New species of Latrunculia and Iophon from the continental shelf of the Namaqua ecoregion
Added on 2026-01-22 20:00:45 by Boury-Esnault, Nicole
Samaai, T.; Payne, R.P.; Kamwi, B. (2026). Revealing hidden diversity: new Latrunculia a Iophon species (Porifera, Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from the continental shelf of the Namaqua ecoregion (Benguela ecosystem), along with a range extension of Latrunculia (Aciculatrunculia) biformis. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 106.
Four new species of Poecilosclerida (Porifera, Demospongiae) assigned to the genera Latrunculia and Iophon are described from South Africa and Namibia, located in the Namaqua ecoregion. The Porifera occurring along the continental shelf within this ecoregion are relatively well-known, with 76 species formally described in previous literature. Of these, 35 species belong to the Order Poecilosclerida. Additionally, Latrunculia (Aciculatrunculia) biformis is reported from the continental shelf on the west coast of South Africa, extending its range further northwards into the South Atlantic. DNA barcoding and molecular phylogenetic analyses were employed to ensure accurate taxonomic assignment and designation of newspecies.