| Summary: | This article reports on a new species originating from the northern Chilean fjord region, which argued for the resurrection of Cornulotrocha , here classified as a new subgenus of Clathria , for sponges with choanosomal acanthostyles, ectosomal quasidiactinal monactines and rosettes of palmate (an)isochelae. Clathria (Cornulotrocha) rosetafiordica sp. nov. was collected at 23 m depth at Quintupeu fjord (~42°S), and is unique within this very large genus, in possessing rosettes of palmate anisochelae. The new species is compared to the only other known Clathria (Cornulotrocha) , viz. C. (Cornulotrocha) cheliradians n. comb.; to the single other Clathria known with anisochelae, viz C. (Thalysias) dubia to other crustose Clathria from southern South America, the subantarctic and Antarctic areas; and also to other sponges bearing rosettes; and is considered clearly distinct from all. The phylogenetic significance of rosettes is discussed, a likely adaptive value being discarded in view of the variable location of such structures in the distinct poecilosclerid taxa in which they occur.
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