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Three new species and one re-description of Aka

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2007

Barbara Calcinai
Affiliation:
DiSMar, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Carlo Cerrano
Affiliation:
Dip.Te.Ris, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy
Giorgio Bavestrello
Affiliation:
DiSMar, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy

Abstract

Three new species of the boring genus Aka, A. coralliirubri, A. microterebrans and A. ruetzleri are described respectively from the Mediterranean Sea, Celebes Sea and Caribbean Sea. The Indo-Pacific A. maldiviensis, known only for the structure of its epilithic fistules, is here described in more detail. The new species confirm that the sponges comprising the genus Aka are able to bore in biogenic substrata only, in particular coral rock, bivalve shells and the scleraxis of the precious coral Corallium. The study of the macroscopic excavation shows that three different patterns can be described: producing discrete boring chambers, large undivided cavities and interconnecting microtunnels giving rise to a spongious aspect of the substratum.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2007 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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