taxonID	type	description	language	source
038CF27AF44D9B4AFF74FD97F1A2FCA9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Placospongiidae with tylostyles as megascleres and selenasters or amphiaster-like sterrasters as primary microscleres, forming polygonal cortical crusts. Cortical plates separated by contractile ectosomal pore grooves bearing ostia and oscula. Tylostyles in tracts radiating from the base toward the surface and supporting the margins of the cortical plates. Accessory microscleres include spirasters, spherasters, and spherules (Rützler & Hooper 2000).	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	description	(Fig. 2; Tab. 1)	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype. UFBA 4051, Praia de Aratuba, Recife das Caramuanas, Vera Cruz, 13 º 08 ’ S – 38 º 45 ’ W, Bahia State, Brazil, 1 – 2 m deep, January 30, 2013, coll. Cavalcanti, F. & Neves, E. Paratype. UFBA 4050, Paciência de Terra, Baía de Camamu, Maraú, 13 ° 57 ’ 29.19 ” S – 38 ° 54 ’ 47.95 ” W, Bahia State, Brazil, 18 – 20 m deep, October 23 rd, 2012, coll. Menegola, C. & Guimarães, R. UFPE POR 1446, Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Praia Enseada dos corais, 8 º 19 ’ 0.34 ’’ S – 34 º 56 ’ 51.92 ’’ W, Pernambuco State, Brazil, intertidal zone, November 29 th, 2012, coll. Pinheiro, U.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Megascleres tylostyles I range from 650 to 1200 µm; Tylostyles II range from to 220 to 740 µm. Microscleres selenasters and acanthomicrorhabds.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	description	Description. Encrusting sponge (Based on Holotype UFBA 4051 measurements: 72.31 150 mm length x 55.09 mm width and 4.05 mm thickness), covered by smooth and rigid cortical plates, separated by contractible grooves. Color in life light brown or dark brown (Fig. 2 A), retained after alcohol preservation (Fig. 2 B). Consistency is hard like a stone. Texture rugose, due to cortical plates. Oscules retracted after collection. Skeleton. Cortex composed of densely packed selenasters, with acanthomicrorhabds in ectosomal surface, over the selenaster crust. Choanosome with tylostyle bundles outwardly disposed, supporting the cortex, emerging from a basal layer of selenasters. Selenasters in different developmental stages and acanthomicrorhabds widely scattered in choanosome (Fig. 2 C). Spicules. Megascleres. Tylostyles in two size categories. Tylostyles I (Fig. 2 D), large, straight, with prominent tyles (Fig. 2 E) and blunt points (Fig. 2 F) (860 – 1033.5 – 1200 µm / 7.5 – 11.9 – 15 µm). Tylostyles II (Fig. 2 G), small, straight, with hastate ends (Fig. 2 I) (220 – 402.9 – 740 µm / 5 – 6.9 – 10 µm). Microscleres. Selenasters in distinct growth stages, bean-shaped, oval or spherical (Fig. 2 J) (35 – 59.5 – 71 µm / 22 – 45.1 – 52 µm) and young selenasters (Fig. 2 K) (20 – 26.9 – 33 µm / 8 – 13.2 – 20 µm). Curved / sinuous or straight acanthomicrorhabds (Fig. 2 L), densely spined (6 – 9.1 – 11 µm / 2 – 2.2 – 3 µm).	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. Encrusting sponges, found on the underside of rocks, at 0 – 20 m depths.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Southwest Atlantic, Brazil. Recorded from Northeast Brazil, Bahia State, Baía de Todos os Santos (Vera Cruz, Recife de Caramuanas, Aratuba beach) and south coast (Baía de Camamu, Maraú, Paciência da Terra). Pernambuco State, south coast (Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Praia Enseada dos Corais).	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is dedicated to Dr. Gisele Lôbo Hajdu, for her important contribution in teaching / guiding dozens of biology students from South America and Europe since the 90 ’ s, in phylogeography, ecology, taxonomy and molecular biology of sponges.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44D9B4CFF74FC0BF415F9B3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Placospongia giseleae sp. nov. is similar to the Pacific species P. santodomingoae, because of the similar spicule categories, showing tylostyles I with blunt ends and tylostyles II with hastate ends like and microscleres selenasters and acanthomicrorhabds are present. Nevertheless, the new species is unique by tylostyles I having twice the size (860 – 1033.5 – 1200 / 7.5 – 11.9 – 15 µm) in comparison to the Pacific species (430 – 605.5 – 660 / 13 – 15.5 – 20 µm). In addition, in P. giseleae sp. nov., tylostyles II are considerably longer (220 – 402.9 – 740 / 5 – 6.9 – 10 µm), when compared to tylostyles II of P. santodomingoae (240 – 290 / 5 – 8 µm). Microrhabds are considerably smaller in Brazilian species (6 – 9.1 – 11 / 2 – 2.2 – 3 µm), than in P. santodomingoae (8 – 12.3 – 18 / 2.5 – 2.7 – 3.5 µm) (Table 1). Selenasters measurements are also different, in the new species 35 – 59.5 – 71 / 22 – 45.1 – 52 µm, being approximately the minimum size of the Pacific species (80 – 84.8 – 90 / 60 – 67.3 – 75 µm). Besides the morphological differences between these two species P. giseleae sp. nov. is found at coral reefs from tropical regions, while P. santodomingoae is exclusively found in anchialine pools from Indonesia. Therefore, the considerable distance between the Southwestern Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific Ocean, gives further evidence of specific distinctness, considering the limited dispersal ability of this genus (Nichols & Barnes (2005). The differences between the species recorded to the Caribbean Sea and the new species are mainly related to additional microscleres: (1) P. caribica presents spherasters, spirasters and oxyasters; (2) P. melobesioides shows spherules; (3) P. intermedia has spherasters and spirasters; (4). Furthermore, P. ruetzleri and the Brazilian species P. cristata has as additional microscleres, spirasters and spherasters, respectively. P. giseleae sp. nov. differs from all previous species by having only selenasters and acanthomicrorhabds as microscleres in spicule composition.