Axinella profunda var. kurushima Tanita, 1961

(Fig. 5A)

Axinella profunda var. kurushima Tanita, 1961: 347, pl. IV fig. 14; Hoshino 1976: 3; Hoshino 1981b: 210; Ise 2017: 365 (listed only).

The variety was described by Tanita from Kurushima Strait, Japan, approximate coordinates 34.1167°N 133°E, depth less than 50 m (syntypes “several specimens”, not known where kept). The shape and the spicules of the variety differ from the syntype specimens of the typical variety described and pictured by Ridley & Dendy (1887: 181, pl. XXXVIII figs. 2–3, pl. XL fig. 3–3a) from Challenger Exped. Stat. 241 (BMNH 1887.5.2.42, North Pacific, 35.6833°N 157.7°E, depth 4123 m) and Stat. 281 (BMNH 1887.5.2.54, South Pacific, 22.35°S 150.2833°W, depth 4369 m). The present variety is much more branching and forms a larger bush of 90 x 140 mm (whereas the typical variety specimens measure only 50 mm). The spicules are styles in both and approximately the same size (650–1500 µm vs. 550–2000 µm), but those of the typical variety have microspined heads (which is an indication that possibly the species is not an Axinella Schmidt, 1862), whereas the present variety has smooth headed styles. The typical variety specimens were collected in abyssal depths (4200 m), while the present variety originated from less than 50 m depth. In view of these differences I propose to elevate the present variety to species rank as Axinella kurushima . The combination must be assigned to the present author as a nom.nov., because Tanita published his name after 1960 (ICZN art. 15.2 and 45.5.1).