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

95. Latrunculia sp. (undescribed)
Description. This globular sponge has broad cratershaped
pore fields; these are prominent structures
on the sponge surface. Surface is uneven and slimy.
Diameter is to about 8 cm. Color in life is khaki-green
to olive-green.
Skeletal structure. The majority of megascleres are
anisostyles, fusiform, not terminally spined, rarely
polytylote, with only slight differentiation between
the two ends (325–397 × 7–10 µm). Microscleres are
anisodiscorhabds (49–66 × 4–7 µm). The manubrium,
a base of six short, downward pointing smooth spines,
is closely followed by the basal whorl, which consists of
a ring of horizontally aligned, smooth spines. The median
whorl (21–31 µm in diameter) is located midway
along the shaft and composed of undulate petals with
denticulate margins, and some sculpted regions. The
subsidiary whorl is composed of similar undulating petals
with denticulate margins and sculpted sections, but
the petals slant upwards and are located just underneath
the apical whorl. The apical whorl is formed of fused
undulating petals with denticulate margins forming a
beautiful corona.
Zoogeographic distribution. Locally abundant. In
Alaska – continental shelf off Cape Ommaney, Baranof
Island, eastern Gulf of Alaska. Elsewhere – a sponge,
believed to be this species, has also been reported from
British Columbia and northern Washington State.
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to bedrock at depths
between 69 and 210 m, temperatures between 5.5 and
7.6°C, and salinities between 32.2 and 33.7 psu. Elsewhere
– no information available.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 102 m
in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .
2) Same specimen as in photo 1 in situ with the hydrocoral
Distichopora borealis (right).
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