A New Species of Genus Plakortis Schulze 1880 (Porifera: Homoscleromorpha) from Badabalu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Vibha V. Ubare and PM. Mohan (2016) Recently revealed Class: Homoscleromorpha play a significant role in sponge systematics. The smaller size, cryptic habits and unresolved species complex are greater obstacles for the taxonomic identification of this class. Out of < 100 species, only 6 species have been described from the Indian region. Till date, only one species of the genus Plakortis, that is, P. simplex has been described from this region. The present study provides a detailed description of new species of the genus Plakortis, Schulze 1880. P. badabaluensis sp. nov. is characterized by the two size classes of diods (one is thick and the other is thin), triods and smooth microrhabds; with well differentiated ectosome, presence of subectosomal lacunae and confused choanosome. The identification of this new species has increased the number of plakinid species from one to two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Further detailed studies are required to explore this type of cryptic species in this region.