Histodermella ingolfi

Lundbeck, 1910

Species Overview

Histodermella ingolfi Lundbeck, 1910 is a bladder-like deep water sponge recorded from Ireland and Iceland. It differs from similar sponges of the genus Coelosphaera in having spined acanthoxeas.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: Yellowish white in alcohol (choanosome deeper yellow).
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Thick-walled, rounded or elongated bladder-like body, giving off thin-walled fistules. Size up to 30 mm long by 10 mm in diameter.
Spicules: (Histodermella ingolfi spics) Megascleres : Tylotes 250-600 x 19 µm; acanthoxeas, very slightly spined, 200-250 x 16 µm.
Microscleres : Arcuate isochelae 20 µm; sigmas: 16 µm.
Skeleton: Tangential tylotes and acanthoxeas form a crust-like ectosome; choanosome without coherent skeleton.
Ecology: Deep water, down to 900 m, in crevices of dead Lophelia .
Distribution: Off Iceland, SW Ireland.
Etymology: Named after the North Atlantic Danish Ingolf Expedition, 1900.
Type specimen information: In the Zoologisk Museum of Copenhagen (ZMK).

Remarks

The genus Histodermella is closely related to Coelosphaera , differing from it primarily by the characteristic acanthoxeas.
Source: Stephens, 1920.