15,712 research outputs found
Biography and vulnerability: Loss, dying and death in the Romantic paintings of JMW Turner (1775-1851)
No full textCopyright@ 2005 Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.Narratives of suffering and vulnerability are an important theme in western art, the humanities and the social sciences. It is argued here that J.M.W. Turner's pictures, like those of many artists, are biographical tales. The central tenet of Turner's romantic art is the arousal of sensation and Turner's pictures include wonderfully evocative `visual poems' on the human experiences of loss, decline, `the fallacies of hope', grief and death. This paper first explores the connections between Turner's biography and his art through a discussion of several of Turner's key paintings. It then moves on to a more in-depth discussion of two pictures painted by Turner in 1842, when he was 67 years old: Peace — Burial at Sea, and War — The Exile and the Rock Limpet. These paintings can be seen as insightful biographical narratives on the embodiment of vulnerability. In conclusion, it is suggested that Turner's paintings of loss and death are valuable exemplars of the capacity of art to meld together biography, narrative, vulnerability, suffering and embodiment
Huberantha whistleri I. M. Turner & Utteridge 2017, sp. nov.
No full textHuberantha whistleri I.M.Turner & Utteridge sp. nov. See page 12 of this article for description and distribution.Published as part of Turner, Ian M. & Utteridge, Timothy M. A., 2017, Annonaceae in the Western Pacific: geographic patterns and four new species, pp. 1-44 in European Journal of Taxonomy 339 on page 23, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.339, http://zenodo.org/record/383250
Huberantha asymmetrica I. M. Turner & Utteridge 2017, sp. nov.
No full textHuberantha asymmetrica I.M.Turner & Utteridge sp. nov. See page 9 of this article for description and distribution.Published as part of Turner, Ian M. & Utteridge, Timothy M. A., 2017, Annonaceae in the Western Pacific: geographic patterns and four new species, pp. 1-44 in European Journal of Taxonomy 339 on page 21, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.339, http://zenodo.org/record/383250
Scopalina carmela Turner & Lonhart 2023, sp. nov.
No full textScopalina carmela sp. nov. Figures 21 & 22 Material examined. CASIZ236662 / IZC 00048468 (holotype) and SBMNH700917 (paratype), Inner Carmel Pinnacle (36.55910, -121.96630), 10–18 m, 8/10/2021. Etymology. Named for Carmel Bay. Morphology. Encrusting, 4–6 mm thick. Light orange alive, beige when preserved. Surface is covered in abundant conules, oscula, and large pores. Skeleton. Nodes of spongin arise from a basal spongin plate and terminate in surface conules. Vertical spongin nodes are occasionally bridged by secondary horizontal branches of spongin. Primary and secondary spongin tracts are cored by styles, either entirely enclosed by spongin or with heads embedded and points emerging; styles are chaotically arranged but generally at an angle between vertical and 45 degrees, tips up. Styles are more abundant near the sponge surface, where they form bouquets at the top of primary spongin tracts, piercing the surface at conules. Sponge also contains meandering, vermiform tracts of spongin that are not cored with styles. Sponge contains abundant sand, but no debris was seen coring spongin tracts. Tracts are often filled and/or coated with what appear to be red algal cells. Spicules. Long smooth styles that taper gradually to a sharp point; sometimes with subtle step-changes in size near the tip ("telescoping tips"). Holotype 713–915–1132 x 8–13–16 μm (n=26), other sample: 606–809–1017 x 10–16–21 μm (n=20). Distribution and habitat. Known only from the Carmel Pinnacles. Remarks. This species is clearly within the Scopalina based on both morphology and genotype. Four species of Scopalina are known from this region, all recently described from Southern California (Turner 2021). The skeleton and general appearance of this new species is very similar to S. nausicae, but it is easily differentiated from that species by having spicules nearly twice as long (S. carmela sp. nov. mean length = 869, S. nausicae mean length = 494), and also by its orange color (S. nausicae is peach-colored). Several pieces of evidence support a hypothesis that S. carmela sp. nov. is a distinct species, and not a northern form of S. nausicae. First, the morphological differences (color and differences in spicule length) are very similar to the differences between S. kuyamu and S. goletensis, which both occur in Southern California. Second, genetic differentiation between S. carmela sp. nov. and S. nausicae are of a similar magnitude as the differentiation between S. kuyamu and S. goletensis at both cox1 and 28S. Third, the final California species of Scopalina, S. jali, is found at both the Carmel Pinnacles and in Southern California, without genetic differentiation at 28S (figure 21). Close examination or high-resolution photos make this species identifiable in the field: the highly conulose surface, abundant pores and oscules, and light orange color serve to distinguish this species from other California species. Other encrusting orange sponges in California are firm, while this species is very soft and compressible.Published as part of Turner, Thomas L. & Lonhart, Steve I., 2023, The Sponges of the Carmel Pinnacles Marine Protected Area, pp. 151-194 in Zootaxa 5318 (2) on pages 182-184, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/816235
Galaxia Turner 2020, gen. nov.
