Species ID
OC-SP-0002814
Discovered
Phylum
Porifera
Species ID
OC-SP-0002814
Provisional Species Name
Abyssocladia sp_OCSS0370
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Abyssocladia
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Porifera
Class
Demospongiae
Order
Poecilosclerida
Family
Cladorhizidae
Genus
Abyssocladia
Date Identified
18/08/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Having checked spicule composition, size and external morphology, no species of stem-arborescent Abyssocladia has similar features. Few share features, such as the microxea or subtylostyles, whereas many share the sizes and shapes of the arcuate isochelae and sigmancistra. The shape of the sybtylostyles in addition to the varying sizes of abundant microxea, distinguish this as a likely new species.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
07/04/2026
Description of Material
Delicate erect pedunculate sponge anchored in muddy substrate, with a long, very thin stem, inflated filaments that increase in size towards the apex. - Specimen is an erect pedunculate with a very long thin stem with delicate filaments in the upper half. The specimen is c. 20 cm in height. The root base was not collected. - Megascleres: Mycalostyles: 2000-3000 μm , Subtylostyles: 770-870 μm (tylotic close to the head, slightly tylotic below this), Microscleres: Arcuate isochelae: 45-70 μm (could be two groups but chelae are rare), Sigmancistra I: 20 μm, Sigmancistra II: 40 μm, Microxea: 70-250 μm (fusiform, smaller sizes appear rougher like raphides/onycheates)
Ecology
Carnivorous
Distribution
Site: South Trench; Coordinates: -58.9, -24.933; Depth: 2904 m
Scientific Name Authorship
Rachel Downey
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