The family Spongiidae includes six valid genera;
The material examined in this study was collected from Sinchang and Mara Island, Jeju-do and Gageodo Island, Jeollanam-do, Korea by SCUBA diving, 25-30 m in depth, during the period 2001-2007. All specimens were fixed in 95% or absolute ethanol. Identification was made on the basis of external features of sponges, including growth form, and skeletal structure and thickness. This procedure followed the methods of Sim and Lee (2002). Sponges were examined under steromicroscope (Stemi SV 6; Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) and light-microscope (Axiocop II; Carl Zeiss). The voucher specimens examined in this study were deposited in the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), Incheon, Korea.
Phylum Porifera Grant, 1836Class Demospongiae Sollas, 1885Order Dictyoceratida Minehin, 1900Family Spongiidae Gray, 18671*Genus Hyattella Lendenfeld, 1888
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Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000282410), Korea: Jeju-do, Jeju-si, Hankyung-myeon, Sinchang-ri, 19 Oct 2001, Lee KJ, by SCUBA diving, 5 m in depth, deposited in the NIBR.
Description. Massive sponge, size up to 8×6×2.5 cm. Surface with many holes 2-5 mm in diameter, which lead into extensive vestibular space of sponge body. Surface mostly smooth, covered with thin translucent dermal membrane which easily separates from endosome. End of primary fibres project to surface. Colour, purplish beige in life and, to yellowish beige in alcohol. Texture, hard and compressible. Skeleton. Primary fibres near surface well developed, 30-80 µm in diameter. Primary fibres in choanosome, 50-100 µm in diameter, rare. Primary fibres slightly cored with small sand grain. Secondary fibres, 20-30 µm in diameter, clear. Secondary fibres, connected to each other and make irregular polygonal reticulation. Reticulated meshes, 100-300 µm in diameter.
Etymology. This species is named after its type locality, Sinchang, Jeju-do, Korea.
Remarks. This species is closely related to
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Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000282411), Korea: Jeju-do, Seogwipo-si, Daejung-eup, Marado Island, 22 Feb 2001, Lee KJ, by SCUBA 20 m in depth, deposited in the NIBR.
Description. Thickly encrusting, size up to 8.5×7.5×3 cm. Surface rough with low conules, Special dermal lamella covered lacunae. Dermal membrane has hole-like oscules, 5-8 µm in diameter. Dermal membrane, difficult to separate from endosome. Colour beige in life. Texture firm and compressible. Skeleton consists of lightly fasciculated primary fibres 30-100 µm in diameter, cored with sand and spicules. Rough primary fibres have protruded spicules near surface. Secondary fibres, no cored 30-40 µm in diameter. Intricately connected secondary fibres make reticulated mesh of diverse size, Thin tertiary fibres, 20 µm in diameter, derived from secondary fibres and uncored.
Etymology. This species is named after the type locality, Marado, Jejudo Island, Korea.
Remarks. This new species is closest to
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Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000282412), Korea: Jeju-do, Jeju-si, Chuja-myeon, Sinyang-ri, Jeolmyeongyeo, 1 Jul 2004, Lee KJ, by SCUBA diving, 25-35 m in depth, deposited in the NIBR.
Description. Massive and thickly encrusting, size up to 10×9×2.5 cm, on oyster shell (
Etymology. This species is named after the type locality, Chujado, jejudo Island, Korea.
Remarks.
Type specimen. Holotype (NIBRIV0000282413), Korea: Jeollanam-do, Shinan-gun, Heuksan-myeon, Gageodo Island, 20 Jul 2007, Kim HS, by SCUBA diving 15 m in depth, deposited in the NIBR.
Description. Massive sponge, size up to 11×6×7 cm, with many tubercles. Numerous holes located at base of sponge body. Large holes, 5 mm in diameter, open at the end of tubes, 1-1.5 cm high. Each hole leads into internal cavities. Surface rough with many small conules, under 1 mm high, Primary fibres emerging out of sponge, connected with the conules. No special dermal membrane at surface. Colour purplish brown in life, more purple around large hole at top of tube. Texture soft and compressible. Matrix easily separated from fibres. Skeleton. Primary fibres, 40-70 µm in diameter, cored with small amount of sand and broken spicules, and branched under sponge surface. Uncored secondary fibres, 20-50 µm in diameter, connected to each other, and make meshes 300-350 µm in diameter between adjacent primary fibres.
Etymology.
Remarks. This new species is similar to