MICROMORPHOLOGY IN MYCALE TAXONOMY (MYCALIDAE, POECILOSCLERIDA, DEMOSPONGIAE), WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF 2 NEW MICRACANTHOXEA-BEARING SPECIES

Two new species of Mycale with micracanthoxeas are described: Mycale ( Aegogropila) lilianae n. sp., mainly characterized by the presence of texas as large as 300 mu m, and Mycale (Carmia) urizae n. sp., the fir st Mycale with micracanthoxeas described from Africa, characterized by the presence of anisochelae-III with the fair projecting downwards fr om the middle basal portion of the frontal alae of the head, and by th e presence of two morphologically distinct size classes of texas, with texas-II being notably ores-shaped. A discussion of all species of My cale with micracanthoxeas is included. It is postulated that a compreh ensive assessment of the distribution of this character, as well as of other micromorphological features of Mycale spicules, may shed light on the affinities and redefinition of obscure subgenera such as Aegogr opila and Carmia.