Muricy, G.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Bézac, C.; Vacelet, J. (1996). Cytological evidence for cryptic speciation in Mediterranean Oscarella species (Porifera, Homoscleromorpha). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 74: 881-896.
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Muricy, G.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Bézac, C.; Vacelet, J.
1996
Cytological evidence for cryptic speciation in Mediterranean <i>Oscarella</i> species (Porifera, Homoscleromorpha).
Canadian Journal of Zoology
74: 881-896
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Three new sponge species without a skeleton. Oscarella viridis, O. microlobata, and O. imperialis, were found in sublinoral caves and on vertical walls along the Coast of Provence (Western Mediterranean Sea. France). Tbeir morphology. anatomy. and Cytology are described and they are compared with the two other valid Mediterranean Oscarella spevies, O. lobuaris and O. tuberculata. Reproductive and internal anatomical characters are unifonn in the
genus, but details of external morphology and especially cytological characters (mesohylar cells with inclusions) provide good diagnostic features all the spcecies level. Careful observation of morphological and cytological characters is essential for clarifying the systematics of Oscarella and reveals an unexpected biodiversily of this genus in the Mediterranean Sea.