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Issue: Vol. 5864 No. 1: 7 Aug. 2026
Type: Monograph
Published: 2026-08-07
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5864.1.1
Page range: 1-67
Abstract views: 532
PDF downloaded: 111

Hidden diversity of South African hexactinellid sponges across mesophotic reefs, shelf sediments, and canyon habitats, with the description of a new genus (Amatholon gen. nov.), a new family (Cyrtaulonidae fam. nov.) and eight new species

Department of Forestry; Fisheries and the environment; Oceans and Coasts Research; Cape Town; South Africa; Institute for Coastal and Marine Research; Nelson Mandela University; Gqebertha; South Africa; Iziko Museums of South Africa; Marine Biology; Gardens; Cape Town; South Africa
Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences; Palaeontology & Geobiology; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; Richard-Wagner Str; 10; 80333 Munich; Germany; GeoBio-Center; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; Richard-Wagner Str; 10; 80333 Munich; Germany
Ehrenamtliche Wissenschaftlerin; Marine Evertebraten I; Abteilung Marine Zoologie; Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum; Frankfurt; Germany
Department of Forestry; Fisheries and the environment; Oceans and Coasts Research; Cape Town; South Africa
School of Agriculture and Science; University of KwaZulu Natal; Westville Campus; Westville; Durban; South Africa
Institute for Coastal and Marine Research; Nelson Mandela University; Gqebertha; South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute; Marine Programme; Kirstenbosch; Cape Town; South Africa
Porifera new species deep-sea sponges Hexactinellida Amphidiscophora Hexasterophora South Africa

Abstract

Hexactinellida, commonly referred to as glass sponges, are predominantly found in deep marine environments, typically at depths ranging from 200 to 6,000 metres. Until now, the Hexactinellida fauna of South Africa has been largely unexplored, with only 1.8% of the known extant hexactinellid species accounted for. This study described one new family, one new genus, and eight new species of Hexactinellida from various deep‑water environments in South Africa, using both morphological and genetic data. The newly erected family, Cyrtaulonidae fam. nov., accommodates the genus Cyrtaulon together with the newly established genus Amatholon gen. nov. The species described include Pheronema colossum sp. nov., Hyalonema (Cyliconema) hagahagaense sp. nov., Hyalonema (Cyliconema) thukelaense sp. nov., Sclerothamnus mbuyazii sp. nov., Hexactinella agulhasensis sp. nov., Hexactinella amatholensis sp. nov., Amatholon amatholicum gen. et sp. nov. and Regadrella tamsynae sp. nov. Additionally, we describe Acanthascus (Rhabdocalyptus) baculifer from fresh material, and our research documents the presence of the family Aphrocallistidae in South Africa for the first time. These findings contribute to the understanding of hexactinellid diversity and underscore the necessity for further investigation into the deep oceans of South Africa.

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How to Cite

Samaai, T., Erpenbeck, D., Janussen, D., Janson, L., Macdonald, A. & Sink, K.J. (2026) Hidden diversity of South African hexactinellid sponges across mesophotic reefs, shelf sediments, and canyon habitats, with the description of a new genus (Amatholon gen. nov.), a new family (Cyrtaulonidae fam. nov.) and eight new species. Zootaxa, 5864 (1), 1–67. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5864.1.1