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We report on the relationships between some conspicuous Mediterranean photophilous sponge species and Caulerpa cylindracea, a non-indigenous species. A diversification of defence strategies and behaviour is highlighted in target species belonging to different orders of Demospongiae from a western Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (NW Sardinian Sea). Caulerpa cylindracea displays a strongly invasive behaviour during body colonization of the Irciniidae Sarcotragus spinosulus and Ircinia retidermata (order Dictyoceratida). These sponges possess pre-adaptive defensive morpho-functional and physiological traits enabling them to partly withstand algal invasion. Also Aplysina aerophoba (order Verongiida) seems to be able to control colonization. Successful anti-Caulerpa strategies characterize the rarely affected Crambe crambe (order Poecilosclerida). Species-specific competitive strategies are displayed at different levels of body architecture, behaviour and physiology by native sponge species. The invasion patterns on sponges, the invasion dynamics in 2016–2017 and topographic distribution of C. cylindracea on S. spinosulus confirm this algal species as a threat, with potential long-term effects on sponge assemblages. Data suggest other kinds of poorly investigated synergic stressors affecting these habitat-forming species. Defence strategies of sponge species take the form of: (1) passive deterrence by morpho-functional pre-adaptive traits as growth form, biomass amount, surface traits, and microhabitat within the sponges' aquiferous system; (2) active physiological defence, whereby the morphology/anatomy of the sponge body is adapted to control invaders, by body remodelling and regenerative processes within the aquiferous system and at the sponge surface; (3) presumed active chemical defence by exudation processes of bioactive compounds.

Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) lindstroemae sp. nov. collected at 178–210 m depth off the western Swedish coast is described. This encrusting sponge is notably characterized by its unusually large sigmas. This new species brings the number of Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) species in Swedish waters to 30. A key for all the North Atlantic Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) species with sigmas (32 species) is included.

Until now only two species ofCladorhizahave been reported from the SW Atlantic, namelyC. diminutaandC. inversa, despite a total of 39 species reported from various parts of the globe. Here we describe a new species,C. nicoleaesp. nov., dredged from 750 m depth on the continental slope off SE Brazil during the French RV ‘Marion Dufresne’ expedition in 1987. It is an erect, pedunculated and club-shaped sponge, 26 mm high and with 12 radially arranged whip-like projections (each up to 3 mm long). The new species differs from its closest relative,C. inversa(redescribed here), by its possession of sigmas and sigmancistras. The holotype ofCladorhiza inversais also a pedunculated sponge, 1.9 cm tall, with a cup-shaped body with an apical spur-like continuation of the stem and a crown of 16 projections (up to 8 mm long) radiating from the rim of the body.

Clathriais one of the most species-rich genera among Demospongiae, but only nine species have been recorded so far from Brazil. Here we describe a new species ofClathria(Microciona) collected by trawling in waters of Sergipe State (north-eastern Brazil). The new species is differentiated from other encrustingClathriawith a hymedesmioid skeleton by the possession of a combination of long thin subectosomal subtylostyles, two category sizes of acanthostyles, both erect and echinating the basal spongin skeleton, long slightly curved choanosomal principal subtylostyles with tuberculate spine heads and wing-shaped toxas as microscleres.

Jia De Laubenfels, 1930 was erected to accommodate Californian Jia jia, a microcionid sponge possessing a unique J-shaped microsclere, subsequently named croca (crook, shepherd's staff). In later revisions, the genus was assigned to the synonymy of Antho Gray, 1867 because of similarity in skeletal and spicular characters with that large worldwide genus. Over the years, two additional species, one Atlantic, one from the Tropical East Pacific, were found to possess the crocae, and here four additional species with these intriguing spicules are described from Indo-West and East Pacific localities. It appears that now seven species, all Antho-like, are known to possess crocae, together distributed over all three oceans. This leads us to hypothesize that crocae are a shared character of a monophyletic group of Antho species and accordingly we propose to revive Jia as a subgenus of Antho. The four new species are Antho (Jia) galapagosensis sp. nov., Antho (Jia) lithisticola sp. nov., Antho (Jia) wunschorum sp. nov. and Antho (Jia) ramosa sp. nov.