No full textGalaxia gen. nov. Type species. Galaxia gaviotensis sp. nov. Diagnosis. Hemiasterellidae with thinly encrusting growth habit. Megascleres include tylostyles, styles, and oxeas. These are found in bundles parallel to the substrate and oriented vertically, piercing the sponge surface. Microscleres are asters. Etymology. From the latin galaxia, referring to the milky way. Like a galaxy, the type species of the genus is packed with a diversity of stars.Published as part of Turner, Thomas L., 2020, The order Tethyida (Porifera) in California: taxonomy, systematics, and the first member of the family Hemiasterellidae in the Eastern Pacific, pp. 211-231 in Zootaxa 4861 (2) on page 225, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4861.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/441476
Scopalina goletensis Turner 2021, sp. nov.
No full textScopalina goletensis sp. nov. (Fig. 5) Material examined. Holotype: (CASIZ 235470) Elwood Reef, Santa Barbara, California, USA (34.41775, - 119.90150), 12 m depth, 10/23/19. Etymology. Named for the town of Goleta that is onshore from the location where the sponge was discovered. Morphology. Encrusting, 1.0– 1.2 mm thick, approximately 2.5 cm across (figure 5). Firm and incompressible. Surface hispid due to dense profusion of protruding styles. Distinct ectosome not apparent. Beige / cream colored in nature; retained the same color when preserved in ethanol. Surface traced by varicose, translucent channels; pores (approximately 200–300 μm diameter) abundant and uniformly distributed. Skeleton. Basal mat of spongin cored with sediment. Vertical extensions of spongin 10–600 μm high arise from this mat: none of these were cored with sediment, but loose sediment was abundant throughout the sponge. Heads of some spicules are embedded singly, directly in the basal mat of spongin, but most are embedded as tiered bundles in the vertical extensions of spongin. Spicules. Styles only, usually slightly bent towards the head end, thickest at the head and tapered to a point. Some spicule tips are “telescoping” (width decreasing in a step-wise fashion) at the pointed end. Spicules averaged 687 μm in length (N=37, range 388–801 μm); 15 μm in width (N=37, range 6–21). Distribution and habitat. Only a single individual has been found, on a vertical ledge at 12 m depth, at Elwood Reef, in Santa Barbara, California. Habitat was rocky reef with abundant bryozoan, sponge, and anthozoan cover, under a year-round kelp canopy. Considerable search effort at Elwood Reef and nearby locations failed to locate additional individuals, so this species is likely to be rare in this area. Remarks. This species is most similar to S. kuyamu, but is morphologically and genetically distinct, as detailed in the S. kuyamu remarks. The spicule dimensions are similar to several species from other regions (S. azurea (Bibiloni, 1993), S. blanensis (Blanquer & Uriz, 2008), S. hispida (Hechtel, 1965)), though none of these others is known to have spicules as thick. All but S. azurea can also be excluded based on the available genetic data (Figs. 1, 2). Conspecificity with S. azurea is unlikely based on geographic isolation, color, and spicular architecture (Bibiloni 1993). It does not seem likely that this species can be identified from field photos alone, though it is difficult to say if there are reliable field marks until more individuals are found.Published as part of Turner, Thomas L., 2021, Four new Scopalina from Southern California: the first Scopalinida (Porifera Demospongiae) from the temperate Eastern Pacific, pp. 353-371 in Zootaxa 4970 (2) on pages 365-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4970.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/476186
Obruta collector Turner & Lonhart 2023, sp. nov.
