New records for the sponge fauna (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the Pacific coast of Mexico (eastern Pacific Ocean)

Some sponge species of Demospongiae hitherto known only from the northeastern East Pacific (Penares cortius, Penares saccharis, Higginsia higginissima) or from the West and Central Pacific (Adocia turquoisia, and Chelonaplysilla violacea) are reported for the first time from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Moreover, the species Pseudaxinella mexicana and Cyamon catalina are proposed to be transferred to the genera Axinella and Trikentrion, respectively, by the lack of the axial condensation typical of the genus Axinella in the former, and by the presence of sagittal triacts, oxeas, rhaphides as microscleres in the latter. These records are redescribed on the basis of observations of new material. In addition, an identification key for all species of Penares in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is provided.