Santín, A.; Grinyó, J.; Uriz, M.J.; Gili, J. M.; Puig, P. (2020). First deep-sea Hamigera (Demospongiae: Porifera) species associated with Cold-Water Corals (CWC) on antipodal latitudes of the world. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 164 (103325): 1-11.

388739

10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103325 [view]

Santín, A.; Grinyó, J.; Uriz, M.J.; Gili, J. M.; Puig, P.

2020

164 (103325): 1-11

Publication

Available for editors   [request]

Cold-water corals (CWC) are known to be deep-sea biodiversity hotspots, yet there is still a huge knowledge gap regarding their associated fauna. As so, CWC ecosystems pose as a perfect environment for the discovery of new species. In this context two new species of Hamigera (Demospongiae) have been recorded associated with CWC in antipodal parts of the world: Hamigera bibiloniae sp. nov. from the Blanes Canyon (north-western Mediterranean Sea) and Hamigera kellyae sp. nov. from the Clementsville Seamount (Macquire Ridge, New Zealand). Both species represent the first deep-sea records of the previously shallow-water restricted Hamigera, and mostly differ from other species in their huge spicule size, mostly doubling that of shallow-water congeneric species. Furthermore, the current geographical distribution of Hamigera, being only present in the Mediterranean and Pacific areas, might suggest a Tethyan affinity of H. bibiloniae sp. nov. proposing a potential role of deep-sea habitats as climatic refugees.

Mediterranean
Pacific, South West

Systematics, Taxonomy

Porifera

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