Demosponges of the Genus Hymedesmia (Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmidae) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with a Description of Six New Species
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156, 896–912. With 11 figures Demosponges of the genus Hymedesmia (Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmidae) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with a description of six new species CLAIRE E. GOODWIN* and BERNARD E. PICTON Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/156/4/896/2609201 by guest on 23 October 2020 Zoology Department, National Museums Northern Ireland, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT18 OEU Received 8 February 2008; accepted for publication 30 June 2008 Six new species of Hymedesmia (Hymedesmiidae, Poecilosclerida) are described from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland: Hymedesmia cohesibacilla sp. nov., Hymedesmia umbelliformis sp. nov., Hymedesmia cratera sp. nov., Hymedesmia rathlinia sp. nov., Hymedesmia stellifera sp. nov., and Hymedesmia crami sp. nov. Additional descriptions are provided of the poorly known species Hymedesmia hibernica Stephens, 1916, Hymedesmia peachii Bowerbank, 1882, and Hymedesmia primitiva Lundbeck, 1910. The specimens were collected by scuba diving, and digital photographs were taken in situ; notes on external morphology are given, in addition to information on internal morphology and ecology. The majority of North-East Atlantic Hymedesmia species have been described from deep water, whereas this study sampled the little-researched circalittoral depths (30–50 m). Using scuba diving allowed us to take specimens from habitats such as crevices and bedrock, which, in this depth range and geographical area, have
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