characterised by two types of amphiasters. The new species differs from the closest species, T. amphiasterina Topsent, in the shape and size of the amphiasters. Although still at a very initial stage, the study of the sponges boring into the scleraxis of Pacific precious corals suggests that the boring assemblage varies according to the different coral populations probably due to the different species of the genus Corallium present in the Pacific area and to the geographical isolation of the precious coral banks.

Keywords:

• Thoosa
• Boring sponge
• new species
• Precious coral
• Midway