Isabella, Schlacher-Hoenlinger & Pisera & Hooper, 2005

Schlacher-Hoenlinger, Monika A., Pisera, Andrzej & Hooper, John N. A., 2005, Deep-sea “ lithistid ” assemblages from the Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia), with description of seven new species and a new genus (Porifera, Demospongiae), Zoosystema 27 (4), pp. 649-698 : 669-670

Genus Isabella n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Isabella mirabilis n. sp. here designated.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named for the distinct artichoke flower-like appearance and the extremely distinct, filigree, complex skeletal network which is formed by

Schlacher-Hoenlinger M. A. et al.

smooth, root/vine-like adjacent desmas via entanglement of their extremities with their lateral extension (is -, Latin adjectival suffix meaning “having nature of”; bella, Latin for beautiful, pretty).

DEFINITION. — Massive shallow cup-shaped “lithistids” with, abundant smooth ectosomal dichotriaenes and endosomal root/vine-like dicranoclone desmas; microscleres are centrotylote microxeas and two types of spirasters (variable spirasters with slender arms and asymmetrical euaster-like streptasters with long rays).