Ambusher in sponge: a new species of <i>Eunice</i> (Annelida, Eunicidae) commensal within deep-sea Farreidae (Porifera, Hexactinellida) on northwest Pacific seamounts.

ABSTRACT: Deep-sea sponges create complex biogenic structures and attract a wide array of deep-sea organisms, including symbionts. In this study, we describe Eunicesiphoninsidiator sp. nov., a new eunicid species living in the central cavity of deep-sea farreid glass sponges found on northwest Pacific seamounts. The new species closely resembles the Atlantic Eunicenorvegica both morphologically and molecularly, but it differs in the relative length of palp compared to peristomium, starting points of subacicular hooks, and shape of pectinate chaetae. A 13% COI genetic distance between the two species further supports the establishment of E.siphoninsidiator as a distinct species. Gut content analyses reveals fragments of barnacles and brittle stars, suggesting a carn

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11904825 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature