Additional Demosponges

As outlined in the sponge section introduction, species identification is very problematic particularly for encrusting forms. Detailed specimen preparation and microscope work is required – factors beyond the lay naturalist’s capacity or abilities. For sponges, even modern techniques such as DNA analysis are not easily applicable for its cellular based design.

For the last thirteen years, a dedicated team of “sponge fanatics” has been diligently working on a backlog of samples from British Columbia coastal waters. The final, published result is “Fourteen new species of demosponges (Porifera) from three southern fjords in southern British Columbia, Canada, by B. Ott, N. McDaniel & E. Humphrey, ZOOTAXA, 5463 (2): 151 – 200.

Lead author and sponge taxonomist Bruce Ott provided the technical skills and experience for the project. Underwater photographs with field knowledge were supplied by naturalist and veteran SCUBA diver Neil McDaniel. Dr. Elaine Humphrey’s invaluable electron microscope expertise added another technical dimension to the end product.

The following species accounts, in the standard form, are derived from this scientific paper. And these minimal presentations result from an understandable current lack of known, verifiable information for each. As time progresses, more data about them will emerge – particularly concerning geographic and depth distributions. For readers desiring more of the current detail, contact ZOOTAXA for access to the paper.