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Stelletta plana sp. nov. Polycapus rubrum gen. nov. & sp. nov. Lehnert, Rooney & Everett, 2026 |
Abstract
An investigation of Alaska’s extraordinarily rich sponge fauna was conducted utilizing samples retained as bycatch during National Marine Fisheries Service stock assessment bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands between 1997 and 2021. Subsequent analysis of the samples revealed four new species, which are representatives of four different orders of demosponges: Cladocroce cylindrica sp. nov., Julavis borealis sp. nov., Polycapus rubrum gen. nov. & sp. nov., and Stelletta plana sp. nov.. The new species are described and compared to congeners. Polycapus rubrum was assigned to the Hymedesmiidae but the combination of acanthoxeas and chelae does not occur in any other existing genus within the family which necessitates a new genus. These new collections further highlight the richness of the sponge fauna from the region.
Porifera, new species, North Pacific, Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, Tetractinellida, Axinellida, Haplosclerida, Stelletta, Polycapus, Julavis, Cladocroce, 28S
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| Cladocroce cylindrica, is a stalked, branching sponge distinguished by a unique spicule framework that forms a complex, web-like network. |
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| Julavis borealis, grows like a thin mat over organisms. Its presence in Alaska represents a massive high-latitude geographic leap for a group previously found only in warm, tropical environments. |
Cladocroce cylindrica sp. nov.
Julavis borealis sp. nov.
Polycapus rubrum gen. nov. & sp. nov.
Stelletta plana sp. nov.
Helmut LEHNERT, Sean C. ROONEY and Meredith V. EVERETT. 2026. Four New Demosponges from Alaska and the Designation of A New Genus in Hymedesmiidae (Heteroscleromorpha, Poecilosclerida). Zootaxa. 5857(2); 317-334. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5857.2.6 [2026-07-29]
Nine Species of Deep-Sea Sponges Discovered in Alaska