2021/09/16 by Henry M. Reiswig, Martin Dohrmann, Michelle Kelly +3 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Marine Sponges and Natural Products #Marine Ecology and Invasive Species #Marine Biology and Ecology Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.3897/zookeys.1060.63307
openalex publication_date 2021/09/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
New Zealand's surrounding deep waters have become known as a diversity hotspot for glass sponges (Porifera: Hexactinellida) in recent years, and description and collection efforts are continuing. Here we report on eight rossellids (Hexasterophora: Lyssacinosida: Rossellidae) collected during the 2017 RV Sonne cruise SO254 by ROV Kiel 6000 as part of Project PoribacNewZ of the University of Oldenburg, Germany. The material includes six species new to science, two of which are assigned to a so far undescribed genus; we further re-describe two previously known species. The known extant rossellid diversity from the New Zealand region is thus almost doubled, from nine species in five genera to 17 species in eight genera. The specimens described here are only a small fraction of hexactinellids collected on cruise SO254. Unfortunately, the first author passed away while working on this collection, only being able to complete the nine descriptions reported here. The paper concludes with an obituary to him, the world-leading expert on glass sponge taxonomy who will be greatly missed.