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

97. Axinella rugosa (Bowerbank, 1866)
Description. This sponge is clavate. Branching, fanshaped,
or single tubes (occasionally two tubes) are to
17 cm in height. Consistency is firm but elastic, with a
hispid surface. Color in life is grey, light yellow, golden
brown to brownish red.
Skeletal structure. Axinellid spicule tracts consist of
styles, strongyles, and oxeas. All spicules have a large
variation in length up to 1750 µm.
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread and locally
abundant. In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands, Bering
Sea, and eastern Gulf of Alaska. Elsewhere – North
Pacific Ocean (Sea of Japan), Arctic Ocean (Barents
Sea and Greenland Sea), and North Atlantic Ocean
(Norwegian Sea).
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to hard substrate at
depths between 87 and 712 m. Densities to 63 individuals
per m 2 in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. Elsewhere – reported
at depths between 90 and 320 m, temperatures
between 2 and 5°C, and salinities between 34.20 and
35.01 psu.
Remarks. Though superficially similar to Mycale
carlilei, A. rugosa is a hollow tube whereas M. carlilei is a
solid tube with a flat top and one or more prominent
oscula. The Alaskan specimens are the first tube forms
reported for the species.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 172 m
in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .
2) Same specimen as in photo 1 in situ. 3) Specimen (indicated
by the white arrow) collected in situ at a depth
of 712 m in the central Aleutian Islands.
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