A new neotropical and southernmost distributional record of freshwater sponge dosilia radiospiculata (Mills, 1888) (Porifera: Demospongie: Spongillidae) from Honduras

Authors

Monshie Briceño, Student Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Julio E. Mérida, Museo de Historia Natural, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Anthonie Andino-Mazariegos, Museo de Historia Natural, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Gustavo A. Cruz, Museo de Historia Natural, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Abstract

We added a new record of a freshwater sponge at the family level from Honduras. The presence of the Dosilia genus in Central America was confirmed, extending its distribution by 890 linear miles south of Mexico. This constitutes a new southern range extension of D. radiospiculata from the Nearctic to Neotropical region. The specimen was collected from the Pacific slope of Honduras. Although sponges constitute an important element of a freshwater ecosystem, environmental pressures and contamination of rivers or other aquatic environments, where they exist, have not been considered under any category of protection.

Recommended Citation

Briceño, Monshie; Mérida, Julio E.; Andino-Mazariegos, Anthonie; and Cruz, Gustavo A. (2022) "A new neotropical and southernmost distributional record of freshwater sponge dosilia radiospiculata (Mills, 1888) (Porifera: Demospongie: Spongillidae) from Honduras," Neotropical Biodiversity Journal: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 24.
Available at: https://ikiam.researchcommons.org/neotropical-diversity/vol8/iss1/24