Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera Author Van Soest, Rob W. M. text Zootaxa 2024 2024-01-09 5398 1 1 122 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5398.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5398.1.1 1175-5334 10494167 E233F731-D5FA-4032-B3A4-CEFE5A809C49 Esperiopsis macrosigma var. novaezealandiae Dendy, 1924 ( Fig. 7C ) Esperiopsis macrosigma var. novaezealandiae Dendy, 1924: 341 , pl. XIII figs. 14–20; Bergquist & Fromont 1988: 27, pl. 6F. Esperiopsis macrosigma f. novaezealandiae ; Lévi & Lévi 1983: 959 , fig. 21. The variety was described by Dendy from Three Kings Islands, New Zealand , 34.1667°S 172.0833°E , depth 183 m ( holotype BMNH 1923.10.1.110). It was also reported as forma by Lévi & Lévi (1983: 959 , fig. 21) from New Caledonia . It was erected as a Pacific member of the North Atlantic species E. macrosigma Stephens (1916: 235 ; 1921: 9 , pl. II fig. 4, from the W coast of Ireland , 50.6167– 50.7°N 11.3– 11.5333°W , depth 457–991 m , syntype in the National Museum of Ireland , Natural History, with type slide BMNH 1953.11.11.81). The existence of a species with such a disjunct distribution ( Ireland vs New Zealand and New Caledonia ) is unlikely to be valid, and there are also spicule size differences, notably the isochelae of the Irish variety have a third category much larger (125 µm) than those of the Pacific specimens (60–80 µm). I propose to elevate the Pacific variety to the rank of distinct species as Esperiopsis novaezealandiae Dendy, 1924 .