New records of demosponges (Porifera) from the South Orkney Islands (Antarctica) with a checklist for the region
Author
Schejter, Laura
Author
Cristobo, Javier
Author
Ríos, Pilar
text
Zootaxa
2024
2024-01-23
5403
4
401
430
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5403.4.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.5403.4.1
1175-5326
10562154
C2EAB19C-07CB-4013-9C93-D25259EA2673
Artemisina plumosa
Hentschel, 1914
(
Fig. 3f–j
)
Material examined:
1 specimen
collected at the station 11 (
SOI
;
60°53'S
,
42°35'W
;
487m
;
10/3/2014
; MACN-In 44359)
.
Description: shrub-like dried specimen about
3 cm
high, light beige (
Figure 3f
). Surface very hispid due to the echinating spicules (
Figure 3j
). The main axis of the skeleton is composed of thick styles. The ectosomal skeleton is made of thin styles. Microscleres are found in the main skeleton, and in our specimen chelae were abundant. Spicules dimensions are: thick styles of 1350–750 µm by 20–50 µm; thin styles, sometimes subtylostyles 320–500 µm by 5–15 µm; small isochelae of 10–15 µm and toxas of 70–250 µm, sometimes with spined ends (
Figure
3g
–j
).
Remarks: According to Hentshel (1914), Desqueyroux (1989),
Burton (1929
,
1932
), and
Koltun (1964)
, this species exhibits differences in the size and
type
of spicules. However, we considered that our specimen matched the species' typical traits in general. Caution should be taken because except for the presence of chelae, this species may be confused with
Clathria (Axosuberites) nidificata
(see characteristics below). Although this species was previously recorded in several locations in the Antarctic domain and also in
Malvinas
(Falkland) Islands, this finding represents the first record for the SOI.