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

90 Professional Paper NMFS 12
74. Echinostylinos hirsutus Koltun, 1970
Description. This sponge is short with a cylindrical
body and hollow central cavity. Koltun (1970) reported
that this species was stalked, but our observations indicate
that it narrows near the base and does not necessarily
have a true stalk. Surface is corrugated. Height is to 5
cm. Color in life is light brown to light yellow.
Skeletal structure. There are two categories of styles:
long, 1320 × 25 µm (Koltun: 660–1650 × 45–54 µm), and
shorter, 350 × 9 µm (Koltun: 400–540 × 5–10 µm). It has
isochelae (sigmancistras) 27–30 µm (Koltun: sigmoid
arcuate chelae 18–27 µm) and sigmas 40 µm (Koltun:
filiform sigmas 16–22 µm). We regard the differences in
spicule sizes as intraspecific variation.
Zoogeographic distribution. Apparently a very rare
species; known from only two locations. In Alaska –
central Aleutian Islands. Elsewhere – Sea of Okhotsk.
Habitat. In Alaska – occurring singly on cobbles and
pebbles at depths between 665 and 711 m. Elsewhere –
reported at depths between 1440 and 1540 m.
Photos. 1) Preserved (frozen) specimen collected at a
depth of 711 m in the central Aleutian Islands. 2) Same
specimen as in photo 1 (indicated by the white arrow)
in situ on cobble.