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

27. Craniella sputnika Lehnert and Stone, 2011
Description. Sponge is globular with numerous acute
spines distributed over the surface. The surface between
the spines is smooth, without any visible apertures.
Characteristic of the genus, the internal arrangement of
spicule bundles is strictly radial with bundles supporting
the ectosomal conules. The sponge is rather hard, only
slightly elastic. Diameter including the spines is to 30
mm (16 mm without the spines). Color in life is white
to creamy white.
Skeletal structure. Spicules are anatriaenes (3430–
8820 × 12–21 µm), clads (48–154 × 17–22 µm per ray),
and protriaenes (4520–8960 × 12–40 µm). There are
clads (50–250 × 5–17 µm per ray); choanosomal oxeas
(4530–5425 × 50–75 µm); two categories of cortical oxeas:
small, centrotylote oxeas (97–372 × 8–17 µm), tyle
in the center more like a ring than a tyle, and larger
ones (540-987 × 28–63 µm). Sigmaspires or similar sigmoid
spicules are absent.
Zoogeographic distribution. Uncommon. In Alaska
– known only from the type locality in Amchitka Pass,
central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere – not reported.
Habitat. Patchy distribution. A cryptic species; epizoic
on demosponges, including Myxilla sp., and occasionally
gorgonian corals (Primnoidae) in boulder, cobble,
and sand habitats at depths between 115 and 199 m.
Photos. 1) Specimens collected at a depth of 115 m
in the central Aleutian Islands. 2) Two specimens (indicated
by the white arrows) at a depth of 191 m in the
central Aleutian Islands.
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