‘Massive’ plant-covered sea creature is found ‘burrowing’ in reef. It’s a new species

Nestled into a sandy reef in the South Pacific Ocean sat a “massive” sea creature. The plant-covered animal caught the attention of scuba diving scientists. It turned out to be a new species.

Researchers were surveying reefs near several islands in French Polynesia when they noticed the “uncommon” ocean animal, according to a study published Sept. 19 in the journal Zootaxa.

The two “massive” sea sponges were found “burrowing” into the seafloor under about 65 feet and about 100 feet of water, the study said. Researchers collected the sponges and, taking a closer look, discovered a new species: Fascaplysinopsis ronquinni, or Quinn’s horny sponge.

Fascaplysinopsis sponges are part of a group known as “horny sponges,” researchers said. The sponges in this sub-group are typically covered in a layer of “sand or detritus,” known as “superficial armor,” and they also incorporate marine debris into the multi-layered fibers that form their skeleton.

Quinn’s horny sponge has a skeleton covered with small, marine invertebrates and crustacean scales, the study said. Small plants and animals can be seen on the sponge’s surface, “some of which appear to be growing through the sponge.”

Photos show Quinn’s horny sponge from far back and up close. It appears to have a green moss-like layer scattered with shell-like fragments.

The sponge’s body is “dark brown to black” in color and has a “compressible” texture, researchers said. It is considered “massive,” reaching about 2 inches across and about 1.6 inches tall.

Researchers said they named the new species after Ronald Quinn “in recognition of his lifetime work on marine natural products, including the ones from sponges.”

Quinn’s horny sponge has been found around two islands in French Polynesia, researchers said. These islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly midway between Australia to the west and South America to the east.

The new species was identified based on its “burrowing” behavior, coloring and body structure, the study said. DNA analysis confirmed the new species also had “distinct molecular differences.”

The research team included Merrick Ekins, Dirk Erpenbeck, Cécile Debitus, Sylvain Petek, Tepoerau Mai, Gert Wörheide and John Hooper. Researchers also discovered six other new sea sponge species.

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