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Abstract

Lake Pedder is the home of a number of relictual organisms. One of those, a new species of freshwater sponge of the genus Radiospongilla, is described herein. Radiospongilla pedderensis sp. nov. occurs throughout most of the lake and often is found in very large numbers in many bays. Radiospongilla is widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions of all continents. The pneumatic layer of the gemmule contains numerous abnormal gemmoscleres a condition probably caused by the chemistry of the lake. The morphology and dimensions of the megascleres, gemmoscleres and aberrant gemmoscleres, as well as the location, structure and size of gemmules, are provided for R. pedderensis. The sponge is a bright green colour due to intracellular zoochlorellae. Their presence in local members of Radiospongilla has been the subject of considerable speculation but herein they are illustrated for the first time in an Australian species.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Osborn, AW and Forteath, GNR and Stanisic, J
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, UTAS Library
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.142.2.39
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	Copyright Royal Society of Tasmania
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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