Taxonomy of Demospongiae from the Indo-Pacific shallow waters

The shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean are known for harboring an immense biodiversity of organisms, specifically sponges (Porifera). An expedition conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) collected six species of sponges with potential medicinal properties from Thailand and Papua New Guinea. This project aims to identify, classify and describe those specimens, so that their names can be linked to the biomedical compounds described by the NIH. All samples were deposited at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and identifications followed standardized taxonomic protocols. To date, the classification of four specimens has been narrowed down to a lower taxonomic level. Three specimens were identified in the order Axinellida: Specimen 1 is a Raspaillidae, with a smooth, paper-like surface and massive shape. It presents oxeas, styles and subtylostyles. Specimen 2 is an Axinellidae, with a smooth, massive cylindrical shape. It has oxeas, raphidiform oxeas, and very rare styles. Specimen 3 is an Axinellidae that has a dichotomous branching body-shape, with worm-like strongyles and styles. The fourth specimen was identified in the genus Wigginsia (family Acarnidae, order Poecilosclerida) based on its choansomal tylotes and acanthostrongyles. All sponges will be identified to the lowest taxonomic unit possible and new species will be named and described. The next step to improve species identification and describe morphological details is to obtain images of spicules under a scanning electron microscope.