Phelloderma oxychaetoides sp. nov. is a remarkable new species from the deep Weddell Sea, bearing abundant oxychaetes (onychaete-like microxeas), morphologically distinct from the onychaetes of Tedania spp. collected in the same area. We give a redescription of the holotype of P. radiatum Ridley & Dendy, 1886, the type species of Phelloderma . We recognize three and a possible fourth species in Phelloderma : P. flava (Levi, 1993); P. oxychaetoides sp. nov.; P. polypoides Whitelegge, 1906; and P. radiatum Ridley & Dendy, 1886. An identification key for the species of Phelloderma is proposed. A discussion on the affinities of Phelloderma to both Mycalina and Myxillina is offered, and the current preference for the latter is further supported by the marked similarity between the oxychaetes of Phelloderma oxychaetoides sp. nov. and those of Chaetodoryx spp. (Coelosphaeridae, Myxillina).

A new Brazilian endemic Monanchora is described, M. brasiliensis sp. nov. It is clearly distinct from any other species in the genus by the monodentate shape of its anchorate isochelae, and its smooth, centrotylote and strongyloid microrhabds. Monodentate anchorate isochelae are relatively common, normally abundant, and represent the main diagnostic character for recognizing the new species, but microrhabds are usually rare and may be even absent. Monanchora brasiliensis sp. nov. can be further differentiated from other Atlantic species of the genus in eventually showing tetralobate branches and a skeleton formed by well-defined honey-coloured spongin fibres. The affinities of the new species with other crambeids and the nature of anchorate isochelae, microrhabds as well as the megascleres in defining Monanchora are discussed. An amended diagnosis for the genus is proposed.

Three new species ofStrongylacidonfrom north-east Brazil are described:Strongylacidon oxychaetumsp. nov. andStrongylacidon solangeaesp. nov. from Bahia State, andStrongylacidon chelospinatasp. nov. from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco State.Strongylacidon oxychaetumsp. nov. has thinly encrusting shape with lobate projections, strongyles, oxychaetes and arcuate chelae;S. solangeaesp. nov. is characterized by having massive shape with hispid surface, strongyles and unguiferate chelae; andS. chelospinatasp. nov. present thinly encrusting shape, strongyles, and arcuate isochelae with large spines on the outer edge of the axis. An identification key for the nine valid species ofStrongylacidonfrom the Tropical Western Atlantic is provided. New morphological characters, viz., oxychaetes and spined arcuate isochelae (here termed acanthochelae), are added to the definition of the genusStrongylacidonand of the family Chondropsidae.

This study describes species of the genusHymedesmiafrom three areas of cold-water coral reef: Mingulay Reef Complex (Scotland, UK) and Rockall and Porcupine Banks (off UK and Irish coasts). Five new species are described:Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) gibbosa, H. stoneae, H. tendali, H. xavieraeandH. valentinae. Records are provided of other poorly knownHymedesmiaspecies:H. bocki, H. cohesibacilla, H. curvichela, H. ebria, H. gustafsoni, H. simillima, H. irregularis, H. proxima, H. hibernicaandH. primitiva. Information on distribution of otherHymedesmiaspecies occurring in Britain and Ireland is presented. The sites studied represent a variety of depth-ranges and the data collected suggest that someHymedesmiaspecies may be restricted to particular bathymetric zones.

In 1996 a sponge was found in a well studied area in the Ria of Etel, Brittany, France, that had never been recorded there before. This sponge was later described as a new species and genus,Celtodoryx girardaeby Perezet al.(2006), who concluded that it is probably an invasive species. Over several yearsC. girardaewas found to occur successively in the Gulf of Morbihan, France, and Oosterschelde estuary, Netherlands. This sponge is characterized by an extensive spatial broading and therewith it rates today among the dominant benthic megafauna in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Morbihan and Dutch inshore waters. During our recent survey of the Chinese Yellow Sea sponge fauna, we found an abundant species with close morphological similarities toC. girardae. Further taxonomic studies have revealed that both the Chinese and European sponges are in fact conspecific withCornulum ciocalyptoidesdescribed by Burton (1935) from Posiet Bay, Sea of Japan and later recorded from other localities of the North West Pacific (e.g. Koltun, 1971; Sim & Byeon, 1989). In this paper we transfer the species of Burton fromCornulumtoCeltodoryxand consequently it becomes the senior synonym ofC. girardae. Furthermore, we conclude thatCeltodoryx ciocalyptoideswas introduced to the North East Atlantic from the North West Pacific with aquaculture of the Pacific oysterCrassostrea gigasas the probable vector. This is probably the first case recorded so far of a sponge species being transferred from one ocean to another by human activity.

