DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15153471
title: Table 2 in A new deep-water Tethya (Porifera, Tethyida, Tethyidae) from the Great Australian Bight and an updated Tethyida phylogeny

description: Table 2 (continued). Comparison of morphology between species of Tethya Lamarck, 1815 from Australia and New Zealand.
SpeciesExternal appearanceBody diam. ColourSkeletal arrangementSpiculesType localityDepth (m)T. compacta Bergquist, 1961 3Rhomboid, with lateral fan- like projections. Stony.8 mm Mid brown (in ethanol)Tracts (356–722) (in ectosome). Endosome with radiate structure.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 1574 × 21) me: spherasters (25–43) mi: tylasters (7–12)Chatham Rise, New Zealand402T. communis Bergquist & Kelly-Borges, 1991 2Spherical to subspherical; growing in clumps.7–12 mm Dull grey pink (in ethanol)Flexuous tracts of megasclere bundles (125–300) have elaborate tertiary branching.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 1225 × 12) me: oxyspherasters (38–55), oxyasters (7–12) mi: includes polyrhabdsCape Banks, New South Wales, AustraliaIntertidalT. dendyi Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Body covered in small, flattened tubercules. Rhizoid-like stolons.20 mm Pale buff (in ethanol)Tracts of megasclere bundles (250–500) branch in choanosome and form fans in cortex.Ms: strongyloxeas and styles (to 980 × 15) me: spherasters 20–30 mi: tylasters/chiasters/oxyasters (10–16)Pt Phillip Heads, Victoria, AustraliaUnknownaT. expansa Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Irregular shape, very hard, irregular labyrinthine tubercules.20–30 mm UnknownTracts of megasclere bundles (250–500) form secondary branching in cortex with fans at surface.Ms: strongyloxeas and anisostrongyles (1400 × 28) me: spherasters/oxyasters (30–50) mi: tylasters/chiasters/oxyasters (7–13)Ahipara Bay, New ZealandUnknownT. fastigata Bergquist & Kelly-Borges, 1991 2Ovoid; 1–3 large raised apical oscules; surface conulose. Short, thick stolons.40–60 mm Bright orangeFine, widely separated tracts of megasclere bundles (275–539) radiate slightly towards surface.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 2425 × 35) me: oxyasters (18–39) mi: various incl. acanthotylasters/chiasters (9–20)Poor Knights Isl. New Zealand25–40T. fissurata Lendenfeld, 1888 4,5Spherical; tubercules separated by deep grooves. Thick stalk which divides into roots.40 mm Beige (in ethanol)Tracts of megasclere bundles branch in the tubercules, supporting the edge of the tubercules and spicules extend through the surface.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 4000 × 80) me: short-rayed spherasters (160), long- rayed spherasters (240) mi: oxyasters (55), tylasters (19)Pt Jackson, New South Wales, AustraliaUnknownbT. flexuosa Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Irregular spherical shape. Tubercules rounded and slightly conical and carry thin filaments. Elastic consistency. Basal rhizoid stolons.18–35 mm Brownish- whiteTracts of megasclere bundles (250–750) branch into secondary and tertiary branches in cortex.Ms strongyloxeas and anisostrongyles (to 2600 × 50) me: spherasters & oxyspherasters (30–80) mi: tylasters (10–15), oxyasters (10–50)NW Australia30–62T. gigantea (Lendenfeld, 1888) 4Spherical; surface with 7 mm high mounds; tuberculose.60–90 mm Orange-redWidely spaced tracts of megasclere bundles (500–700), separating only slightly in surface tufts.Ms: strongyles (2000 × 35) me: oxyspherasters (30–60) mi: chiasters/oxyasters (10–20) & polyrhabdsPt Jackson, New South Wales, AustraliaUnknownbT. gunni Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Smooth with small conulated tubercules.25 mm Faded purple (in ethanol)Tracts of megasclere bundles (250–500) branch in the choanosome ending in compact fans in tubercules.Ms strongyloxeas (to 1850 × 35), styles (to 800 × 10) me: spherasters (20–55) mi: tylasters/chiasters/oxyastersTasmania, AustraliaUnknownT. hooperi Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Body ellipsoid; smooth surface, no tubercules.20–30 mm Ochraceous (in ethanol)Tracts of megasclere bundles (250–500) radiate in cortex with secondary and tertiary branching.