biostudies-literatureCardenas PSwedish Research Council190https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8955210biostudies-literatureUnknown20(3)Species misidentification in the field of natural products is an acknowledged problem. These errors are especially widespread in sponge studies, albeit rarely assessed and documented. As a case study, we aim to revisit reports of isomalabaricane triterpenes, isolated from four demosponge genera: Jaspis, Geodia, Stelletta and Rhabdastrella. From a total of 44 articles (1981-2022), 27 unique vouchers were listed, 21 of which were accessed and re-examined here: 11 (52.4%) of these were misidentified. Overall, 65.9% of the studies published an incorrect species name: previously identified Jaspis and Stelletta species were all in fact Rhabdastrella globostellata. We conclude that isomalabaricane triterpenes were isolated from only two Rhabdastrella species and possibly one Geodia species. In adMarine drugsGood Practices in Sponge Natural Product Studies: Revising Vouchers with Isomalabaricane Triterpenes.PMC8955210#2017-05416Gamage JGunasekera SCardenas PHettiarachchi CMfalseGood Practices in Sponge Natural Product Studies: Revising Vouchers with Isomalabaricane Triterpenes.Species misidentification in the field of natural products is an acknowledged problem. These errors are especially widespread in sponge studies, albeit rarely assessed and documented. As a case study, we aim to revisit reports of isomalabaricane triterpenes, isolated from four demosponge genera: Jaspis, Geodia, Stelletta and Rhabdastrella. From a total of 44 articles (1981-2022), 27 unique vouchers were listed, 21 of which were accessed and re-examined here: 11 (52.4%) of these were misidentified. Overall, 65.9% of the studies published an incorrect species name: previously identified Jaspis and Stelletta species were all in fact Rhabdastrella globostellata. We conclude that isomalabaricane triterpenes were isolated from only two Rhabdastrella species and possibly one Geodia species. In ad2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-22T19:06:58.166Z2025-04-06T02:40:32.734ZS-EPMC89552103532348910.3390/md20030190