Two new species of Poecilosclerida Crella (Crella) aurantiaca sp. nov. (Crellidae) and Mycale (Aegogropila) denticulata sp. nov. (Mycalidae) are described on the basis of material collected during the XX Italian Expedition (2004–2005) in Antarctica. Crella (Crella) aurantiaca sp. nov. is based on presence of acanthostyles of two size-categories. Mycale (Aegogropila) denticulata sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of palmate anisochelae and styles.

The sponge genus Strongylodesma is reviewed and redefined, and now accommodates eight closely related species. The type species of Strongylodesma Lévi is redescribed and an additional two new species are described from the Indo-Pacific: S. novaecaledoniae sp. nov. and S. tongaensis sp. nov. Several specimens previously identified as species of Batzella (Poecilosclerida: Chondropsidae) have been re-assigned to Strongylodesma, as the new species S. purpureus sp. nov. and S. nigra sp. nov. With the description here of new species from the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Atlantic, the biogeographical distribution of Strongylodesma now appears to be generally tropical with a subtropical South African component, whereas previously it was only known from South Africa. Although species of Strongylodesma have not previously been recorded from the intermediate locations (Western Indian Ocean, South-east Asia, central west Pacific, and New Zealand), re-evaluation here will facilitate more readily the recognition of taxa in these intermediate regions, if they exist, in the future. The species are not widespread, except perhaps along the south-east coast of South Africa, and where they occur they are not abundant. Species occur over a wide depth range, from the intertidal in Tsitsikamma, South Africa, to 140 m in the Caribbean.

Phorbas is a common genus with cosmopolitan distribution. A new species of sponge, Phorbas megasigma sp. nov. (Porifera: Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmiidae) is described from material collected during the third Spanish expedition on the study of the Antarctic benthos, ‘Bentart 03’. Phorbas megasigma is closely related to P. nexus but differs in the possession of arcuate chelae and very big sigmata as microscleres.

Three new species of Crambe are described from the upper and middle-southern coast of Chile, south-east Pacific. Crambe chilensis sp. nov. and C. amarilla sp. nov. are astroclone bearing species, while C. maldonadoi sp. nov. has sphaeroclones as asterose desmas. Morphological characters of Crambe were re-evaluated to consider this unsuspected high diversity of Crambe in the south-east Pacific. The main characters for the distinction of Chilean species as well as of other Crambe species were the live-colour; the shape and size of asterose desmas and (sub)(tylo)styles; the shape, number of categories and size-range of anchorate isochelae; and the presence/absence and dimensions of spined microxeas. An identification key for the Crambe of the world is provided. If astroclone and sphaeroclone desma-bearing species groups would represent two distinct evolutionary lineages, then the south-eastern/eastern Pacific Region would have been occupied by two evolutionary lineages with distinct life histories. The relatively high diversity of Crambe in the Chilean temperate coast, together with its occurrence in New Zealand's Oligocene, is suggestive of a likely wide distribution in Panthalassa, which contrasts to earlier suggestions of wide distribution in the Tethyan Realm only.

Recent phylogenetic analyses of demosponges have suggested that the order Poecilosclerida is monophyletic and nested within the paraphyletic ‘order’ Hadromerida. Until now, this result has rested upon very limited taxon sampling of SSU sequences and partial LSU sequences. We collected and analysed additional full-length SSU and LSU sequences to test the validity and position of the poecilosclerid/hadromerid clade within demosponges, and we sampled a short segment of the LSU from diverse hadromerids to explore the internal relationships of Hadromerida. Our data strongly support the existence of a hadromerid/poecilosclerid clade that is sister to a poorly characterized group of halichondrid and agelasid species (‘Clade C’). We find support for the monophyly of the hadromerid families Polymastiidae, Placospongiidae and Timeidae, and conditional support for the family Suberitidae. Furthermore, both LSU and SSU data support a clade that includes a mixture of species assigned to the families Tethyidae and Hemiasterellidae (TETH/HEM) and a mixed clade including members of the families Clionaidae and Spirastrellidae (CLIO/SPIR). The family Placospongiidae is reconstructed as sister to the clade CLIO/SPIR and the family Timeidae is supported as sister to the clade TETH/HEM. The order Poecilosclerida is most closely allied with the Placospongiidae/CLIO/SPIR clade.

