Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Loxosomella (Entoprocta) from the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, with the description of a new species, Loxosomella ameliae sp. nov.

Abstract

A study of loxosomatidae inhabiting demosponges of the genera Ircinia and Sarcotragus in the Iberian Mediterranean Sea has shown the occurrence of two species. One of them, identified as Loxosomella pes, is recorded for the first time from Spanish waters and some biometric data of the studied population are provided. The other species is new and is here described as Loxosomella ameliae sp. nov. The existence of a wide field of conspicuous gland cells and some features of the foot and calyx characterize the new species and distinguish it from other cogeneric species. With this new species, a total of five species of Loxosomella reported from sponges are known from the Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords:

• Iberian Mediterranean Sea
• Loxosomella ameliae sp. nov
• Loxosomella pes
• sponges
• solitary entoprocts

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank to Professor Claus Nielsen (University of Copenhagen) for his great and valuable help in the preparation of this paper and to Victor F. Tovar Timmermans for his help in the design realization.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark