Diversity and distribution patterns of Calcareous sponges (subclass Calcinea) from Martinique

Tayara Fontana, Báslavi Cóndor-Luján, Fernanda Azevedo, Thierry Pérez, Michelle Klautau

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17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Calcareous sponges of the subclass Calcinea from Martinique (Caribbean Sea) are presented under an integrative perspective (morphology and DNA: ITS and C-LSU). Eleven species of six genera have been found in Martinique, three of them being new to science: Borojevia crystallina sp. nov., Clathrina delicata sp. nov., and Ernstia adunca sp. nov. Among these new records, four species were previously known from other Caribbean localities: Arturia vansoesti, Clathrina insularis, C. mutabilis, and Leucaltis clathria. Two species previously known in Brazilian waters are reported for the first time in the Caribbean Sea: Arturia alcatraziensis and C. cf. cylindractina. Finally, the occurrence of C. aurea and Leucetta floridana in Martinique is confirmed. The two molecular markers (ITS and C-LSU) and the morphological characters considered (e.g. body shape, aquiferous system and spicules) provided congruent classifications what tend to confirm their reliability for the taxonomy of Clathrinida. After the present work, a total of 17 species of Calcarea are recognised for Martinique. We discuss three types of distribution patterns (Endemic, Caribbean-Brazil, and Amphi-Atlantic), Martinique likely playing an important role as stepping stone to garantee connectivity among populations of Calcinea in the Atlantic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)331-369
Number of pages39
JournalZootaxa
Volume4410
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Benthic fauna
  • C-LSU
  • ITS
  • Molecular systematics
  • Taxonomy
  • Tropical Western Atlantic

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