No full textObruta collector sp. nov. Figures 23 & 24 Material examined. Holotype: CASIZ236660 / IZC00048466, La Jolla Cove, San Diego (32.85227, -117.27239), 10–16 m, 8/14/20. Paratypes: Goalpost Reef, San Diego (32.69438, -117.26860), 12–15 m, 2/8/20; IZC00048464, Isla Vista Reef, Santa Barbara (34.40278 -119.85755), 9–12 m, 8/1/19; IZC00048462, Arroyo Quemado Reef, Santa Barbara (34.46775, -120.11905), 7–11 m, 6/14/19; SBMNH700907, Arroyo Quemado Reef, Santa Barbara (34.46775, -120.11905), 7–11 m, 7/29/19; IZC00048465, Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos, Carmel (36.52172, - 121.93894), 6–15 m, 11/23/19; SBMNH700924, Otter Cove, Pacific Grove (36.62920, -121.92031), 7–12 m, 11/24/19; IZC00048463, Inner Carmel Pinnacle (36.55852, -121.96820), 10–24 m, 9/22/21; SBMNH700915, Goalpost, San Diego, (32.69438, -117.26860), 12–15 m, 2/8/20. Etymology. "Debris collector," because the long protruding spicules tend to collect copious detritus in the habitats where it is found. Morphology. A thickly encrusting sponge with upright lobes. Samples 3 mm to 2 cm thick; incompletely sampled individuals likely exceeded 4 cm in height. Color in life apricot (light yellow-orange); some samples variegated with peach and white; all samples beige when preserved. Surface is thick with protruding spicules, giving the sponge a furry appearance, often with sediment and debris ensnared on hispid surface. Skeleton. Upright, slightly plumose bundles of oxeas, 5–10 spicules wide, project towards sponge surface, where they pierce the tissue and create a hispid surface. Many spicules also found outside of bundles; near sponge surface, these are mostly upright, adding to a generally plumose impression; near the sponge base, oxeas are found in utter confusion. Some megascleres found horizontally where sponge attaches to substrate; a minority of these have multiple bends resulting in a U or S shape and could be dubbed sinuous. No ectosomal specialization. No apparent spongin; spicules are unbound after proteinase K digestion. Spicule density is high; sponges are firm and incompressible. Spicules. Oxeas, styles, and intermediates; sinuous oxeas. Oxeas: slightly curved or straight; majority with sharp points at both ends, but minority have asymmetrical points, with one tip blunt or rounded; some of these approach styles. Holotype: 502–750-1208 x 5–14–31 μm (n=80). Dimensions vary greatly within and among samples. Average length was significantly associated with latitude (r 2 = 0.6, p = 0.02), but width was not (r 2 = 0.4, p = 0.08). Average lengths: San Diego samples = 750 and 747 μm; Santa Barbara samples = 743, 796, and 878 μm; Monterey samples = 932, 1138, and 1439 μm. All samples pooled: 477–948–2155 x 3–15–31 μm (n=360). Styles: shaped like oxeas, but with one untapered, rounded end; less common than oxeas in all samples, with frequencies of approximately 1%–15%, depending on sample. Shorter than oxeas in all samples, with average lengths 75%–85% as long. Holotype: 521–612–729 x 8–12–15 μm (n=5); all samples pooled: 486–717–1321 x 5–12–23 μm (n=38). Sinuous oxeas: oxeas with multiple bends and curves such that they are sinuous or U-shaped; some are only slightly sinuous and hard to differentiate from normal oxeas. Found in 5 of 8 samples. Holotype: 371–504–630 x 7–11–16 μm (n=12); all samples pooled: 231–510–1692 x 7–11–18 μm (n=43). Distribution and habitat. Found on shallow subtidal reefs in Central and Southern California; not found in the intertidal or on human structures. Fairly common around Monterey and Carmel Bays, where it was found at 50% of subtidal reefs investigated. Less common in Southern California, where it was found at only 7% of subtidal reefs. Remarks. Obruta collector sp. nov. is confidently placed in this nominal Bubarida clade at both loci, forming a subclade with Phakellia ventilabrum, type of its genus, and Axinellia cannabina (considered by some authors to be an Acanthella (Gazave et al. 2010)). The close evolutionary relationship of these three species highlights how difficult it will be to revise this order based on traditional characters. The two previously described species possess an axial skeleton of sinuous strongyles complemented by styles, and the new species possesses mostly oxeas. Phakellia ventilabrum is upright and fan-shaped, Axinella cannabina is branching and tubular, and Obruta collector sp. nov. is thickly encrusting and lobed. The high spicule density, hispid surface, and basal skeleton of sinuous diactines of O. collector sp. nov. are consistent with placement in the Bubaridae, and not