Hemiasterella aristoteliana n. sp. (Porifera, Hadromerida) from the Aegean Sea with a discussion on the family Hemiasterellidae

Abstract

A representative of the genus Hemiasterella Carter, 1879 was found for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea during sampling in the shallow waters of the northern Aegean Sea. The new species, H. aristoteliana , is compared with Atlantic Hemiasterella elongata Topsent, 1928. The status of the family Hemiasterellidae is discussed.