Deep-sea glass sponges (Hexactinellida) from polymetallic nodule fields in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), northeastern Pacific: Part II—Hexasterophora

The Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the northeastern Pacific is a potential area for deep-sea mining, comprises the worldwide largest polymetallic nodule fields and is one of the most difficult to sample and thus unknown ecosystems. Glass sponges (Hexactnellida) represent a main group of benthic deep-sea megafauna, especially hexasterophorid sponges, but only few studies have been published so far. This is the first study focusing on the taxonomy of hexasterophorid sponges from polymetallic nodule fields in the CCFZ and includes descriptions of eight known and six new species: Hyalostylus microfloricomus sp. nov.; Hyalostylus schulzei sp. nov.; Docosaccus nidulus sp. nov.; Holascus spinosus sp. nov.; Caulophacus (Caulophacus) wilsoni sp. nov.; and Chonelasma bispinula sp. nov.