Description and classification of dictyoceratid sponges from the Northern Red Sea

Seven dictyoceratid sponge species were collected from the Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea. Two new species were recognized: Scalarispongia aqabaensis n. sp. and Spongia lesleighae n. sp. Five others belong to the known species, Fascaplysinopsis reticulata (Hentschel, 1912), Phyllospongia papyracea (Esper, 1806), Hyattella tubaria (Lendenfeld, 1889), Spongia arabica (Keller, 1889) and Spongia irregularis (Lendenfeld, 1889). Hyattella tubaria, considered a synonym of H. intestinalis Lamarck, 1814) by Cook & Bergquist (2002) is demonstrated to be a valid species. Specimens are described and illustrated by photographs of preserved specimens and microphotographs of sections.