TY  - JOUR
AB  - The present study is a review of the excavating and endolithic sponges present in the Mediterranean. A dichotomic key to 22 species is presented. Detailed species descriptions are provided based on newly collected material and previous descriptions from the literature. In the case of <i>Cliona viridis</i> (Schmidt, 1862), an in-depth histological study has also been performed. Discussions on problematic taxonomic issues are also included. <i>Dotona pulchella</i> Carter, 1880 subspecies <i>mediterranea</i> subsp. n. is described. The previously enacted synonymy between <i>Pione vastifica</i> Hancock, 1849 and <i>Pione lampa</i> (de Laubenfels, 1950) is restricted to those specimens identified as “forma <i>occulta</i>”. <i>Cliona amplicavata</i> Rützler, 1974 is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean. <i>Cliona cretensis</i> Pulitzer-Finali, 1983 is proposed to be synonymous to <i>Cliona thoosina</i> Topsent, 1887. <i>Cliona copiosa</i> Sarŕ, 1959 and <i>Cliona tremitensis</i> Sarŕ, 1961 are considered synonymous to <i>C. viridis</i>. The spicule complement of <i>Scantilletta levispira</i> (Topsent, 1898), <i>D. pulchella</i> and <i>C. amplicavata</i> is enlarged, and some spicule types are better described based on light microscopy and SEM observation. <i>Pione vastifica</i> shows great variability in the microrhabds, seemingly related to depth. Regarding excavating patterns, several species appear to selectively excavate particular substrate types, whereas others are not selective among calcareous materials. <i>A. labyrinthica</i>, <i>P. vastifica</i>, <i>Cliona janitrix</i> Topsent, 1932, <i>C. viridis</i> and <i>C. lobata</i> Hancock, 1849 have asexual reproduction. Excavating ability, bud production and the way the sponge grows inside the substrate are biological features common to distant taxa such as Clionidae and <i>Aka</i> spp. that may constitute convergent (analogous) characters.
A1  - Rosell, D.
A1  - Uriz, M.J.
DO  - 10.1078/1439-6092-00033
JO  - Organisms, Diversity & Evolution
SP  - 55
EP  - 86
C1  - 2, 55-86
TI  - Excavating and endolithic sponge species (Porifera) from the Mediterranean: species descriptions and identification key
UR  - https://vliz.be/vmdcdata/narms/narms.php?p=sourcedetails&id=9892
VL  - 2
PY  - 2002
Y2  - 2026-07-12
ER  -