AXINELLA-ESTACIOI N-SP (PORIFERA, AXINELLIDA) FROM CAVES OF THE STRAIT-OF-GIBRALTAR (SOUTHERN IBERIAN PENINSULA)

A species new to science in the genus Axinella is described from caves of Tarifa Island (Strait of Gibraltar). It has a characteristic form, with branches fanning out from the stems on the same plane, in an alt ernating or opposing fashion, thus giving the branches a feather-like appearance, which clearly distinguishes the species from other known s pecies. The spicules are characterized by their simplicity and by the frequent presence of a proximal or subproximal swelling. A. estacioi i s compared with related Atlantic and Mediterranean species, and with t he Axinella previously found in the Strait of Gibraltar.