WoRMS source details
Santín, A.; Uriz, M.-J.; Cristobo, J.; Xavier, J.R.; Ríos, P. (2021). Unique spicules may confound species differentiation: taxonomy and biogeography of Melonanchora Carter, 1874 and two new related genera (Myxillidae: Poecilosclerida) from the Okhotsk Sea. PeerJ. 9: e12515.
417199
10.7717/peerj.12515 [view]
Santín, A.; Uriz, M.-J.; Cristobo, J.; Xavier, J.R.; Ríos, P.
2021
Unique spicules may confound species differentiation: taxonomy and biogeography of <i>Melonanchora</i> Carter, 1874 and two new related genera (Myxillidae: Poecilosclerida) from the Okhotsk Sea
PeerJ
9: e12515
Publication
Available for editors
[request]
![PDF available PDF available](https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia/images/pdf_lock.png)
Sponges are amongst the most difficult benthic taxa to properly identify, which has led to a prevalence of cryptic species in several sponge genera, especially in those with simple skeletons. This is particularly true for sponges living in remote or hardly accessible environments, such as the deep-sea, as the inaccessibility of their habitat and the lack of accurate descriptions usually leads to misclassifications. However, species can also remain hidden even when they belong to genera that have particularly characteristic features. In these cases, researchers inevitably pay attention to these peculiar features, sometimes disregarding small differences in the other “typical” spicules. The genus Melonanchora Carter, 1874, is among those well suited for a revision, as their representatives possess a unique type of spicule (spherancorae). After a thorough review of the material available for this genus from several institutions, four new species of Melonanchora, M. tumultuosa sp. nov., M. insulsa sp. nov., M. intermedia sp. nov. and M. maeli sp. nov. are formally described from different localities across the Atlanto-Mediterranean region. Additionally, all Melonanchora from the Okhotsk Sea and nearby areas are reassigned to other genera; Melonanchora kobjakovae is transferred to Myxilla (Burtonanchora) while two new genera, Hanstoreia gen. nov. and Arhythmata gen. nov. are created to accommodate Melonanchora globogilva and Melonanchora tetradedritifera, respectively. Hanstoreia gen. nov. is closest to Melonanchora, whereas Arhythmata gen. nov., is closer to Stelodoryx, which is most likely polyphyletic and in need of revision.
Atlantic Ocean (without specification)
Systematics, Taxonomy
Date
action
by
Arhythmata Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Arhythmata tetradentifera (Koltun, 1970) (new combination reference)
Hanstoreia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora Carter, 1874 (basis of record)
Melonanchora globogilva Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006 accepted as Hanstoreia globogilva (Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006) (new combination reference)
Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora kobjakovae Koltun, 1958 accepted as Myxilla (Burtonanchora) kobjakovae (Koltun, 1958) (new combination reference)
Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Myxilla (Burtonanchora) kobjakovae (Koltun, 1958) (new combination reference)
Toretendalia Santin, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Rios, 2021 (original description)
Arhythmata tetradentifera (Koltun, 1970) (new combination reference)
Hanstoreia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora Carter, 1874 (basis of record)
Melonanchora globogilva Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006 accepted as Hanstoreia globogilva (Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006) (new combination reference)
Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora kobjakovae Koltun, 1958 accepted as Myxilla (Burtonanchora) kobjakovae (Koltun, 1958) (new combination reference)
Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (original description)
Myxilla (Burtonanchora) kobjakovae (Koltun, 1958) (new combination reference)
Toretendalia Santin, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Rios, 2021 (original description)
Aleutian Islands for Arhythmata tetradentifera (Koltun, 1970)
Aleutian Islands for Arhythmata tetradentifera (Koltun, 1970)
Cape Verde for Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Caribbean Sea for Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Celtic Seas for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
Celtic Seas for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
North Sea for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
North Sea for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Northern Atlantic Boreal Lower Bathyal Province for Melonanchora elliptica Carter, 1874
Northern Atlantic Boreal Lower Bathyal Province for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Northern Norway and Finnmark for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (inaccurate)
Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
South and West Iceland for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Southern Norway for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Western Mediterranean for Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Aleutian Islands for Arhythmata tetradentifera (Koltun, 1970)
Cape Verde for Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Caribbean Sea for Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Celtic Seas for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
Celtic Seas for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
North Sea for Melonanchora emphysema (Schmidt, 1875)
North Sea for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Northern Atlantic Boreal Lower Bathyal Province for Melonanchora elliptica Carter, 1874
Northern Atlantic Boreal Lower Bathyal Province for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Northern Norway and Finnmark for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021 (inaccurate)
Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
South and West Iceland for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Southern Norway for Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Western Mediterranean for Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Syntype BMNH 1963.7.29.23, identified as Melonanchora kobjakovae Koltun, 1958
Holotype MZS Po165, geounit Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, identified as Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype ZMA POR. 7269, geounit Cape Verde, identified as Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype GNM Porifera 624, geounit North Sea, identified as Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype MSNG Vis4.7, geounit Western Mediterranean, identified as Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype MZS Po165, geounit Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, identified as Melonanchora insulsa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype ZMA POR. 7269, geounit Cape Verde, identified as Melonanchora maeli Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype GNM Porifera 624, geounit North Sea, identified as Melonanchora tumultuosa Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021
Holotype MSNG Vis4.7, geounit Western Mediterranean, identified as Melonanchora intermedia Santín, Uriz, Cristobo, Xavier & Ríos, 2021