Deep-sea reef building hexactinellids (Euretidae) from the Bering Sea abyssal zone

Hexactinellid sponges play an important role as ecosystem engineers through the formation of sponge reefs. Aggregations of sponge skeletons provide the substrata for rich benthic communities including dense populations of suspension feeders. Previously expressive sponge reefs were described from the continental shelf of the northeastern Pacific. Here we describe a new representative participating in the sponge reef construction in the abyssal zone of the Bering Sea, Periphragella spiridonovi sp. nov. and other representatives of hexactinellids from the family Euretidae with rigid skeleton: Periphragella sp., aff. Chonelasma sp. and Pinulasma fistulosum.