Vosmaeria crustacea

Fristedt, 1885

Species Overview

Vosmaeria crustacea Fristedt, 1885 forms whitish thin crusts with thin, sharply pointed papillae. It is known only from the Scandinavian fjord waters at depths below 25 m.

Taxonomic Description

Colour: White.
Shape, size, surface and consistency: Encrusting with thin sharply pointed papillae. Crust several mm in thickness. Up to 25 mm long and 10 mm wide. Papillae 2-7 mm long. Surface smooth. Oscules on the papillae.
Spicules: (Vosmaeria crustacea spics) Two types of megascleres (oxeas and tylostyles), no microscleres. Oxeas 520-800 µm long. Tylostyles 850-910 µm long.
Skeleton: Ectosomal skeleton is a crust of tangential oxeas. Choanosomal skeleton consists of bundles of tylostyles; these also form the skeleton of the papillae.
Ecology: On fjord walls from 25-311 m.
Distribution: Sweden, Skagerak, Norway, Arctic.
Etymology: The genus name honours Dr G.C.J. Vosmaer, who did some monographic studies of Arctic and Mediterranean sponges; the specific name refers to the encrusting habit.
Type specimen information: No data.

Remarks

The species differs from V . laevigata in the posession of surface papillae. The status of these two species is unsatisfactory and needs to be reestablished.
Source: Fristedt, 1885.