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 1530 × 20) me: spherasters (30–60) mi: tylasters (8–14) oxyasters (15–25)Heron, Is. Great Barrier Reef, Australia12T. ingalli Bowerbank, 1858 1Spherical/sub-spherical; flattened often inconspicuous tubercules. Basal stolons.30–50 mm PinkishTracts of megasclere bundles split into secondary and tertiary branches in cortex.Ms: strongyloxeas/anisostrongyles (to 2130 × 30) me: oxyspherasters (70–90) mi: tylasters (10–15), chiasters, oxyasters (20–30)SW Australia30–50T. japonica Sollas, 1888 6Spherical; conules rounded; gemmiferous.13–22 mm Greyish white[No details on tracts.]Ms: strongyloxeas (to 1500 × 26) me: spherasters (67) mi: chiasters (12)Eastern Philippines32T. laevis (Lendenfeld, 1888) 4Spherical/ovate; surface smooth to tuberculate.30–45 mm Light brown (in ethanol)Tracts of megasclere bundles (500–800) expand to surface tufts.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 2000 × 36) me: spherasters (30–60) mi: chiasters/oxyasters (10–20), tylasters (10–15), polyrhabdsPt Jackson, New South Wales, AustraliaUnknown2T. magna Kirkpatrick, 1903 1,7Oval or spherical; conulated surface (in young specimens), expanding to polygonal plates. Tree-like rootlets.70 mm Purplebrown (in ethanol)Tracts of stout megasclere bundles (500–1000), unbranched but with terminal fans.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 4805 × 75) me: spherasters (120) mi: asters (35–45), chiasters (12–17)Natal, South Africa62T. microstella Sarà, 1990 8Hemispherical/cushion- like; tubercules vary from conules to flat papillae.10 mm Brownish/ light yellowTracts of megasclere bundles in choanosome are accompanied by styles in cortex.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 1600 × 15) me: spherasters (30–80) mi: tylasters (4–6) & larger ‘other micrasters’Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Is, Queensland, Australia0–1T. monstrosa (Burton, 1924) 9Spherical; sub-glabrous, a few small buds attached. Rooting processes well developed.14–25 mm Nut brown (in ethanol)Radial tracts of megasclere bundles spread out into fans at surface.Ms: strongyloxeas me: spherasters (48) mi: tylasters (20) & oxyasters (32). Many microscleres have abnormalities where the tyles & spines are reduced to knobs or absent leaving just a sphere.TasmaniaUnknownT. mortoni Bergquist & Kelly-Borges, 1991 2Ovoid; low tubercules. Buds on erect filaments.6–8 mm Maize yellowFine tracts of megasclere bundles (122–490) uniform from choanosome to cortex, expand slightly in cortex. Interstitial spicules radial.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to1092 × 21) me: long-rayed oxyspherasters (26–62), short rayed oxyspherasters (28–52) mi: incl. acanthostrongylasters & acanthotylasters (8–13)Manukau Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand0.5T. multistella Lendenfeld, 1888 4,1Spherical to subspherical; regularly tuberculose.20–40 mm Red, flesh or roseRadial tracts of megasclere bundles (300–500) are trumpet- like in shape and spread to secondary and tertiary branches in tubercules.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 3500 × 18) me: spherasters (20–50) mi: tylasters (12–16), oxyasters (5–10)Pt. Jackson, New South Wales AustraliaUnknownT. orphei Sarà, 1990 8Subspherical; lengthened[Tracts/bundles notMs: strongyloxeas, (to 1600 × 15) stylesPioneer Bay,0–1but apically flattened tubercules at top of sponge, smooth elsewhere.5 mm Brown yellowishdescribed.](to 1200 × 10) me: spherasters (10–50) mi: chiasters & tylasters (8–12), oxyasters (10–30)Orpheus Is, Queensland, AustraliaT. pellis Bergquist & Kelly-Borges, 1991 2Flattened subspherical, tubercules divided by pore grooves; firm but compressible.40 mm Flesh roseTracts of megasclere bundles widely spaced – branch in top third of cortex into fans.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 2075 × 30) me: oxyspherasters (25–120), oxyasters (20–25) mi: acantho-chiasters/tylasters/ oxyspherasters (13–18), microoxyasters (5–11)Fairlight, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, AustraliaIntertidalT. popae Bergquist & Kelly-Borges, 1991 2Irregular subspherical; ill-defined tubercules or smooth; 2–8 apical oscules; sponges can cluster connected by stolons.8–16 mm Bright deep orangeFlexuous tracts of megasclere bundles have elaborate tertiary branching.