Species ID
OC-SP-0002805
Discovered
Phylum
Porifera
Species ID
OC-SP-0002805
Provisional Species Name
Asbestopluma sp_OCSSI_0632
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Asbestopluma
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Porifera
Class
Demospongiae
Order
Poecilosclerida
Family
Cladorhizidae
Genus
Asbestopluma
Date Identified
22/08/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Asbestopluma is one of the fifteen genus recognized to date within the family Cladorhizidae. The genus contains two subgenera: Asbestopluma and Helophloeina with a basal sheath of spear-shaped microtylostylesand microstrongyles (Lopes et al., 2011). Diagnosis of the genus include those 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. Forceps spicules not present (modified from Hestetun et al., 2016b). (Hestetun et al., 2017). To date, 39 valid species have been described within this genus, 4 of them within subgenus Helophloeina and 35 belonging to subgenus Asbestopluma. Our specimen belongs to subgenus Asbestopluma and differs from those previously described by to have: two size classes of styles, very large (5000 µm and small (850-1114) µm, anisosubtylostyles (300 µm), isochelae (55-90 µm) and small palmate isochelae (10 µm). There is no other species with these characteristics and it is the first specimen collected in the South Sandwich Islands.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
07/04/2026
Description of Material
The only specimen is formed by a small plume of 8 cm in length and 5 mm wide, White in colour. Pinnate sponge made of a single main axis carrying filaments or spicule tufts. Lateral spicule tufts or filaments (up to 10 mm long) protrude from the main axis in series along lines that follow the grooves. It has three spicule types: Two size classes of styles, anisosubtylostyles, isochelae and anisochelae.
Ecology
On rocks in a vertical wall in a small crack. Temperature (bottom): 0.35ºC
Distribution
This species is presently known only from a single specimen from South Sandwich Islands, Depth: 1009.70 m, Locality: East Saunders Island, Date: 2025-03-10 03:18:00, Coordinates (Long, Lat): -26.3409, -57.69373
Scientific Name Authorship
FRANCISCO CRISTOBO RODRIGUEZ
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