Two New Euryspongian Sponges (Dictyoceratida: Dysideidae) from Korea

Two new sponges, Euryspongia coreana n, sp, and E. regularis n, sp., collected from Hataedo, Ulleungdo and Chujado, Korea by SCUBA diving during the period from 2001 to 2005. Euryspongia coreana n. sp, is very close to E. lactea Row, 1911 and E. arenaria Bergquist, 1961 in skeletal structure, but primary and secondary fibres of the new species are thicker than those of E. lactea, E. arenaria is cored with mostly spicule fragments but E. coreana n. sp. is cored with mainly sand. E. regularis n. sp. is readily distinguished from other eurypsongian sponges. by its thickly encrusting growth form, yellowish ivory colour, and thickness of fibres. The bright yellow color and regular ladder-like skeletal structure are major features distinguishing this E. regularis n. sp. from other euryspongian sponges. Most species are brown, violet, red or orange in color except for E. lactea (milky white), E. arenaria (biscuit) and E. coreana n. sp. (yellowish ivory). Other euryspongian sponges have regularly or irregularly well developed secondary fibres, but E. regularis n. sp. has simple and regular secondary fibres.