Comprehensive sponge inventory of the submerged reef Los Picos, Southwestern Gulf of Mexico, with six new species described
Journal: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Year: 2025

Abstract This study presents the first sponge biodiversity inventory of Los Picos reef in Veracruz, Mexico. Although the Veracruz Reef System is known for its high sponge diversity, several recently discovered submerged reefs – including Los Picos – had remained biologically uncharacterised until this investigation. Our comprehensive inventory documents 37 species, identified at the species level, all belonging to Demospongiae; 15 of which are new records for the Mexican coast, and 13 for the Gu