Revision of the genus Trachytedania (Porifera: Poecilosclerida) with a description of Trachytedania ferrolensis sp. nov. from the north-east Atlantic

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Cristobo, F.J., Urgorri, V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2001
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315401004258; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315401004258

The genus Trachytedania Ridley, 1881 (Porifera: Poecilosclerida), includes those tedaniidae sponges characterized by the presence of acanthostyles. To date, only five species of the genus Trachytedania have been described of which only three actually belong to this genus. Other species described as Tedania could be considered as Trachytedania because of the presence of acanthostyles in their skeletons. Some authors propose retaining Trachytedania as a subgenus of Tedania because of its skeletal structure. In this work, a taxonomic revision and consideration of the validity of the genus is provided. The morphology and anatomy of Trachytedania ferrolensis sp. nov. from the Ría de Ferrol (Spain, north-east Atlantic) are described in detail, and the types of the three valid species described as Trachytedania to date: Trachytedania spinata , Trachytedania patagonica and Trachytedania biraphidora are studied. A key to this genus is provided.