Revision of the genus Trachytedania (Porifera : Poecilosclerida) with a description of Trachytedania ferrolensis sp nov from the north-east Atlantic

The genus Trachytedania Ridley, 1881 (Porifera: Poecilosclerida), includes those tedaniidae sponges characterized by the presence of acanthostyles. To date, only five species of the genus Trachytedania have been described of which only three actually belong to this genus. Other species described as Tedania could be considered as Trachytedania because of the presence of aca nthostyles in their skeletons. Some authors propose retaining Trachytedania as a subgenus of Tedania because of its skeletal structure. In this work, a taxonomic revision and consideration of the validity of the genus is prov ided. The morphology and anatomy of Trachytedania ferrolensis sp. nov. from the Ria de Ferrol (Spain, north-east Atlantic) are described in detail, an d the types of the three valid species described as Trachytedania to date: Trachytedania spinata, Trachytedania patagonica and Trachytedania biraphido ra are studied. A key to this genus is provided.