consistent with the other bubarid families (Dictyonellidae and Desmanthidae). However, none of the existing genera placed within the Bubaridae, nor other genera that may be included in the Bubarida after revision, are a good fit for O. collector sp. nov. The close relationship of this new species to the type species of Phakellia is intriguing, but that genus is currently defined by its planer habit, multiple axes of sinuous strongyles, and styles, none of which are possessed by O. collector sp. nov. The genus Bubaris is more similar to the new species, as it is encrusting with sinuous diactines along the substrate. However, Bubaris is defined by having sinuous strongyles and styles, a thinly encrusting habit, and a skeleton of single styles erect on the substrate. Though some species currently placed in this genus have other growth forms (e.g., B. sarayi Ilan e t al. 1994, B. conulosa Vacelet & Vasseur 1971), they all possess only sinuous strongyles and styles. As O. collector sp. nov. possesses primarily oxeas and is thickly encrusting, we deem it necessary to create a new genus to house this species. The presence of sinuous diactines and lack of an ectosomal skeleton are morphological characters that unite this species with most other members of the Bubarida and other species that will likely be revised into the genus based on the phylogenies shown. Obruta collector sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from other named species, as evidenced by the need to create a new genus to house it. Due to the ill-defined boundaries of some genera of Bubarida, Axinella, and Halichondriidae, however, it is worth listing the similarities and differences of species from several other genera that occur in the North East Pacific. The only previous Bubarida known from the region is Rhaphoxya laubenfelsi Dickinson, 1945 from Pacific Mexico. This species is differentiated by being ramose and branching, possessing sharply bent styles, and being green after preservation. Two Axinyssa are known from the northeast Pacific, and some members of this genus have genetic affinities to the Bubarida. Axinyssa tuscara (Ristau, 1978) is sympatric with O. collector sp. nov., but is dark brown with smaller oxeas. Another species from Pacific Mexico, Axinyssa isabela Carballo & Cruz-Barraza, 2008, has similar spicules and a somewhat similar skeleton to O. collector sp. nov., but is yellow, sprawling, and is not macroscopically hispid. Young or small individuals of this species may be difficult to identify in the field, but larger individuals have a distinctive combination of growth form, color, and very hispid surface. All individuals of this form were correctly identified to species before verification with spicules and DNA sequencing, and no other samples were erroneously assigned to this species, so tentative field identifications are likely to be fairly reliable with experienced observers. Individuals from this species from Southern California were the focus of recent research on terpene biosynthesis in sponges (Wilson et al. 2023).Published as part of Turner, Thomas L. & Lonhart, Steve I., 2023, The Sponges of the Carmel Pinnacles Marine Protected Area, pp. 151-194 in Zootaxa 5318 (2) on pages 185-188, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/816235
Haliclona (Halichoclona) melissae Turner & Lonhart 2023, sp. nov.
No full textHaliclona (Halichoclona) melissae sp. nov. Figures 15 & 17 Material examined. Holotype: CASIZ236655 / IZC00048448, Inner Carmel Pinnacle, (36.55852, -121.96820), 10– 24 m, 9/22/21; paratypes: SBMNH700919 and IZC00048446, Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos, Carmel, (36.52172, -121.93894), 6–15 m, 11/23/19; SBMNH700927, Wycoff Ledge, San Miguel Island, (34.02132, -120.38710), 9–19 m, 8/25/19; IZC00048447, Tower house arches, Carmel, (36.56187, -121.95950), 9–21 m, 9/21/21. Etymology. Named after Melissa Kamen, a close acquaintance of the first author. Morphology. Encrusting sheets 3–4 mm thick; firm and barely compressible—not spongy as in many Haliclona (Reniera), nor rock hard as in many Petrosiidae. Surface patterning very regular, oscules approximately 1 mm in diameter, on raised mounds approximately 1 mm in height, each 4–6 mm from next closest oscule; remaining surface patterned with mesh of visible pores. Beige in life and preserved. Skeleton. Ectosome and choanosome comprised of an isotropic, unispicular reticulation with spongin at the nodes. Spicules. Oxeas: more variable in width than length; thin oxeas are possibly immature. A small minority modified to styles. Holotype 