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

57. Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) oxeota Koltun, 1958
Description. This sponge is massive-lobate and encrusting.
Surface has small papillae. A thick ectosomal
membrane covers an underlying honeycombed structure
of the ectosome. Consistency is elastic and compressible.
Diameter is to 15 cm. Color in life is golden
brown.
Skeletal structure. There are ectosomal oxeas and tylotes
(239–322 × 9–12 µm), choanosomal acanthostyles
(231–426 × 12–18 µm), and arcuate isochelae (16–
21 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Rare. In Alaska – central
Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere – previously known from
only two records in the Sea of Okhotsk (east of Sakhalin
Island and in Kuril Strait).
Habitat. In Alaska – encrusts other demosponges at
depths between 758 and 955 m. Elsewhere – reported
at depths between 100 and 110 m.
Remarks. Aleutian Island specimens encrust near the
base of the demosponges Esperiopsis flagrum and Abestopluma
ramosa.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 954 m
in the central Aleutian Islands. Specimen is encrusting
the demosponge Esperiopsis flagrum near the base.
Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in photo 1
(indicated by the white arrow) in situ. The separation
between the red laser marks is 10 cm.
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