Species ID
OC-SP-0002428
Discovered
Phylum
Porifera
Species ID
OC-SP-0002428
Provisional Species Name
Asbestopluma sp_FKt240108640CQ13
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Asbestopluma
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Porifera
Class
Demospongiae
Order
Poecilosclerida
Family
Cladorhizidae
Genus
Asbestopluma
Date Identified
01/07/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Asbestopluma is one of the 15 genus recognized within the family Cladorhizidae, considered as carnivorous sponges. The diagnosis of the genus is: Cladorhizidae with at least one small category of palmate, in a few species modified to anchorate unguiferate, anisochela. Usually with a second larger type of palmate to arcuate anisochela that may be modified to isochela, anisoplacochela, tridentate anchorate chela or diancistra. Sigmancistras and basal acanthotylostyles are also present with a few exceptions. Our specimen has at list two size clases of anisochelae, sigmancistres, subtylostyles and microacanthostyles. The special morphology of the spicules reviewed under the optical microscope and the scanning electron microscope indicates that it could be a new species or even a new genus for science, supported by the external morphology of tree shape with dichotomous ramifications and polyp-like structures.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
23/03/2026
Description of Material
The material collected is composed of one specimen. The habitus of the sample is erect with dichotomous ramifications and a long stalk of 2 mm. White in colour; it has original structures in fan shape with thin filaments to catch the prey that retracts out of the water. Skeleton is axial with macroscleres forming a multispicular cental brush of spicules and the acantomicrostyles forming an ectosomal layer. Anisochelae only seen in the fan structures.
Ecology
On volcanic rocky bottoms at a depth of 800 m. On its surface, small Peracarid crustaceans have been seen that could be part of its prey.
Distribution
Asbestopluma n.sp1. is known only from the type locality. Coordinates: -24.75281; -82.54344. 800.38 m in depth. Collected by ROV Subastian on board R/V Falkor (too) in the FKt240108 expedition. Location ID, SOI-640.
Scientific Name Authorship
Rios & Cristobo
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