Open AccessDemosponges of the genus Hymedesmia (Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmidae) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with a description of six new species
Author(s) -
GOODWIN CLAIRE E.,
PICTON BERNARD E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00498.x
Subject(s) - biology , scuba diving , habitat , ecology , bedrock , taxonomy (biology) , waves and shallow water , range (aeronautics) , zoology , oceanography , paleontology , geology , materials science , composite material
Six new species of Hymedesmia (Hymedesmiidae, Poecilosclerida) are described from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland: Hymedesmia cohesibacilla sp. nov. , Hymedesmia umbelliformis sp. nov. , Hymedesmia cratera sp. nov. , Hymedesmia rathlinia sp. nov. , Hymedesmia stellifera sp. nov. , and Hymedesmia crami sp. nov. Additional descriptions are provided of the poorly known species Hymedesmia hibernica Stephens, 1916, Hymedesmia peachii Bowerbank, 1882, and Hymedesmia primitiva Lundbeck, 1910. The specimens were collected by scuba diving, and digital photographs were taken in situ ; notes on external morphology are given, in addition to information on internal morphology and ecology. The majority of North‐East Atlantic Hymedesmia species have been described from deep water, whereas this study sampled the little‐researched circalittoral depths (30–50 m). Using scuba diving allowed us to take specimens from habitats such as crevices and bedrock, which, in this depth range and geographical area, have not previously been extensively sampled.