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

The Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the northeastern Pacific is the world's largest area for potential deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules. Furthermore, it is one of the largest, most remote and least investigated ecosystems worldwide. Sponges (Porifera) represent one of the main groups of benthic deep-sea megafauna. This is the first study on taxonomy of amphidiscophorid sponges from polymetallic nodule fields in the CCFZ, and includes descriptions of six known and three new species: Hyalonema (Onconema) clarioni sp. nov., Hyalonema (Prionema) breviradix sp. nov. and Poliopogon microuncinata sp. nov.