Sponges are an important and abundant component of Antarctic marine ecosystems. They harbour a great diversity of species and play a key role in these fragile benthic communities. The aim of this study was to identify the sponges collected during the Peruvian scientific campaigns to Antarctica carried out in the austral summer of 2018 and 2019 (ANTAR XXV and ANTAR XXVI). Specimens were collected by van Veen grabbers and small dredges down to 215 m depth at Admiralty Bay, Maxwell Bay and the proximities of Bransfield Strait, along King George Island. Photographs and field notes were taken. After collection, the macroscopical features (colour, shape, surface characteristics and consistency) and the internal anatomy were assessed. Dissociated spicules and skeleton slides were prepared to characterise the shape and size of the spicules, and the type of skeleton organisation. Seven species, i...

Las esponjas son organismos abundantes y usualmente dominantes en las comunidades bentónicas antárticas, donde cumplen roles ecológicos importantes. En ese sentido, es relevante conocer las especies que habitan zonas pobremente inventariadas (Campos et al., 2007). El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar las esponjas colectadas durante la Expedición Peruana ANTAR XXV (2017-2018), obtenidas mediante dragados en la Ensenada Mackellar (62°03'54''S 58°27'01''O), Bahía Maxwell (62°11'26‘‘S 58°51'34‘‘O) y al extremo norte del Estrecho de Brandsfield (62°05'06‘‘S 58°40'31‘‘O), en el marco de colaboraciones interinstitucionales. Se analizó la morfología externa (forma, superficie, color, consistencia y características de los ósculos); además, se examinaron tanto la organización del esqueleto como la forma y medida de las espículas. Fueron identificadas siete ...