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

86 Professional Paper NMFS 12
70. Myxilla (Burtonanchora) pedunculata Lundbeck, 1905
Description. This sponge is globular or lobate, usually
with a stalk. The surface is slightly hispid. Irregularly
scattered circular oscula are flush with the surface. Consistency
is soft and elastic. Height and width are to 12
cm. Color in life is yellow to bright yellow.
Skeletal structure. Spicules are arranged in long ascending
fibers, connected by shorter spicule tracts and
single spicules. There are smooth or slightly acanthose
styles (270–551 × 10–20 µm), ectosomal tornotes (220–
380 × 6–10 µm), and microscleres that are anchorate
isochelae (42–75 µm).
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread but uncommon.
In Alaska – Bering Sea (Pribilof Canyon).
Elsewhere – Arctic Ocean (Kara Sea – Vilkitsky Strait,
Laptev Sea) and North Atlantic Ocean (Iceland and
Faroe Islands).
Habitat. In Alaska – attached to pebbles and cobbles
at depths between 204 and 236 m. Elsewhere – reported
at depths between 28 and 325 m.
Photos. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 204 m
in Pribilof Canyon, Bering Sea. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 .
2) Same specimen as in photo 1 showing the detail of
the oscula. 3) Specimen in situ collected at a depth of
236 m in Pribilof Canyon, Bering Sea. The demosponge
Craniella spinosa is attached to the specimen. The separation
between the red laser marks is 10 cm.