A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 915: 1–16Genetic (2020) analysis confirms the freshwater origin of the endemic Caspian sponges 1 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.915.47460 RESEARCH ARTICLE http://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Genetic analysis confirms the freshwater origin of the endemic Caspian sponges (Demospongiae, Spongillida, Metschnikowiidae) Agniya M. Sokolova1,2, Dmitry M. Palatov2,3, Valeria B. Itskovich4 1 N. K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Science, Vavilova str., 26, Moscow, 119334, Russia 2 A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Science, Leninskij prosp. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia 3 Biological faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 / 12, Moscow, 119991, Russia 4 Limnological Institute of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Ulan- Batorskaya, 3, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia Corresponding author: Agniya M. Sokolova (
[email protected]) Academic editor: Pavel Stoev | Received 20 October 2019 | Accepted 20 January 2020 | Published 24 February 2020 http://zoobank.org/5F0413AC-A647-4D27-A91F-5A2A5618A51D Citation: Sokolova AM, Palatov DM, Itskovich VB (2020) Genetic analysis confirms the freshwater origin of the endemic Caspian sponges (Demospongiae, Spongillida, Metschnikowiidae). ZooKeys 915: 1–16. https://doi. org/10.3897/zookeys.915.47460 Abstract The Caspian Sea is a unique inland brackish waterbody inhabited by highly endemic fauna. This fauna consists of species of both marine and freshwater origin. Some Caspian invertebrates cannot be confidently referred to as animals of either origin. The endemic monophyletic family of sponges, Metschnikowiidae, is among them. Although these sponges are considered as fresh water in the modern literature, no researcher has seen them alive for many years, and its status is actually unconfirmed.