Taxonomy of Rhabderemia Topsent, 1890 collected from the southeastern Brazilian continental shelf and slope by Programme REVIZEE (Rhabderemiidae, Poecilosclerida, Demospongiae), with the description of two new species

Three new records (two new species) of Rhabderemia (Rhabderemiidae, Poecilosclerida, Demospongiae) are described from the South-eastern Brazilian coast, collected during Programme REVIZEE (1996-2002)-South Score, off the Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina State coasts. Rhabderemia uruguaiensis can be recognized by its rhabdostyles which are frequently smaller than 150 mum as well as frequently larger than 300 mum, and microscleres which are a single category of microstyles smaller than 100 mum and small spirosigmata always smaller than 15 mum. Rhabderemia besnardi sp. nov. is characterized by possession of two categories of spined microstyles, one category of rugose rhabdostyles and small spirosigmata. Rhabderemia itajai sp. nov. differs from other congeners, because of its rhabdostyles which are never smaller than 300 mum, next to microstyles always smaller than 70 mum and small spirosigmata always smaller than 10 mum.