A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
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30 Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Paper <strong>NMFS</strong> 12<br />
16. Acanthascus (Staurocalyptus) sp. nov. 1 Reiswig and S<strong>to</strong>ne, in preparation<br />
Description. This species grows from a narrow attached<br />
base <strong>to</strong> ei<strong>the</strong>r a thick massive or thick funnelshaped<br />
form. External surface has small rounded<br />
protuberances from each <strong>of</strong> which project several short<br />
diactin prostalia; <strong>the</strong>re is a single large terminal osculum.<br />
Consistency is s<strong>of</strong>t and easily <strong>to</strong>rn. Height is up <strong>to</strong><br />
24 cm and diameter <strong>to</strong> 17 cm. Color in life is brown <strong>to</strong><br />
golden brown.<br />
Skeletal structure. Skele<strong>to</strong>n is composed entirely <strong>of</strong><br />
loose spicules. Megascleres are thick prostal diactins<br />
(4.3–10.1 mm long), a few rough, but not thorned,<br />
hypodermal pentactins (0.21–1.09 mm tangential ray<br />
length); principal diactins (1.11–6.84 mm long); dermal<br />
hexactins with some pentactins and stauractins<br />
(40–139 mm ray length); atrial hexactins (43–218 mm<br />
ray length). Microscleres are oxyhexactins and a few<br />
hemioxyhexasters (86–175 mm in diameter); very small<br />
discoctasters with terminals strongly curved outward<br />
(56–87 mm in diameter); microdiscohexasters are<br />
absent.<br />
Zoogeographic distribution. Locally abundant.<br />
In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere – not<br />
reported.<br />
Habitat. Attached <strong>to</strong> cobbles and pebbles at depths<br />
between 139 and 183 m.<br />
Remarks. This species is distinguished from all o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
species <strong>of</strong> Acanthascus (Staurcalyptus) by <strong>the</strong> small size<br />
and shape <strong>of</strong> its discoctasters. A complete description<br />
is in preparation.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>s. 1) Partially fragmented specimen collected<br />
with a trawl at a depth <strong>of</strong> 155 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian<br />
Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Specimen at a depth<br />
<strong>of</strong> 165 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian Islands.