title: Rossella podagrosa Kirkpatrick, 1907-A valid species after all.
abstract: In this study we provide evidence that the species Rossella podagrosa Kirkpatrick, 1907, commonly considered a synonym of Rossella racovitzae Topsent, 1901, is truly a valid species. We show that it can be clearly distinguished from other species especially when taking into consideration the in situ habitus of the sponge in combination with the spicules. Furthermore we demonstrate the weaknesses in the so far published synonymy concept for the very complicated genus Rossella Carter, 1872. From this we conclude that the best strategy for further analysis of Rossella and establishment of acceptable synonymies will need to be based on detailed examination of the spicules, the holotypes, and in situ habitus. When possible it will be useful to analyze specimens from all Antarctic oceanographic regions.
authors.affiliation: Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Email: christian.goecke@senckenberg.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Göcke
authors.affiliation: Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janussen
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of Victoria and Royal British Columbia Museum, P.O. Box 3020 Stn CSC, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W 3N5; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Henry M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Reiswig
authors.affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, United States of America; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Shannon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jarrell
authors.affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, United States of America; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dayton
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011161:Porifera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology