Species ID
OC-SP-0002807
Discovered
Phylum
Porifera
Species ID
OC-SP-0002807
Provisional Species Name
Chondrocladia sp_OCSSI_0570
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Chondrocladia
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Porifera
Class
Demospongiae
Order
Poecilosclerida
Family
Cladorhizidae
Genus
Chondrocladia
Date Identified
22/08/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
The genus Chondrocladia is one of the 15 genera of carnivorous sponges. It is currently represented by 43 known species: 35 belonging to the subgenus Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia), 6 belonging to the subgenus Chondrocladia (Meliiderma) and 1 belonging to the Chondrocladia (Symmetrocladia). The specimens collected in this expedition belong to the first subgenera, since among its spicules there are no trochirhabds and it also lacks radial symmetry. Four 4 specimens of this species have been collected in the same dive SO803, East Saunders Island. The species is characterized by having a long peduncle with attachment roots or a globular central body from which numerous digitiform proliferations emerge regularly distributed throughout the body. Underwater it has a white coloration and preserved in 96º ethanol it is light beige. Its skeleton is made up of two-size styles and three-toothed isancores. Another distinctive taxonomic character is that it lacks sigmas or other microscleras.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
07/04/2026
Description of Material
Four specimens or groups of specimens were collected in the expedition with the numbers: FKt250220 OCSS_0569, FKt250220 OCSS_0570, FKt250220 OCSS_0571, FKt250220 OCSS_0640. This species is characterized by the presence of roots anchoring to the substrate of soft bottoms from which one or more peduncles of 5 to 6 cm in length emerge that support a spherical body of up to 2 cm from which numerous fine proliferations of 5-7 mm emerge when the animal is alive. The anchor roots may become longer than the peduncles. Its coloration is very light beige or whitish and the blooms are hyaline white. Spicules are two size classes of styles and isancorae.
Ecology
On soft bottoms (muddy). Temperature (bottom): 0.54 and 0.50
Distribution
This species is presently known only from South Sandwich Islands: Depth: 333.86 and 382.66m, Locality: East Saunders Island, Date: 10/03/2025, Coordinates (Long, Lat): -26.38296, -57.69637 and -26.38053, -57.69604
Scientific Name Authorship
FRANCISCO CRISTOBO RODRIGUEZ
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