A revision of Australian and New Zealand Tethya (Porifera : Demospongiae) with a preliminary analysis of species-groupings

Abstract

Australian and New Zealand Tethya Lamarck, 1814 species have been revised on the basis of museum material and new findings. Ten new species: T. acuta, T. burtoni, T. dendyi, T. expansa, T. flexuosa, T. gunni, T. hooperi, T. pulitzeri, T. stellodermis and T. tasmaniae are described. Tethya gigantea (von Lendenfeld, 1888), here recognised as a valid species, and T. magna Kirkpatrick, 1903, hitherto known only from South Africa, are redescribed. New observations and taxonomic remarks have been provided for: T. bergquistae, T. corticata, T. deformis, T. inflata, T. phillipensis, T. ingalli, T. laevis, T. monstrosa, T. orphei, T. robusta, T. seychellensis and T. tuberculata. The revised species list includes 31 valid species, most of which are endemic to Australia or New Zealand. Species-groups within the genus were investigated using cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling.