Intertidal sponges are poorly known in Brazil; recently, the knowledge about these sponges increased with studies in Northeastern Brazil. The genus
Clathria is the most diverse Microcionidae with worldwide distribution predominantly in shallow waters. Nine subgenera are known; one of them,
Clathria (Microciona), has 105 valid species. It encompasses microcionid with encrusting growth form, hymedesmioid skeletal architecture, and megascleres embedded and erect on basal layer. Currently, 14 species of
Clathria are known from Brazil. In this study, four new species of
Clathria (Microciona) are described from the intertidal environmental zone at Paraíba and Pernambuco State (Northeastern Brazil):
Clathria (Microciona) danielae sp. nov.,
C. (M.) larae sp. nov.,
C. (M.) moraesi sp. nov., and
C. (M.) nisiae sp. nov. The species
C. (M.) campecheae is described for the first time from Northeastern Brazil. Taxonomic comparisons were made with data for Atlantic Ocean species, and an identification key to Brazilian species of
Clathria (Microciona) is provided.
