Cladorhiza corona sp. nov. (Porifera: Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae) from the Aleutian Islands (Alaska)

A new species of Cladorhizidae, from the Aleutian Islands is described and compared with all known species of Cladorhiza worldwide. Cladorhiza corona sp. nov. has a unique growth form with two planes of differently shaped appendages. Appendages are inserted directly at the stalk; a spherical or coni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Main Authors: Lehnert, Helmut, Watling, Les, Stone, Robert
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315405012531
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315405012531
Description
Summary:A new species of Cladorhizidae, from the Aleutian Islands is described and compared with all known species of Cladorhiza worldwide. Cladorhiza corona sp. nov. has a unique growth form with two planes of differently shaped appendages. Appendages are inserted directly at the stalk; a spherical or conical body at the stalk is lacking. It is the only species reported where different spicule types occur in three morphologically different areas of the sponge. The spiculation of the basal plate is characterized by the occurrence of short, thick anisoxeas and the lack of anisochelae. Anisochelae are found in the stalk and the basal appendages only. Flattened sigmancistras and (sub-)tylostyles are restricted to the crown. The arrangement of spicules is different in the basal plate, the stalk with the basal appendages, and in the distal appendages. The dimensions and combination of spicule types separate C. corona sp. nov. from all known members of the genus.