Hymedesmia stylifera

Hymedesmia stylifera (Alander, 1942) Stylopus stylifera Alander 1942: 45–46. Material examined SWEDEN • 1 spec.; 58.5609° N, 11.0891° E; 83 m depth; 28 Aug. 2007; Artprojektets Skagerrak-inventering leg. [SK116]; dredge; P093-111031-1; voucher: GNM Porifera 975. Description The specimen is thin encrusting. The surface presents small papillae. Due the collection method, the colour in situ is unknown; the preserved specimen has a pale brown colour. Skeleton We have not observed the skeleton conformation. The skeleton consists of straight acanthostyles, which come in two distinct sizes: a) small acanthostyles are fully spined, with pronounced spines measuring 95–107 ×7 µm (N=4), and b) larger fully spined acanthostyles but with smaller spines along the shaft, measuring 205–420× 7–10 µm (N =6). In addition to acanthostyles, thin and straight styles are common, measuring 217–430×5–7 µm. The microscleres are absent. Ecology and distribution The type locality is Säcken (Bohuslän, Sweden) at 85 m depth associated with a Desmophyllum pertusum (Linnaeus, 1758) coral garden. The species was also reported in the Norwegian part of Skagerrak (15 miles south-east of Jomfruland, Norway) at 400 m depth (Alander 1942) and Outer Hebrides, Mingulay (Scotland, UK) in an area now known for harbouring a vast cold-water coral reef (Banana reef). Although we do not know if the Norwegian specimens were collected in a cold-water coral reef, the fact that the types (Alander 1942) and the specimens from Scotland were, leads us to suspect that this species might be associated with cold-water water corals. Remark Due to the limited number of collected specimens of this species, our understanding of the ecology and distribution of H. stylifera is limited. However, the species might be associated with cold-water coral reefs, particularly the coral species D. pertusum. This implies a larger suitable habitat than what is currently known. Consequently, the potential association of this species with cold-water coral species and deep-sea coral reefs makes the collection of new specimens challenging. These areas are often protected, rendering destructive collection methods unavailable.