PORANIIDAE

Mah, Christopher L., 2020, New species, occurrence records and observations of predation by deep-sea Asteroidea (Echinodermata) from the North Atlantic by NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 201-260 : 212-213

PORANIIDAE

Comments

As summarized by Mah and Foltz (2012), poraniids were previously thought to be ciliary suspension feeders but ongoing evidence has shown multiple poraniids displaying predatory habits. Observations by the Okeanos Explorer have identified at least two species displaying spongivorous habits. Other observations of deep-water poraniids include the Pacific Bathyporania ascendens feeding on antipatharians ( Mah and Foltz 2014) and Porania pulvillus feeding on alcyonaceans ( Ericsson & Hansson, 1973). Under aquarium conditions, Chadwick (1916) has reported Porania pulvillus attacking and devouring sea anemones ( Adamsia palliata ).