• Source: Abyssocladia

Abyssocladia is a genus of the family Cladorhizidae, a family of carnivorous sponges. It is made up of at least 39 species found in oceans all over the world.




Description


This genus is characterized by its unique teeth-like structures called abyssochelae, although they are not present in every species. Types of microscleres could also include cleistochelae, arcute chelae, and/or sigmacistras. Their general morphology can be divided into two groups. The first group has a long peduncle and round top. The second group is feather-like with a shorter peduncle. Both groups have straight spicules and are covered in a layer of soft tissue with sticky microstrongyles protruding perpendicularly from the body, used to capture prey. Sizes of these organisms can vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters tall and just a few millimeters wide. Their thin skeleton and soft tissue can make these sponges very fragile.




Feeding


Most carnivorous sponges lack an aquiferous system, meaning they cannot filter water to get their food. Instead, they have hook-like microscleres to capture prey, like small crustaceans. These structures entangle prey and amoebocytes in the sponge surround the prey, bringing it inside to be consumed. Digestion of its prey can take up to several days. This unusual process of feeding was likely adapted because it is easier for the organism to get more nutrients in one meal as compared to filter feeding in the deep sea.




Distribution


In the deep sea, resources are sparse, so organisms tend to have clustered distribution. These carnivorous sponges are usually found around nutrient hot spots like seamounts, and oceanic ridges. While most species in abyssocladia have been found at depths over 3000 meters, a few have been found in shallower waters around 1000m. One species, A. antarctica, was found at 220 m, in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica. In addition to the Weddell Sea, Abyssocladia have been found in many ocean basins all over the world, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.




Species


About 39 species are currently recognized:

Abyssocladia annae Ekins, Erpenbeck & Hooper, 2020
Abyssocladia antarctica Buskowiak & Janussen, 2021
Abyssocladia atlantica Lopes & Hajdu, 2014
Abyssocladia boletiphora Hestetun, Rapp & Xavier, 2017
Abyssocladia bruuni Lévi, 1964
Abyssocladia carcharias Kelly & Vacelet, 2011
Abyssocladia claviformis Koltun, 1970
Abyssocladia corniculiphora Hestetun, Rapp & Xavier, 2017
Abyssocladia desmophora Hooper & Lévi, 1989
Abyssocladia diegoramirezensis Lopes, Bravo & Hajdu, 2011
Abyssocladia dominalba Vacelet, 2006
Abyssocladia escheri Ekins, Erpenbeck & Hooper, 2020
Abyssocladia faranauti Hestetun, Fourt, Vacelet, Boury-Esnault & Rapp, 2015
Abyssocladia flagrum Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006
Abyssocladia fryerae Hestetun, Rapp & Pomponi, 2019
Abyssocladia gliscofila Ekins, Erpenbeck & Hooper, 2020
Abyssocladia hemiradiata Hestetun, Rapp & Xavier, 2017
Abyssocladia huitzilopochtli Vacelet, 2006
Abyssocladia inflata Vacelet, 2006
Abyssocladia kanaconi Vacelet, 2020
Abyssocladia kellyae Hestetun, Rapp & Pomponi, 2019
Abyssocladia koltuni Ereskovsky & Willenz, 2007
Abyssocladia lakwollii Vacelet & Kelly, 2014
Abyssocladia leverhulmei Goodwin, Berman, Downey & Hendry, 2017
Abyssocladia marianensis Hestetun, Rapp & Pomponi, 2019
Abyssocladia microstrongylata Vacelet, 2020
Abyssocladia mucronata Vacelet, 2020
Abyssocladia myojinensis Ise & Vacelet, 2010
Abyssocladia natsushimae Ise & Vacelet, 2010
Abyssocladia naudur Vacelet, 2006
Abyssocladia oxeata Koltun, 1970
Abyssocladia oxyasters Ekins, Erpenbeck, Goudie & Hooper, 2020
Abyssocladia polycephalus Hestetun, Pomponi & Rapp, 2016
Abyssocladia stegosaurensis Hestetun, Rapp & Pomponi, 2019
Abyssocladia symmetrica Ridley & Dendy, 1886
Abyssocladia tecta Hestetun, Fourt, Vacelet, Boury-Esnault & Rapp, 2015
Abyssocladia umbellata Lopes, Bravo & Hajdu, 2011
Abyssocladia vaceleti Ríos & Cristobo, 2018
Abyssocladia villosa Hestetun, Rapp & Pomponi, 2019




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Abyssocladia dominalba
• Abyssocladia natushimae
• Abyssocladia naudur
• Abyssocladia oxeata
• Abyssocladia claviformis
• Abyssocladia carcharias
• Abyssocladia huitzilopochtli
• Abyssocladia bruuni
• Abyssocladia myojinensis
• Abyssocladia inflata
• Abyssocladia
• List of organisms named after famous people (born 1900–1949)
• List of organisms named after famous people (born 1800–1899)
• Cladorhizidae
• Michelle Kelly (marine scientist)
• Jean Vacelet