Myxilla inequitornota

Burton, 1931

Species Overview

Myxilla inequitornota Burton, 1931 is a small ill-known species recorded only once from a northern Norwegian fjord. In differs in microscopical details from the more common Myxilla species of the area.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: No information.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Small, growing in interstices of a calcareous alga. Surface even, porose, oscules not apparent.
Spicules: Megascleres : Ectosomal tornotes slightly curved, inequi-ended, typically mucronate at one end and oxeote at the other, but both with ends strongylote or subtylostylote, 200 x 4 µm; choanosomal acanthostyles, sparingly spined, 200 x 4-7 µm.
Microscleres : Anchorate chelae of two size classes, 40 µm and 17 µm; sigmas in a single but variable size category, 24-40 µm.
Skeleton: Choanosomal skeleton irregularly sub-isodictyal.
Ecology: In fjords, 20-40 m.
Distribution: Northern Norway.
Etymology: The name refers to the asymmetric tornotes.
Type specimen information: The holotype is in the Tromsø Museum.

Remarks

The species differs from the other Myxilla species of the area in the unequal endings of the tornotes.
Source: Burton, 1931.