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 910 × 10) me: oxyspherasters (20–55) mi: acanthochiasters & acanthostrongylasters (7–13), microoxyasters (2–10)Cape Banks, New South Wales, AustraliaIntertidalT. pulitzeri Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1[No description, species designation from slides only.]Unknown UnknownUnknown.Ms: strongyloxeas, anisostrongyles (to 1100 × 15) me: oxyspherasters (30–50) mi: tylasters & chiasters (8–10), oxyasters (10–15)Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, AustraliaUnknownT. robusta (Bowerbank, 1873) 1Hemispherical; polygonal areas separated by grooves Attached by short broad robust basal stolons.30–50 mm Yellow-greySlim tracts of megasclere bundles expand slightly in cortex.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 1850 × 32) me: oxyspheraster (30–90), oxyasters (11–22) mi: acantho-tylasters/strongylasters (7–12), microoxyspherasters (4–5)Australia0.2–30T. seychellensis (Wright, 1881) 1,2Spherical or hemispherical; smooth with flattenedTracts of megasclere bundles (250–500) haveMs: anisostrongyloxeas (to 1500 × 30) me: oxyspherasters (17–76), oxyastersDampier, Western AustraliaIntertidalpolygonal tubercules separated by grooves; firm compressible. Attached by fine stolons.15–25 mm Brown redsecondary branching in cortex – spicules protrude well beyond surface.(32–50) mi: acanthochiasters & acanthostrongylasters (7–13), microasters (7–17)T. stellodermis Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1[Shape not described]; surface of very flattened tubercules; very hard.25 mm Pale purple brown (in ethanol)Thick tracts of megasclere bundles (300–500) branch into secondary and tertiary tracts in cortex.Ms: strongyloxeas (to 1400 × 28) me: spherasters/oxyasters (10–40) mi: various incl. tylasters (20–25), oxyasters (5–10)Pt Phillip Heads, VictoriaUnknownT. stolonifera Bergquist & Kelly- Borges, 1991 2Spherical to subspherical; circular or polygonal tubercules; soft compressible. Extensive stolons.3–11 mm Reddish yellowNarrow well separated tracts of megasclere bundles (200–425) radiate in cortex forming conical brushes.Ms: anisostrongyloxeas (to 1225 × 26) me: oxyspherasters (13–76); mi: acanthostrongylasters, acanthotylasters (8–14) rare microoxyspherasters (3–10)Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand0. 5–1.5T. tasmaniae Sarà & Sarà, 2004 1Spherical with small tubercules.20 mm UnknownTracts of megasclere bundles (500–1000) branch in choanosome and end in cortex as wide cones.Ms: strongyloxeas/anisostrongyles (to 1200 × 20) me: spherasters 20–50 mi: various e.g., tylasters, oxyasters (3 types), chiastersBlackmans Bay, Tasmania, AustraliaUnknown
Sources. 1 Sarà & Sarà (2004); 2 Bergquist & Kelly-Borges (1991); 3 Bergquist (1961); 4 Lendenfeld (1888); 5 Hallmann (1914); 6 Sollas (1888); 7 Kirkpatrick (1903); 8 Sarà (1990); 9 Burton (1924).
Notes. * unknown, or not noted in sources. a Maximum depth of Pt Phillip Heads is 50 m (Barton et al. 2012); b Maximum depth of Pt Jackson is 45 m (Johnston et al. 2015). Tethya diploderma Schmidt, 1870 is listed as occurring in New Zealand by Kelly et al. (2009), but is not included as this is currently shown as inaccurate by van Soest (2019). Tethya compacta Bergquist, 1961 is not included in the list of Australia and New Zealand species by Sarà & Sarà (2004) due to its synonymisation by Bergquist with T. aurantium (Pallas, 1766), however they note that the taxonomic status of T. compacta “remains uncertain”; it is included here as it is shown as accepted by van Soest (2019). The occurance of T. aurantium in New Zealand is shown as inaccurate (van Soest 2019) and is not included here.
description: Published as part of Sorokin, Shirley J., Ekins, Merrick G., Yang, Qi & Cárdenas, Paco, 2019, A new deep-water Tethya (Porifera, Tethyida, Tethyidae) from the Great Australian Bight and an updated Tethyida phylogeny, pp. 13-16 in European Journal of Taxonomy 529 on page 13, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.529, http://zenodo.org/record/3239967