LOXOSOMELLA — RUTZLER 







A combination of the above-mentioned favorable conditions and 

 protection from natural enemies could lead to a population explosion 

 such as the ones observed. Protection from predators might be 

 provided by the highly toxic properties of Tedania ignis. Not much 

 is known about the chemistry of the toxic substance, but it kills 

 mice if aqueous extracts are injected intraperitoneally (Halstead, 

 1965, p. 275) and engraulid fishes 2 cm long are killed in less than 

 one hour when placed in petri dishes containing 2 cc of Tedania 

 ignis and 200 cc of seawater (pers. observ.). Most human beings, 

 when handling the sponge, experience skin irritations of varying 

 degrees. A severe erythema multiforme reaction on a man after handling 

 Tedania ignis from Bermuda was reported by Yaffee and Stargardter 

 (1963). 



The only other loxosomatid so far reported to live on Tedania 

 ignis is Loxosomella vivipara Nielsen (1966b). This species also has 

 been found on Ircinia jasciculata (Pallas), Aaptos aaptos Schmidt, 

 and Chondrilla nucula Schmidt. Among these, Ircinia jasciculata also 

 has been found to have toxic properties (Halstead, 1965). 



Sponge-dwelling species of Loxosomella never have been found 

 associated with organisms of other groups. The following list sum- 

 marizes substrate, geographical distribution, and latest detailed 

 description: 



species of Loxosomella 

 alata (Barrois) 



bimaculata, new 



species 

 cochlear (Schmidt) 



cricketae Nielsen 



lineata (Harmer) 



parguerensis, new 



species 

 pes (Schmidt) 



raja (Schmidt) 



host sponge 

 Dysidea species (Desidea 



species) 

 Hymedesmia dujardini 



(Bowerbank) 



(Dendoryx dujardini) 

 Tedania ignis (Duchas- 



saing and Michelotti) 

 Spongia officinalis Lin- 

 naeus 

 Cacospongia species 

 Lissodendoryx isodictyalis 



(Carter) 

 Adocia tubifera (George 



and Wilson) 

 Hymeniacidon heliophila 



(Parker) 

 Halichondria species 



Tedania ignis (Duchas- 

 saing and Michelotti) 



Spongia officinalis 

 Linnaeus 



Cacospongia species 



Spongia officinalis 

 Linnaeus 



geographical distribution 



northeast 

 Atlantic 



tropical west 



Atlantic 

 Mediterranean 



tropical west 

 Atlantic 



Indo-West 



Pacific 

 tropical west 



Atlantic 

 Mediterranean 



Mediterranean 



source 

 Prenant and 

 Bobin (1956) 



present paper 



Prenant and 

 Bobin (1956) 



Nielsen (1966a) 



Harmer (1915) 



present paper 



Prenant and 

 Bobin (1956) 



Prenant and 

 Bobin (1956) 



