Eurypon denisae Vacelet 1969

Encrustingsponge covering a surface of 3 cm2 on a coralligenous block. Surface hispid. Colour in life white. Skeleton. Ectosomal skeleton absent. Choanosomal skeleton consisting of basal acanthostyles with heads embedded in a spongin layer and bundles of very long tylostyles protruding through the sponge surface which appears hispid. Spicules. Long tylostyles, slightly curved or straight, with rather irregular heads, 1066 (1774) 2236 × 5 (8.5) 12.5 μm (Fig. 8A); anisoxeas straight or faintly curved, 200 (220) 250 × 5 (5.5) 7 μm (Figs 8D-E); acanthostyles in two size categories: I) large, straight acanthostyles, often with inconspicuous heads, uniformly but faintly spined, 107.7 (134.5) 170 × 7.5 (9) 12 μm (Fig. 8B); II) small, straight acanthostyles with stouter and longer spines, 60 (68) 77.5 × 7.5 (8) 10 μm (Fig. 8C).

The species was originally described by Vacelet (1969) from a coral bottom in the bathyal zone (300–350 m depth) of the Gulf of Lions. This second finding is a new record for the Italian seas and the coralligenous community.