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

55. Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) behringi Koltun, 1958
Description. This sponge is globular. Surface is very
uneven, covered with numerous wart-like papillae.
Oscula atop the papillae contract upon collection. The
contracted surface of the specimen on deck (see photo)
suggests that it looks quite different in situ. Consistency
is only slightly elastic, easy to tear. Ectosome is relatively
thick and easily detachable. Size is to 30 cm (diameter)
× 20 cm (height). Color in life ranges from yellow to
light orange.
Skeletal structure. This species has ectosomal tornotes
(380–750 × 10–18 µm) resembling strongyles and
styles, choanosomal acanthostyles (290–680 × 20–40
µm), and arcuate isochelae (42–47 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Uncommon. In Alaska
– central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere – known from the
Bering Sea (Russia) and the Sea of Okhotsk.
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to cobbles and boulders
at depths between 87 to 220 m. Elsewhere – reported at
depths between 32 and 198 m.
Remarks. Koltun (1958) mentions strongylote ectosomal
megascleres only in his description of this
species, but we note some individual differences
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between specimens that we have examined. In some
specimens strongylote forms dominate, while others
have mainly stylote ectosomal tornotes. As all other
characters and the dimensions of the spicules are within
the range for L. behringi, we attribute these differences
to intraspecific variations. Gross morphology and spicule
complement are similar to Phorbas paucistyliferus, but
the spicule architecture is quite different.
Photo. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 124 m in
the central Aleutian Islands. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .