Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. (Family: Pheronematidae): A newhexactinellid sponge from Andaman waters, India

Abstract

The hexactinellid sponge described in this paper, Semperella megaloxea sp. nov. was collected from the eastern side of NorthAndaman waters off Diglipur at 13o 06’ N lat. and 93o 11’ E long. during one of the FORV Sagar Sampada expeditions.Critical examination of the specimen indicated that it belonged to the Class Hexactinellida, Sub-class Amphidiscophora andOrder Amphidiscosida. Although diactin spicules are present, the presence of large number of pentactin spicules indicatesthat it belongs to the Family Pheronematidae. The columnar body with atrial surface divided into several areas separated bydermal areas indicates that the specimen belongs to the genus Semperella. The morphology of the whole sponge specimen,the presence of very long diactin spicules of oscular tuft and the pentactins with very long rays do not match well with anyof the already described species of the genus Semperella Gray.