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 ...
- No tags were found...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
88 Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Paper <strong>NMFS</strong> 12<br />
72. Stelodoryx <strong>to</strong>poroki Koltun, 1958<br />
Description. This sponge is stalked, flabellate, or a<br />
somewhat flattened funnel. Consistency is elastic with a<br />
thin ec<strong>to</strong>somal membrane. It is s<strong>of</strong>t and floppy in situ.<br />
Height is <strong>to</strong> 17 cm and width <strong>to</strong> 12 cm. Color in life is<br />
light yellow; dark brown after freezing.<br />
Skeletal structure. Ec<strong>to</strong>somal tylotes have acanthaceous<br />
ends (218–300 × 8–10 µm). Choanosomal styles<br />
(500–1140 × 21–30 µm) occasionally have acanthaceous<br />
heads, and anchorate isochelae are in two size categories<br />
– large (115–150 µm) and small (30–40 µm).<br />
Zoogeographic distribution. Locally common in<br />
<strong>the</strong> North Pacific Ocean. In Alaska – central Aleutian<br />
Islands. Elsewhere – Sea <strong>of</strong> Okhotsk (near <strong>the</strong> Kuril<br />
Islands).<br />
Habitat. In Alaska – occurring in small patches (up <strong>to</strong><br />
5 individuals per m 2 ) on bedrock, muds<strong>to</strong>ne, boulders,<br />
and cobbles at depths between 1714 and 2314 m. Elsewhere<br />
– found on sand, pebbles, and “reefs” at depths<br />
between 113 and 303 m and at temperatures between<br />
1.8 and 3.1°C.<br />
Remarks. A sponge with similar appearance except<br />
larger (up <strong>to</strong> 50 cm diameter) and more robust (forming<br />
distinct bowls) occurs at depths between 1185 and<br />
1540 m. Collection <strong>of</strong> a specimen within this depth<br />
range and examination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spicules is necessary <strong>to</strong><br />
confirm conspecificity, however.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>s. 1) Preserved (frozen) specimen collected at<br />
a depth <strong>of</strong> 2176 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian Islands. Grid<br />
marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in pho<strong>to</strong> 1 (lower<br />
center) in situ. 3) Close-up view <strong>of</strong> specimen in situ at a<br />
depth <strong>of</strong> 1505 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian Islands.