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

104. Topsentia disparilis (Lambe, 1893)
Description. On deck this species appears a massive
sponge, but in situ it forms stout hollow tubes with
spicule tracts protruding far above the surface. The
consistency is fragile, inelastic, and easily torn. Height
is to 7 cm and width to 5 cm. Color in life is light brown
to creamy white.
Skeletal structure. Skeleton is confused and halichondroid.
Large oxeas are 438–1400 × 13–21 µm;
small oxeas (50–150 × 4–6 µm) are concentrated in the
ectosome.
Zoogeographic distribution. Uncommon. In Alaska –
central Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean
(Beaufort Sea – Point Barrow). Elsewhere – Vancouver
Island, British Columbia.
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to mudstone on steep
canyon habitat at a depth of 2828 m. Grows in small
clusters of up to eight individuals. Elsewhere – reported
at depths between 80 and 110 m.
Remarks. This species was previously known as
Halichondria disparilis Lambe, 1893. It appears to be
extremely eurybathic.
Photos. 1) Preserved (frozen then stored in ethanol)
specimen collected at a depth of 2828 m in the central
Aleutian Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen
as in photo 1 (lower left) in situ with a cluster of
the same species.
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