The genus
A new marine sponge was collected from Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, Korea in 100 m in deepth using a gill net on 12 December 1969. Specimens were fixed in 95% or 99.9% ethanol. Spicules were observed by light microscopy (Carl Zeiss Axio Imager A2; Germany) and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM, HITACHI S-3000N; Japan). Identifications were made on the basis of external features, shape, skeleton structure, and size and form of spicules. Thin free-hand sections were made with specimens shardened in alcohol using a surgical blade in order to observe the structure of skeleton. Spicules were prepared by dissolving a piece of sponge in sodium hypochlorite and examined with SEM (Rützler, 1978; Hooper, 1996). The holotype is deposited in the Natural History Museum, Hannam University (HUNHM), Daejeon, Korea.
Phylum Porifera Grant, 1836
Class Demospongiae Sollas, 1885
Order Poecilosclerida Topsent, 1928
Suborder Microcionina Hajdu, Van Soest and Hooper, 1994
Family Microcionidae Carter, 1875
Subfamily Ophlitaspongiinae De Laubenfels, 1936
Genus
Type specimen. Holotype (por. 120), Korea, Jeju-do, Seogwipo-si, 12 Dec 1969, from 100 m in deep by gill net, Rho BJ, deposited in the HUNHM.
Description. Body shape branching, size up to 124 mm wide, 213 mm high, 3-8 mm thick in branch and 7-9 mm thick in stalk. Texture, hard and well broken. Oscules 0.1-0.3 mm in diameter, scattered on surface. Colour unknown in life which gradually changeds to dark brown in ethanol. Surface rough and hispid with spicules. Ectosomal skeletal structure is plumo-reticulate. Choanosomal skeletal structure irregular reticulations composed of acanthostrongyles. Spongin fibres poorly developed. Spicules, megascleres, thick styles, size 200-(415)-630×15-(22.5)-30 μm and slender styles, size 180-(340)-500×3-(4)-5 μm with spines on tip of head. Acanthostrongyles, size 130-(140)-150×11-(13.5)-16 μm with spines both end. Microscleres, one category of palmate isochelae, size 15-(17.5)-20 μm. Three kinds of toxas, large toxas, size 120-(185)-250×2-(3.5)-5 μm, middle toxas, size 70-(80)-90×1-(1.25)-1.5 μm, small toxas, size 30-(45)-60×0.5-(0.75)-1 μm do not have spines on their ends.
Etymology. This species named after the type locality, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, Korea.
Remarks.
The comparison of characters between Antho (Acarnia) seogwipoensis n. sp. and A. (A.) novizelanicum