Antarctic sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) of the South Shetland Islands and vicinity. Part I. Spirophorida, Astrophorida, Hadromerida, Halichondrida and Haplosclerida

Abstract

The aim of this work is to redescribe 11 species of sponges collected through the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR), at the South Shetland Islands and vicinity. New information is provided on the Antarctic sponge fauna, in regard to species richness and the geographical and bathymetric distributions of identified species. The following species were identified and are here illustrated and fully described: Cinachyra antarctica (Carter, 1872), Cinachyra barbata Sollas, 1886, Craniella leptoderma (Sollas, 1886), Tethyopsis longispinum (Lendenfeld, 1907), Polymastia invaginata Kirkpatrick, 1907, Homaxinella balfourensis (Ridley & Dendy, 1886), Suberites montiniger Carter, 1880, Halichondria (Eumastia) attenuata (Topsent, 1915), Haliclona (Soestella) chilensis (Thiele, 1905), Hemigellius bidens (Topsent, 1901) and Calyx arcuarius (Topsent, 1913). Two new records are given for the Antarctic continent: Halichondria (Eumastia) attenuata (Topsent, 1915) and Haliclona (Soestella) chilensis (Thiele, 1905). Tethyopsis longispinum (Lendenfeld, 1907), Suberites montiniger Carter, 1880 and Hemigellius bidens (Topsent, 1901) represent the first records for this sector of the continent. Bathymetric data are extended for T. longispinum and H. attenuata.