Species ID
OC-SP-0002021
Discovered
Phylum
Porifera
Species ID
OC-SP-0002021
Provisional Species Name
Abyssocladia sp_OCSS0360
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Abyssocladia
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
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Embargo
FALSE
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Porifera
Class
Demospongiae
Order
Poecilosclerida
Family
Cladorhizidae
Genus
Abyssocladia
Date Identified
2025-08-14
Taxonomic Remarks
The species shares similar skeletal elements and measurements to Abyssocladia lanceolata, however, the external morphology appears to be quite different. Our specimen appears to have fine filaments on 90-120 degree angles along the stem, and the stem is not clear with limited flesh (once preserved), as is found with A. lanceolata. In addition, the internal microscleres are much larger, and include both large arcuate isochelae and cleistochelae. Other megascleres and microscleres share many similarities in shape and size to A. lanceolata. In particular, the polytylotic subtylostyles are sometimes similar, being occasionally lance-like in this specimen, as in A. lanceolata, which means that this feature may be common in several Southern Ocean species.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
2026-01-18
Description of Material
The specimen is a rigid, erect, slightly curved, and stalked sponge which is c. 20 cm in height. The stalk holds two lines of filaments at c. 90-120 degrees when alive, which are together once preserved. The specimen is white in colour when alive and preserved. Filaments appear throughout the whole stalk. The base was only partially recovered (strongyles found).
Ecology
Carnivorous sponge
Distribution
South Sandwich Islands
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