What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe a new species of sponge named Abyssocladia silazi from the NW Pacific Ocean.

May 6, 2026Open Access

Abyssocladia silazi sp. nov. (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae), a new carnivorous sponge from the NW Pacific, discovered through automated biodiversity data mining

Key Points

To describe a new species of sponge named Abyssocladia silazi from the NW Pacific Ocean.
Identified through deep-sea imagery collected during NOAA expedition EX-17-08.
Utilized the ABYSS data pipeline for cross-referencing expert-identified records with WoRMS.
Description is based on an iconotype in accordance with ICZN Declaration 45.
Abyssocladia silazi is distinguished by its stalked body form and spherical capitulum.
Spicule filaments arranged radially give it a dandelion-like appearance.

Abstract

Abyssocladia silazi sp. nov. (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida: Cladorhizidae) is described from deep-sea imagery collected during NOAA expedition EX-17-08 in the NW Pacific Ocean at 3,692 m depth. The species was identified through the ABYSS (Automated Biodiversity Yield from Subsea Surveys) data pipeline, which cross-referenced 173 expert-identified observation records from the NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge National Database against the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). A. silazi sp. nov. is distinguished from all known congeners by its stalked body form with a spherical capitulum bearing long, radially arranged spicule filaments, giving a characteristic dandelion-like appearance. The description is based on an iconotype (NOAA image 942553) in accordance with ICZN Declaration 45. This package includes the full taxonomic manuscript and the iconotype image. Corresponding author: betomcsmoke@proton.me

Abyssocladia silazi sp. nov. (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae), a new carnivorous sponge from the NW Pacific, discovered through automated biodiversity data mining

Key Points

Abstract

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