Kiwi sea sponge makes world's top 10

NIWA

BEAST FROM THE DEEP: Niwa's Sadie Mills holds the carnivorous sea sponge, found in the darkness in waters about a kilometre deep. Above right, a microscopic image of the sponge, which is between 10mm and 19mm long.

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A sea sponge discovered by New Zealand scientists in the depths of the Chatham Rise has made it into a list of the top 10 new species found around the world.

Arizona State University's International Institute of Species Exploration compiles a list each year of the world's 10 most exciting species discoveries.

This year, a deep-sea carnivorous sponge, identified as new to science by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientist Michelle Kelly, has made it onto the list.

Researchers brought six samples of the sponge back to New Zealand after a trip to the north Chatham Rise in 2001, but working out whether or not it had been found before was a lengthy process.

Dr Kelly said seeing a sponge on the top 10 list was exciting.

"It's really cool a sponge has been chosen. I think they're wonderful little animals. People don't know much about them, they think they're plants."

The list is compiled by an international committee of experts who select 10 species from nominations made by scientists around the world. Its purpose is to increase public awareness of biodiversity, taxonomy, museums, dried plants, and species exploration.

Although Dr Kelly has been told her sponge made the final list, she will not know which other species are on it until Saturday.

The list is being released to coincide with International Biodiversity Day.

The United Nations has designated 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and events will be taking place around the world on Saturday to mark the occasion.

Dr Kelly said she hoped the sponge's inclusion on the list would help get people interested in biodiversity, and encourage them to take an interest in species protection. "We really need to look after them. They're only in one place."

The sponge uses its sticky "outgrowths" to ensnare small crustaceans before eating them.

Dr Kelly said the only other discovery of similar structures on sponges were from fossils in Germany.

See the list of the top 10 new species discovered in 2009 at species.asu.edu from Saturday.

- © Fairfax NZ News