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Issue: Vol. 5857 No. 2: 29 Jul. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-07-29
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5857.2.6
Page range: 317-334
Abstract views: 1007
PDF downloaded: 20

Four new demosponges from Alaska and the designation of a new genus in Hymedesmiidae (Heteroscleromorpha, Poecilosclerida)

Eichenstr. 14; 86507 Oberottmarshausen; Germany; GeoBio–Center LMU München; Richard–Wagner–Str. 10; 80333 München; Germany
NOAA–Alaska Fisheries Science Center; 301 Research Court; Kodiak; AK 99615; United States
NOAA–Northwest Fisheries Science Center; 2725 Montlake Blvd E.; Seattle; WA 98112; United States
Porifera new species North Pacific Aleutian Islands Gulf of Alaska Tetractinellida Axinellida Haplosclerida Stelletta Polycapus Julavis Cladocroce 28S

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.

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How to Cite

Lehnert, H., Rooney, S.C. & Everett, M.V. (2026) Four new demosponges from Alaska and the designation of a new genus in Hymedesmiidae (Heteroscleromorpha, Poecilosclerida). Zootaxa, 5857 (2), 317–334. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5857.2.6