Triptolemma simplex

Triptolemma simplex (Sarà, 1959) (Figure 8) Triptolemmus simpex Sarà, 1959: 5–8, fig. 2. Triptolemma simplex, Bertolino et al. 2011: 333–336, fig. 5–7. Material examined: ESFM-POR/2017-635, S26, 15 m, on coralligenous habitat, 1 specimen. Description: It is an encrusting species (Figure 8a), greyish in alcohol. The surface is smooth. The patency of the osculum is unclear. The consistency is soft. Its spicules are composed of dichotriaenes, mesocalthrops, amphiasters, resembling a staghorn, and their supporting bundles of oxea (Figure 8c 1, 2). Oxeas are in one category and slightly curved in the middle (3–10 × 200–350 μm) (Figure 8b 1). Dichotrianes range in size (cladome of symmetrical spicules): 23–40 × 2.5–5 μm) (Figure 8b 2). The presence of mesocalthrops is quite rare compared to other spicules (50–75 × 5–10 μm) (Figure 8b 3). Amphiasters are sparsely spined (5–7.5 × 1,2 μm) (Figure 8b 4). Spiny microrhabds occur in two size classes (11–14.5 × 2.5–4.8 μm, 24–35 × 2–6 μm). Habitat and distribution: This species was previously reported in coralligenous habitats and cave walls, up to 40 m depth (Sarà 1959, Bertolino et al. 2011). In the study area, this species was also found in coralligenous habitats at 15 m at station 26. It is an endemic species of the Mediterranean, occurring on the coasts of the Tyrrhenian (Sarà 1959), Ligurian (Bertolino et al. 2010) and Ionian (Longo et al. 2018) coasts. It is a new record for the sponge fauna of the eastern Mediterranean.