Taxonomic revision of the genusLatrunculiaDu Bocage (Porifera: Demospongiae: Latrunculiidae) in New Zealand

Abstract

The genus Latrunculia in New Zealand was believed to be represented by at least three species: L. brevis Ridley & Dendy and two undescribed species. However, results from recent studies indicate that the genus contained a complex of at least eight genetically distinct species. In this paper we revise the taxonomy of Latrunculia in New Zealand and describe nine new species. Eight of these were previously identified using genetic techniques (i.e., L. kaakaariki sp. nov., L. duckworthi sp. nov., L. procumbens sp. nov., L. wellingtonensis sp. nov., L. kaikoura sp. nov., L. triverticillata sp. nov., L. fiordensis sp. nov., and L. millerae sp. nov.) and one (L. oxydiscorhabda sp. nov.) was distinguished based only on morphological differences. The species described fall into two morphological groups, spinispiraefera and triverticillata, which can be diagnosed by the number of whorls present along the † Author for correspondence. antarctica, L. lendenfeldi, L. spinispiraefera) is discussed; all of these species are considered to be valid but not conspecific with any of the species described here.

Structure elucidation of the new citharoxazole from the Mediterranean deep‐sea sponge Latrunculia (Biannulata) citharistae

“…[1] Although Latrunculia sponges are commonly found in cold water regions such as Antarctica and the north Pacific, [2,3] some species are present in other geographical areas, mainly in deep water environments. From a chemical point of view, species of the genus Latrunculia are known to be a rich source of secondary metabolites such as the callipeltine peptides and the latrunculin polyketides.…”

“…The sponge genus Latrunculia (class Demospongiae, order Poecilosclerida, family Latrunculiidae) includes 33 species that are distributed worldwide 1. Although Latrunculia sponges are commonly found in cold water regions such as Antarctica and the north Pacific,2, 3 some species are present in other geographical areas, mainly in deep water environments.…”

New Discorhabdin B Dimers with Anticancer Activity from the Antarctic Deep-Sea Sponge Latrunculia biformis

“…Latrunculia is the largest genus of the marine sponge family Latrunculiidae Topsent (Class Demospongiae Sollas, Order Poecilosclerida Topsent) [1,2]. The members of this genus are predominately distributed in cold-water regions of the Southern Hemisphere [3,4]. Continuing reports of pyrroloiminoquinone-type alkaloids with strong anticancer activity from Latrunculia sponges have been the main driving force for in-depth chemical analyses of this genus [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

New Discorhabdin Alkaloids from the Antarctic Deep-Sea Sponge Latrunculia biformis

“…Latrunculia species are cold-adapted sponges commonly found in the coastlines of the southern hemisphere [1,2,3]. The genus Latrunculia has proven to be a prolific source of structurally intriguing compounds from different classes, such as norsesterterpenes [4,5], callipeltins [6,7], and various types of pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids [8,9,10].…”