Seven syntypes of Halichondria isodictyalis, type species of Lissodendoryx, were rediscovered and studied. By choosing a lectotype and studying it along with the paralectotypes, we find that L. isodictyalis, subgenus Lissodendoryx, is a Caribbean sponge characterized by smooth megascleres, ectosomal tylotes and choanosomal styles, and one size-class of microscleres comprising arcuate isochelae and sigmas. Having determined these characteristics, we re-erect Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis (previously synonymized with L. isodictyalis), with the same smooth megascleres but two distinct size categories of microscleres, isochelae and sigmas; and we add a new western Atlantic species, Lissodendoryx (L.) spinosa sp. nov., with coarse spines on the megasclere terminals and with two size-classes of isochelae and sigmas. Other species in the region are Lissodendoryx (L.) colombiensis, with smooth tylotes and robust strongyles, and two categories of microscleres (isochelae and sigmas) accompanied by conspicuous raphids arranged in trichodragmas; Lissodendoryx (L.) strongylata, with smooth tylotes and slim strongyles, one size-class each of isochelae and sigmas, rare and very thin raphids. Lissodendoryx sigmata is here assigned to the subgenus Anomodoryx, with smooth tylotes exclusively as megascleres, two size-classes of isochelae, and one or two sizes of sigmas; it may represent a species complex far more diverse than previously thought. To this subgenus we add another species, Lissodendoryx (A.) amphispinulata sp. nov., characterized by fine spines ornamenting both tyles of part of the tylotes. A third subgenus, Ectyodoryx, is represented by Lissodendoryx (E.) acanthostylota sp. nov., with smooth tylotes and finely spined acanthostyles in two size-classes, as well as two size-classes each of isochelae and sigmas as microscleres. All species studied alive occur in shallow lagoon habitats with mangroves and sea grass (Thalassia) but museum specimen records show that some may reach a depth of 60 m.

Esperiopsis koltuni, a new species of the sponge family Esperiopsidae, is described from deep water of the Sea of Okhotsk. The new species has a unique growth form: there is a basal plate with radiating cylindrical branches, whose oval flat distal parts bear filament-like outgrowths. Megascleres are arranged differently in the main part of branches and in their distal flat parts. The dermal membrane contains isochelae with protruding alae and abundant sigmancistras. Microscleres are represented by large anchorate spatuliferous isochelae, small isochelae, sigmas and sigmancistras. Esperiopsis koltuni sp. nov. is hermaphroditic, with parenchymella larva. The larval skeleton consists only of sigmas and sigmancistras. Esperiopsis koltuni sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other Esperiopsis species by dimensions and combination of spicule types. In particular, it is the only species in the genus with three different size categories of styles. The new species lacks the aquiferous system, has a characteristic body plan with symmetrical lateral expansions, an unusual arrangement of microscleres in the dermal membrane and true sigmancistras. Moreover, prey capture by a filament-like outgrowth of the flat distal part was observed. All of these characteristics indicate that Esperiopsis koltuni sp. nov. is a carnivorous sponge.

A new sponge genus and species, Astrotylus astrotylus, is described from the Antarctic abyssal zone. Its peculiar microscleres, herein referred to as astrotylostyles, combine the features of asterose spicules and tylostyles. Similar spicules are observed in Hymeraphia and Discorhabdella (order Poecilosclerida). But this similarity is convergent as far as a radial choanosomal skeleton composed by principal tylostyles and a cortical palisade of small tylostyles in Astrotylus undoubtedly confirm its allocation to the order Hadromerida and most likely to the family Polymastiidae. Atergia, Acanthopolymastia and Tylexocladus have the closest affinities with Astrotylus that calls for the phylogenetic analysis of their relations. Meanwhile astrotylostyles of Astrotylus, cladotylostyles of Tylexocladus and grapnel-like exotyles of Proteleia may be the remnants of non-monaxonic ancestral spicule type in Polymastiidae that calls for reconsideration of the relations between hadromerid families.

A new sponge species Coelocarteria agglomerans sp. nov. (Isodictyidae: Mycalina: Poecilosclerida) is described from the reef slopes of Bunaken National Marine Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The new species can be separated from the other two congeneric species: C. singaporensis and C. spatulosa by several characters concerning sponge surface, fistule shape, form and size of the spicules and habitat. In detail it differs from C. singaporensis in the presence of strongyles instead of oxeas as main megascleres and of spines in the shaft of palmate isochelae. It differs from C. spatulosa in the absence of characteristic fistules with spatula shaped hoods and in spicule size, because both categories of strongyles and palmate isochelae are remarkably larger in the latter.