108–148–162 x 2–9–12 μm (n=36), all samples pooled: 103–147–168 x 2–9–12 μm (n=146). Mean lengths per sponge 142–154 μm. Distribution and habitat. Found at 3 of 8 shallow subtidal reefs searched from Pescadero Point, on the northern end of Carmel Bay, to the Carmel Highlands, just south of Carmel Bay, but none of the 6 locations searched in Monterey Bay. One additional sample was found at a subtidal site at San Miguel Island in Southern California; San Miguel Island is the outermost of the Channel Islands, with colder waters compared to other Southern California locations. Remarks. The somewhat chaotic nature of the spicule reticulation, the incompressible nature of the sponge, and the hastate oxeas make this species a better match for Haliclona (Halichoclona) than Haliclona (Reniera). The skeleton is very similar to Haliclona (Halichoclona) gellindra (de Laubenfels, 1932), the type species for the subgenus, whose type location is the intertidal zone in Carmel Bay. However, the oxeas of the new species are very consistently sized, with mean lengths varying from only 142–154 μm, while spicules in H. gellindra are much shorter and thinner: 105–112–122 X 6–6–7 (De Weerdt 2002). The new species is well differentiated from other named Haliclona in the region due to skeletal structure, spicule size, and/or the presence of additional types of spicules (Lee et al. 2007). There are undescribed species of Haliclona that have been noted in previous surveys; where sufficient information is provided to make good comparisons, they match the new species poorly. Previously sequenced species of Haliclona have been found in clades A, B, and C, with the largest number in clade A, where the new species is also found. This species can be tentatively identified in the field in at least some habitats. Samples of this species collected to date are very consistent in form, such that they were correctly identified by the experienced collector before being examined in the lab. A common intertidal Haliclona in California, Haliclona (Haliclona) sp. A (Hartman 1975; Lee et al. 2007), has a very similar gross morphology but much smaller spicules and a ladder-like skeleton. Haliclona melissae sp. nov. has not yet been found in the intertidal, but if it occurs there, it would likely be confused with this other species without spicule or DNA data. Other undescribed Haliclona occur in the subtidal, but those discovered thus far can be differentiated in the field because they are darker in color and much more compressible.Published as part of Turner, Thomas L. & Lonhart, Steve I., 2023, The Sponges of the Carmel Pinnacles Marine Protected Area, pp. 151-194 in Zootaxa 5318 (2) on pages 177-178, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/816235
Scopalina nausicae Turner 2021, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Scopalina nausicae</i> sp. nov. <p>(Fig. 3)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Holotype: (CASIZ 235474) Point Loma, San Diego, California, USA (32.69438, -117.26860), 15 m depth, 2/7/20. Paratypes: (CASIZ 235471) Coal Oil Point, Santa Barbara, California, USA (34.40450, - 119.87890), 11 m depth, 8/30/19; (CASIZ 235472) Isla Vista Reef, Santa Barbara, California, USA (34.40278, - 119.85755), 12 m depth, 8/1/19; (CASIZ 235473) Arroyo Quemado Reef, Santa Barbara, California, USA (34.46775, -120.11905), 11 m depth, 1/7/20.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for the fictional character Nausicaä from the film <i>Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind</i>.</p> <p> <b>Morphology.</b> Encrusting, 2–4 mm thick, up to 10 cm across (Fig. 3). Soft and compressible. Prominent conules 0.5–1.0 mm in height, 1.5–3.5 mm apart; spicules protrude at conules, making them microscopically hispid. Scattered oscules 1–2 mm in diameter. In nature, ectosome appears opaque at conules but often lacy and porous between them; ectosome more opaque in collected samples. Ectosome peach colored, choanosome yellow when alive; all tissues fade to beige when preserved in ethanol.</p> <p> <b>Skeleton.</b> Vertical trunks of spongin, 100–550 μm wide, arise from a basal spongin mat and terminate in surface conules. Secondary branches of spongin 50–100 μm wide arise from primary trunks, branching off at an angle of less than 90 degrees and still extending towards surface. Primary and secondary trunks cored with spicules with pointed ends up; spicules entirely enclosed in spongin or with tips projecting; projecting tips fan out to create a bouquet that pierces the ectosome at conules. An additional type of spongin tract is distinct from those described above: 60–90 μm wide, these tracts branch from primary trunks at approximately 90-degree angles, then meander through the choanosome in a vermiform fashion, sometimes branching; these vermiform tracts do not contain spicules. Basal spongin, spicule-containing spongin trunks, and vermiform tracts are sporadically cored with sediment. Spiculecontaining and vermiform spongin tracts are often filled and/or coated with what appear to be algal cells; these are red in preserved tissue.