Abstract

The dissection of Heterorotula sponges collected in an area of geothermal activity at 126-145 m depth on the floor of Lake Taupo (DE RONDE et al., 2002) revealed a dense population of associated Enchytraeidae. They represent three species of Marionina, two of which known but exotic (the Palaearctic M. riparia BRETSCHER, 1899 and the Chinese M. seminuda XIE and ROTA, 2001), and one new to science, M. spongicola sp. n. This is the first report of an ecological association between enchytraeids and poriferans in the lake profundal zone. The possible nature of such relationship (casual contact for feeding or dwelling for food and shelter) is discussed.

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