Rwm. Vansoest et al., NEW SPECIES OF ZYZZYA, CORNULELLA, DAMIRIA, AND ACHELIDERMA (PORIFERA, POECILOSCLERIDA), WITH A REVIEW OF FISTULAR GENERA OF IOPHONIDAE, Bijdragen tot de dierkunde, 64(3), 1994, pp. 163-192
New sponge species belonging to the closely related fistular genera Zy
zzya, Cornulella, Damiria, and Acheliderma are described from reef hab
itats off the coasts of Colombia, Bonaire and Curacao in the southern
Caribbean. With very few exceptions these sponges are small to tiny sp
ecimens inhabiting crevices and other cryptic habitats; some may be ex
cavating. For comparison both published and unpublished material belon
ging to these genera from other parts of the world was examined, and t
his yielded several nomenclatorial changes and a further three new spe
cies from the Indian Ocean. The new species are: Zyzzya invemar (Carib
bean), Cornulella santamartae (Caribbean), C. tyro (Seychelles), C. am
irantensis (Seychelles), Damiria leonorae (Caribbean), D. toxifera (Se
ychelles) and Archeliderma lisannae (Caribbean). All species belonging
to these genera, as well as to the closely related Indo-Pacific genus
Paracornulum, are briefly diagnosed. The genera and species of this g
roup are found to be distributed over tropical and subtropical waters
of all three oceans. The five genera were so far of controversial syst
ematic allocation, although their close relationship with Cornulum was
generally accepted. The recently revived family Iophonidae is demonst
rated to be the likely assemblage for them. A brief survey of Iophonid
ae genera is presented and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the
fistular genera is attempted. Although several parts of the phylogenet
ic relationships remain unsolved, it is nevertheless clear that in all
genera the closest relatives are not found in adjacent areas, but are
often disjunct.