A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...

41. Iophon piceum (Vosmaer, 1882)
Description. This sponge is massively encrusting.
According to Koltun (1959), growth form may also
be massive-lobate, tabular, dactylate, ramified, or irregularly
lobate. Oscula are on short elevations or flush
with the surface. Dermal membrane is thin and pellicular.
Consistency is soft and easily torn. It may reach a
height of 15 cm. Color in life is golden brown to brown.
Skeletal structure. Ectosomal tornotes (150–270 ×
6–10 µm) with micro-spined heads, are arranged in bundles
tangential to the surface. Choanosomal skeleton is
reticulate with smooth styles or acanthostyles (195–435 ×
9–18 µm), anisochelae (18–37 µm), and bipocillae
(8–14 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread and locally
common. In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere
– North Pacific Ocean (Sea of Okhotsk and Sea
of Japan), Arctic Ocean (Barents Sea including White
Sea, Kara Sea – Vilkitsky Strait, and Greenland Sea), and
North Atlantic Ocean (Norwegian Sea, Davis Strait, and
Denmark Strait).
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to pebbles and small
cobbles at depths between 94 and 155 m. Elsewhere –
eurybathic; reported at depths between 9 and 1785 m.
Remarks. This species often grows in association with,
and encrusts, hydroids and bryozoans.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 94 m in
the central Aleutian Islands. Specimen is encrusting the
hydroid Abietinaria sp. (lower right). Grid marks are 1
cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in photo 1 (indicated by the
white arrows) in situ with the plumose hydroids (Abietinaria
sp.). 3) Specimen collected at a depth of 155 m
in the central Aleutian Islands. Specimen is encrusting
the bryozoan (Microporina cf. articulata). Grid marks
are 1 cm 2 .
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