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44B9B4EFF74F965F471FB36.taxon	description	(Fig. 3; Tab. 2)	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44B9B4EFF74F965F471FB36.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. UFPE POR 1462, Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Praia Enseada dos corais, 8 º 19 ’ 0.34 ’’ S – 34 º 56 ’ 51.92 ’’ W, Pernambuco State, Brazil, intertidal zone, June 3 rd, 2011, coll. Pinheiro, U. UFBA 769, Itacimirim, Camaçari, 12 ° 36 ’ 40.28 ” S – 38 ° 02 ’ 26.06 ” W, Bahia State, Brazil, 1982, coll. Peixinho, S.; UFBA 2991, Baía de Camamu, Ilha da Pedra Furada, 13 º 53 ’ 35 ’’ S – 38 º 59 ’ 58 ’’ W, Bahia State, Brazil, intertidal zone, May, 2009, coll. Fernandez, J. & Santos, G.; UFBA 1571, Arembepe, Camaçari, - 12 º 47 ’ 00 ’’ S – 38 º 11 ’ 00 ’’ W, Bahia State, Brazil, intertidal zone, 0 – 1 m deep, January 12 th, 1997, coll. Peixinho, S.; UFBA 633, Porto da Barra, Salvador, 13 º 00 ’ 06 ’’ S – 38 º 32 ’ 00 ’’ W, Bahia State, Brazil, <10 m deep, September 30, 1984, coll. Nunes, M.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44B9B4EFF74F965F471FB36.taxon	description	Description. Encrusting sponges (Based on UFBA 769 measurements: Fragment 1: 36.51 mm length x 14.83 mm width, 5.10 mm thickness, fragment 2: 28.56 mm length x 22.88 mm width, 4.10 mm thickness; fragment 3: 25.99 mm length x 19.71 mm width, 3.53 mm thickness), covered by smooth and rigid cortical plates separated by contractible grooves (Fig. 3 A). Brown color in life. Firm consistency, non-compressible sponges. Oscules not observed. Skeleton. Cortex with densely packed selenasters. Choanosome with bundles of tylostyles disposed outwards, arising from a basal or a central axis of selenasters, providing support to cortex. Selenasters in different developmental stages, acanthomicrorhabds, and spirasters dispersed in the choanosome (Fig. 3 B). Spicules. Megascleres. Tylostyles in two size categories, straight with spherical tyles, hastate and blunt (Fig. 3 E) or mucronate (Fig. 3 H) ends in both. Tylostyles I (Fig. 3 C), larger (530 – 912.3 – 1150 µm / 12.5 – 16.5 – 20 µm); tylostyles II (Fig. 3 F), smaller (190 – 300.5 – 540 µm / 7.5 – 11.4 – 15 µm). Microscleres. Bean-shaped to oval or sometimes spherical selenasters (Fig. 3 I) (47 – 67.3 – 77 µm / 33 – 55.5 – 70 µm). Irregular spirasters (Fig. 3 J, K), with twisted shaft presenting one or two spiral turns, rays bifurcate or with tuft concentrated in the ends (8 – 13 rays), with shorter and longer secondary rays and spines. Microspined rays disposed sparsely, exclusively at the convex side (Fig. 3 J) or densely in throughout the spicule (Fig. 3 K), with two terminal clusters and rays in central region (13 – 19 – 23 µm / 3 – 3.7 – 6 µm). Acanthomicrorhabds abundant (Fig. 3 L), with straight or slightly sinuous shafts (6 – 9.7 – 13 µm / 2 – 2.9 – 4 µm). Substratum, depth range and ecology. Encrusting rocky substratum in the intertidal zone, or subtidal to <10 m deep.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44B9B4EFF74F965F471FB36.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Southwest Atlantic. Originally described from Suriname and the Guyana Shelf (Van Soest, 2017). In the present study, it is recorded for the first time from Brazil: Pernambuco State (Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Praia Enseada dos Corais), Bahia State (Camaçari: Northern coast, Todos os Santos Bay: Salvador, Praia Farol da Barra: central region and Baía de Camamu: Ilha da Pedra Furada).	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
038CF27AF44B9B4EFF74F965F471FB36.taxon	discussion	Remarks. P. ruetzleri was originally described from the Guyana shelf, in French Guyana and was reported from Florida, Jamaica, Grenada, Colombia and NE Brazil (van Soest, 2017). However, this Brazilian record was considered doubtful due to insufficient information (van Soest, 2017). In the present study, we confirm its occurrence to northeastern Brazil. In Suriname, this species was found in sandy bottom and in murky waters with muddy bottom at 25 – 34 m depths, the occurrence of sponges in this type of substrate is considered rare (van Soest 2017). Brazilian species of P. ruetzleri are recorded for intertidal reef environments, composed by sandy sediments at 0 – 10 m depths. Although the specimens from Brazil and from Suriname come from environments with distinct features (high turbid waters, and muddy bottoms in Suriname), the samples of these two regions contain the same spicular categories, with presence of unique spirasters with spines disposed exclusively at the convex side of the microsclere. In the Brazilian specimens, here described, the spirasters can be sparsely spined or, more rarely, densely spined.	en	Mácola, Rosa, Menegola, Carla (2021): A new species of Placospongia Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Placospongiidae) and new record of P. ruetzleri van Soest, 2017 from Northeast, Brazil. Zootaxa 5072 (1): 12-22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5072.1.2
