Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (1996). A new species of carnivorous sponge (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae) from a Mediterranean cave. In: Willenz, Ph. (Ed.), Recent Advances in Sponge Biodiversity Inventory and Documentation. Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. Biologie. 66, 109-115.
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Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N.
1996
A new species of carnivorous sponge (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae) from a Mediterranean cave. <i>In</i>: Willenz, Ph. (Ed.), Recent Advances in Sponge Biodiversity Inventory and Documentation
Bulletin de l’Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique. Biologie
A cladorhizid sponge which has been shown to be carnivorous, is described as a new species of Asbestopluma, A. hypogea sp. nov. The sponge lives in a Mediterranean cave, 17 to 22 meters deep, between 15 to 60 m inside from the cave opening, in a trapped mass of cold water (13-14.7 °C). Preserved specimens differ significantly in shape from the living ones and variations also occur according to the feeding status. Forceps spicules are present only during spermatogenesis. The nearest species is A. hydra Lundbeck, from the Arctic (1847 and 2394 m).
