Sponges of the family Chondrillidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Pacific coast of Mexico, with the description of three new species

Two new species of Chondrilla from the Mexican Pacific coast are described, based mainly on the distribution of the spherasters throughout the body of the sponge and in the cortex. Chondrilla montanusa, n. sp. is mainly characterized by the presence of a minutely warty surface formed by the accumulation of the spherasters in the cortex which gives it a microtuberculate aspect. This feature clearly distinguishes the species from other known species of Chondrilla. Chondrilla pacifica, n. sp. is easily distinguished from the former by having a smooth surface and a thin layer of spherasters in the cortex and by a low proportion of spicules in the choanosome, which is clearly different from the related C. verrucosa. We also describe Chondrosia tenochca, n. sp., mainly characterized by having a cortex composed of two layers, a very dense choanosome, with hardly any canals, little or no foreign debris, and spherulous cells that are very irregularly formed. A key to all chondrillids from the East Pacific is also provided.