</p> <p> <b>Spicules.</b> Styles only, usually bent towards the head end, thickest at the head and tapered to a point. Some show “telescoping” (width decreasing in a step-wise fashion) at the pointed end. Average spicule length for each voucher: 454, 483, 505, 532 μm (N=31–40 per sample); total range in spicule length across vouchers 375–623 μm (N=135). Average spicule width at head, for each voucher: 9, 9, 11, 11 μm (N=31–40 per sample); total range in spicule width at head 5–17 μm (N=135).</p> <p> <b>Distribution and habitat.</b> This species is common on the shallow (5–16 m) rocky reef at Coal Oil Point, Santa Barbara, California. Often found on vertical rock walls or boulders, it can also occur on flatter areas, and has been found partially buried by sand. It was not found at most other locations investigated, but was located in similar habitat at the Arroyo Quemado Reef (near Point Conception) and in the kelp forests in extreme Southern California, off Point Loma and La Jolla, San Diego. It is therefore likely that the specie’s range encompasses at least the Southern Californian and Ensenadan biogeographical provinces, bounded by Point Conception in the North and Punta Eugenia in the South (Blanchette <i>et al.</i> 2008; Valentine 1966).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Skeletal architecture, spiculation, and genotype all conspire to place this species within the <i>Scopalina</i>. I was unable to detect the “graininess” said to characterize other Scopalinidae. However, this was hard to assess due to the abundant sediment within the sponge: dark grains were apparent, but appeared to be sediment rather than refractile cells.</p> <p> Spicule dimensions, skeletal morphology, and genotype all serve to differentiate <i>S. nausicae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> from the three other species newly described here. Fourteen other species are currently placed in the genus <i>Scopalina</i>, according to the World Porifera Database (van Soest <i>et al.</i> 2019). None of these are known from the Eastern Pacific, making them unlikely conspecifics with any of the species described here. The gross morphology of <i>S. nausicae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> in the field is quite similar to published images of <i>S. ruetzleri</i> (Wiedenmayer, 1977) (West Atlantic) and <i>S. erubescens</i> (Goodwin <i>et al.,</i> 2011) (Faulkland Islands). Spicule length and sponge color also match <i>S. erubescens</i> better than other <i>Scopalina</i>, making this species the most likely conspecific. In addition to geographic separation, however, <i>S. erubescens</i> is larger, more thickly encrusting, and has thicker spicules and spicule bundles. The description of <i>S. erubescens</i> also lacks any mention of the vermiform spongin tracts that pervade <i>S. nausicae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (Goodwin <i>et al.</i> 2011). <i>Scopalina ruetzleri</i> can be excluded as a conspecific based on genetic data at both cox1 and 28S as well as color and habitat (Rützler <i>et al.</i> 2003). This species is described as ranging throughout the Caribbean, but was also recently reported from the tropical Eastern Pacific (Carballo <i>et al.</i> 2019). This latter report is not accompanied by morphological or genetic information, so comparisons between tropical Pacific <i>Scopalina</i> and <i>S. nausicae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> await future investigation.</p> <p>Within its range, it is likely that this sponge can be identified from field photos, as I have seen no other sponge with a similar morphology to date.</p>Published as part of <i>Turner, Thomas L., 2021, Four new Scopalina from Southern California: the first Scopalinida (Porifera Demospongiae) from the temperate Eastern Pacific, pp. 353-371 in Zootaxa 4970 (2)</i> on pages 362-364, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4970.2.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4761869">http://zenodo.org/record/4761869</a>
Halichondria loma Turner & Lonhart 2023, sp. nov.
