Three new remarkable carnivorous sponges (Porifera, Cladorhizidae) from deep New Zealand and Australian (Macquarie Island) waters Author Kelly, Michelle Author Vacelet, Jean text Zootaxa 2011 2976 55 68 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.278261 ec9821d2-2482-4cb0-b255-c16227cdc2e5 1175-5326 278261 Family Cladorhizidae Dendy, 1922 Diagnosis. Small, often symmetrical sponges, with radiating supporting processes and basal root adaptations for those living in soft sediments. Mostly deep water species. Axial skeleton composed of monactinal or diactinal megascleres, from which radiating extra-axial tracts diverge to lateral processes. Microscleres include (an)isochelae, sigmas, forceps, micro(subtylo)styles (microspined, spear-shaped in a few cases), and trochirhabds. Considerable reduction, to a complete loss of the choanocytes associated with an adaptation to carnivory, preying on relatively large food items (modified from Hajdu & Vacelet, 2002 ).