A New Sponge, Antho (Acarnia) seogwipoensis (Poecilosclerida: Microcionidae) from Korea

Abstract

A new marine sponge, Antho (Acarnia) seogwipoensis n. sp., of the family Microcionidae, was collected from Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, Korea, about 100 m in depth using a gill net on 1969. The genus Antho Gray, 1867 including Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Microcionidae, is a large group of sponges. About 100 species in Antho were reported from worldwide. The genus Antho contains five subgenera: Antho, Acarnia, Isopenectya, Jia, and Plocamia. Among them, about 30 species in Acarnia were described in world sponge. A new sponge's body shape is branching, size up to 124 mm wide, 213 mm high, 3-8 mm thick in branch and 7-9 mm thick in stalk. Antho (Acarnia) seogwipoensis n. sp. is similar to A. (A.) novizelanicum Ridley and Duncan, 1881 based on their spicules type and skeletal structure, but differs in the spicules dimension and growth form. This new species is branched growth form and have three kinds of toxa.

Keywords

• Porifera; Poecilosclerida; Microcionidae; Antho; new species Jeju Island; Korea
• Porifera
• Poecilosclerida
• Microcionidae
• Antho
• new species Jeju Island
• Korea