Spicule dimensions of Siphonodictyon spp., raw data, biometry and frequency distributions

DOI

Early descriptions for species of Aka were poor in detail, and the only spicule type that occurs in this genus does not vary much between species, which led to taxonomic confusion. Moreover, the type specimens of 5 species of Aka are lost, causing considerable problems. Mediterranean specimens of Aka were identified as Aka labyrinthica (Hancock, 1849) by Topsent (1900), even though this species was originally described from the Indo-Pacific. All following publications on Mediterranean Aka accepted Topsent's decision. We assessed this problem with new samples from the Ionian Sea. Our material consisted of only one specimen of Aka, and we had to rely mainly on spicule characters for comparison to other species. We developed a system for species recognition solely based on spicular characters and biometry, involving a combination of the parameters oxea length, width, tip form and angle of curvature. This approach was surprisingly accurate. Forming ratios of the above parameters was less helpful, but can sometimes provide additional information. We identified our sample as Aka infesta (Johnson, 1899), and describe it as a minute-fistulate species with large, multicamerate erosion traces and stout, smooth oxeas. Our data further imply that A. labyrinthica sensu Hancock has not yet been found in the Mediterranean. A. labyrinthica sensu Topsent is a collection of different species not including A. labyrinthica sensu Hancock.

Supplement to: Schönberg, Christine H L; Beuck, Lydia (2007): Where Topsent went wrong: Aka infesta a.k.a. Aka labyrinthica (Demospongiae: Phloeodictyidae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 87, 1459-1476

Identifier
DOI https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.659091
Related Identifier IsSupplementTo https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315407058249
Metadata Access https://ws.pangaea.de/oai/provider?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=datacite4&identifier=oai:pangaea.de:doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.659091
Provenance
Creator Schönberg, Christine H L ORCID logo; Beuck, Lydia
Publisher PANGAEA
Publication Year 2007
Rights Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
OpenAccess true
Representation
Resource Type Supplementary Publication Series of Datasets; Collection
Format application/zip
Size 87 datasets
Discipline Earth System Research
Spatial Coverage (-79.250W, -26.000S, 146.483E, 44.300N); Aegean Sea; North Atlantic Ocean; Lakshadweep Sea; Caribbean Sea; Mozambique Channel; Coral Sea; North Pacific Ocean; Balear Sea; Ligure Sea; Mediterranean Sea, Western Basin; Canarias Sea; off S.Maria di Leuca
Temporal Coverage Begin 1889-03-30T00:00:00Z
Temporal Coverage End 2006-10-27T00:00:00Z