We present a 28S rDNA gene tree of selected Raspailiidae, Axinellidae and other demosponges to obtain insight into raspailiid phylogeny and character evolution. The Raspailiidae in our data set cluster in a well-supported clade, distinguished from Axinellidae, Agelasida and Hadromerida. Raspailia (s.s.), Eurypon, Sollasella, Aulospongus and Ectyoplasia form a Raspailiidae clade. Some Raspailia subgenera, in particular R. (Parasyringella), are not retrieved monophyletically. Trikentrion falls into the Thrinacophorinae, and not the Cyamoninae as earlier hypothesized. The axinellid genera Ptilocaulis and Reniochalina also cluster with Raspailiidae, distant from the other Axinellidae. The suitability of particular morphological characters for raspailiid phylogeny is discussed.

We present the most comprehensive cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene tree published to date for demosponges based on new sequences. The CO1 barcoding fragment is sequenced for 65 species from the Caribbean Sea, and its gene tree reconstructed. Although its deeper nodes are not particularly well-supported, the gene tree provides a variety of information for new phylogenetic patterns, as well as support for previously published 28S rDNA gene trees. In our analysis Halichondriidae cluster with Suberitidae, supporting previous 28S rDNA data. Chelae-bearing Poecilosclerida are monophyletic but most taxa lacking chelae in this dataset cluster more distantly. Haplosclerida are not resolved monophyletically under this fragment. While some species exhibit distinct barcodes, some genera contain species that share CO1 haplotypes.

This article reports on a new species originating from the northern Chilean fjord region, which argued for the resurrection of Cornulotrocha, here classified as a new subgenus of Clathria, for sponges with choanosomal acanthostyles, ectosomal quasidiactinal monactines and rosettes of palmate (an)isochelae. Clathria (Cornulotrocha) rosetafiordica sp. nov. was collected at 23 m depth at Quintupeu fjord (∼42°S), and is unique within this very large genus, in possessing rosettes of palmate anisochelae. The new species is compared to the only other known Clathria (Cornulotrocha), viz. C. (Cornulotrocha) cheliradians n. comb.; to the single other Clathria known with anisochelae, viz C. (Thalysias) dubia; to other crustose Clathria from southern South America, the subantarctic and Antarctic areas; and also to other sponges bearing rosettes; and is considered clearly distinct from all. The phylogenetic significance of rosettes is discussed, a likely adaptive value being discarded in view of the variable location of such structures in the distinct poecilosclerid taxa in which they occur.

The genus Trachytedania Ridley, 1881 (Porifera: Poecilosclerida), includes those tedaniidae sponges characterized by the presence of acanthostyles. To date, only five species of the genus Trachytedania have been described of which only three actually belong to this genus. Other species described as Tedania could be considered as Trachytedania because of the presence of acanthostyles in their skeletons. Some authors propose retaining Trachytedania as a subgenus of Tedania because of its skeletal structure. In this work, a taxonomic revision and consideration of the validity of the genus is provided. The morphology and anatomy of Trachytedania ferrolensis sp. nov. from the Ría de Ferrol (Spain, north-east Atlantic) are described in detail, and the types of the three valid species described as Trachytedania to date: Trachytedania spinata, Trachytedania patagonica and Trachytedania biraphidora are studied. A key to this genus is provided.

Sixteen sponge species were recorded from Little Letite Passage, an area of highvelocity tidal currents located in the Bay of Fundy near Deer Island, New Brunswick, Canada. Of these 16 species, four species (Myxilla fimbriata, Hymeniacidon heliophila, Hemigellius sp. aff. flagellifer, and Crella rosea) have not previously been recorded from the Bay of Fundy. One new species, Hymedesmia canadensis, is described, based on the presence of a second peculiar chelate microsclere added to the spicule armament.

A new Myxillidae species from the Strait of Gibraltar, Myxilla tarifensis, is described. It is easily distinguished by a characteristic irregular isodictyal reticulation of acanthostyles which are smooth or slightly spined at the heads, as well as by strongyles as ectosomical megascleres, sometimes with very small and short spines at the ends. Moreover, the recent synonymization of the genera Dendoryx, Burtonanchora and Pseudomyxilla is accepted. A brief diagnosis is given of the Myxilla species found in the Strait of Gibraltar.