No full textHalichondria loma sp. nov. Figures 18, 19 Material examined. Holotype: CASIZ236654 / IZC00048445, North Monastery Beach, Carmel, (36.52647, - 121.92730), 12–29 m, 9/22/21; paratypes: IZC00048444, Butterfly House, Carmel, (36.53908, -121.93520), 9–20 m, 8/10/21; SBMNH700908, Acropolis Street, Pacific Grove, (36.64183, -121.93060), 9–18 m, 8/9/21; SBMNH700913, Fire Rock, Pescadero Point, Carmel, (36.55898, -121.95110), 10–22 m, 8/10/21; IZC00048442, Inner Carmel Pinnacle, (36.55910, -121.96630), 10–18 m, 8/10/21; IZC00048443, Wreck of the Ruby E, San Diego, (32.76680, -117.27620), 18–25 m, 5/16/21; SBMNH700925, Six Fathoms, San Diego, (32.71000, -117.26860), 9–18 m, 5/15/21; SBMNH700914, Goalpost, San Diego, (32.69438, -117.26860), 12–15 m, 2/8/20. Etymology. Name inspired by Point Loma, the location where the first sample was found. Morphology. Encrusting, bright yellow in life, white when preserved. Oscules prominent, flush with surface or atop low chimneys. Surface patterned with partially transparent mesh-like ectosomal network of fibers and vein-like sub-surface channels. Morphology is very similar to H. panicea and H. bowerbanki, but in contrast to these species, no individuals were found to form tendrils or occur in green. Skeleton. Choanosome is a chaotic mass of oxeas in confusion, accompanied by paucispicular tracts; no apparent spongin. Ectosomal skeleton of tangential oxeas; in some regions of the sponge, these form a lattice of meandering, paucispicular tracts; in other regions the oxeas form a mat patterned only by circular gaps around pores. Spicules. Oxeas of typical Halichondria form, thickest in the center, gradually tapering to hastate tips. Holotype 411–544–650 x 9–12–15 μm (n=40). Other samples average from 462 to 527 μm. All samples pooled: 298–509–650 x 5–11–16 μm (n=386). Only one size class of spicules present (length and width distributions are unimodal), but if spicule preparations are done for ectosome and choanosome separately, spicules are significantly shorter in ectosome (sample IZC00048442: ectosome 409–516–611 x 5–11–15 μm (n=49), choanosome 407–548–644 x 5–10–14 μm (n=50), Wilcoxon rank-sum test p=0.004). Distribution and habitat. This species is uncommon but widespread on subtidal, natural reefs in Southern and Central California. It was found at 40% of the natural reefs investigated around the Monterey Peninsula, 40% of the natural reefs investigated around San Diego County in extreme Southern California, but not found at any sites between. It was also found on the wreck of the Ruby E, an artificial reef in the San Diego area. It was not common at any site where it was found. Halichondria — H. panicea, H. bowerbanki, and/or undescribed species—are abundant in marinas and bays in California, but H. loma sp. nov. was not found at any of the 23 marinas investigated by the authors. There are also many intertidal Halichondria in Northern and Central California, but H. loma sp. nov. was not found at any intertidal sites investigated. Halichondria loma sp. nov. therefore seems to be limited to the subtidal, and occurs at low density, primarily on natural reefs. Remarks. Two species of Halichondria are known in California: H. panicea and H. bowerbanki, and the new species is quite similar to both. Previous descriptions of these species in California (de Laubenfels 1932; Lee et al. 2007) describe oxeas up to a maximum of 420 μm in length, while the new species is longer: the holotype averages 544 μm, with a maximum of 650 μm. This is a subtle difference, especially considering that H. bowerbanki in the United Kingdom has been described as having spicules of similar length (Ackers et al. 2007). However, genetic data at mitochondrial and nuclear loci support the distinctiveness of the new species, with H. panicea, H. bowerbanki, and the new species all having 14–23% sequence divergence at 28S and 4–10% sequence divergence at cox1 (figure 18). The new species is therefore best identified using a combination of genetic and morphological data. We have extensive collections of Halichondria from other locations in Central and Southern California, and these unpublished data support the existence of H. panicea and H. bowerbanki in the region; in addition to H. loma sp. nov., these data point to several other wide-spread undescribed species. These data will be detailed in an upcoming systematic revision of the family Halichondriidae for the region. This species cannot be identified in the field, as the gross morphology cannot be differentiated from H. panicea or H. bowerbanki. Halichondria can be tentatively identified to the genus level in the field, but are easy to confuse with some other species, such as Mycale psila and Hymeniacidon perlevis.Published as part of Turner, Thomas L. & Lonhart, Steve I., 2023, The Sponges of the Carmel Pinnacles Marine Protected Area, pp. 151-194 in Zootaxa 5318 (2) on pages 178-181, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/816235
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