A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...

104 Professional Paper NMFS 12
87. Semisuberites cribrosa (Miklucho-Maclay, 1870)
Description. This stalked sponge has two distinct
forms: 1) several small funnels or cups (up to at least
20 cups per individual) that branch initially from a
central stalk, and 2) a long, thin stalk (30 cm or more
in length) that terminates in a single cup-shaped body,
rarely two, with a maximum diameter of approximately
25 cm. The stalk is wiry, firm but elastic; the body(s) of
softer consistency. Surface is smooth to the unaided eye
but microscopically hispid. Total height and width are
to 70 cm (multi-cupped form). Color in life is golden
brown to light brown.
Skeletal structure. There is no specialized ectosomal
skeleton; dermal membrane consists of the ends of ascending
polyspicular tracts. Choanosomal polyspicular
ascending tracts are quite conspicuous and cm-long
fibers are easy drawn from the sponge. Tracts are connected
by single spicules, styles in a very wide size range
(75–650 × 6–15 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread but uncommon.
In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea
(Zhemchug Canyon), and Gulf of Alaska. Elsewhere
– widely distributed along the north and east coasts
of Russia (Bering and Chukchi Seas), Arctic Ocean
(Greenland Sea), and North Atlantic Ocean (Norwegian
Sea).
Habitat. In Alaska – the two forms appear to be ecomorphs.
The multi-cupped form is attached primarily
to bedrock (occasionally cobbles) at depths between
80 and 270 m in low to moderate current areas. The
single-cupped form is found in high current areas.
Aleutian Islands – patchy distribution on moderately
sloped sandy habitats; attached to pebbles with rootlike
processes at depths between 99 and 306 m. Bering
Sea – rare; pebble and sand slopes at depths around
170 m. Elsewhere – reported at depths between 14 and
325 m, temperatures between 1.9 and 7.0°C, and salinities
between 29.81 and 35.23 psu.
Remarks. This species may be preyed upon by the
blood star (Henricia sp.) and appears to be particularly
fragile.
Photos. 1) Fragment of a specimen collected at a
depth of 100 m in the central Aleutian Islands. Grid
marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in photo 1 in situ
(center). 3) Specimen collected at a depth of 97 m in
the central Aleutian Islands. 4) Specimen collected at a
depth of 170 m in Zhemchug Canyon, Bering Sea. Note
that the specimen has a single large cup that was apparently
two smaller cups now fused together. 5) Specimen
collected at a depth of 139 m in the central Aleutian
Islands. Note that the cup has been sliced open for
examination. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 6) Same specimen
as in photo 5 in situ (top half). 7) Same specimen as in
photo 5 in situ (bottom half).