Michael R. Kernan

Aaptamine, a taxonomic marker for sponges of the order hadromerida☆

Abstract The known benzo[de][1, 6]naphthyridine alkaloid aaptamine, originally obtained from Aaptos aaptos, has been isolated from a Suberites species from Darwin Harbour. This supports a recent suggestion that the genus Aaptos should be returned from the family Tethyiidae to the Suberitidae, and suggests that aaptamine may be a useful chemotaxonomic marker for the family Suberitidae within the order Hadromerida.

Scalarane sesterterpenes from Collospongia auris, a new thorectid sponge☆

Abstract A sponge from the Great Barrier Reef is described and placed in a new genus Collospongia of the family Thorectidae, order Dictyoceratida. In addition to the known scalarane sesterterpenes heteronemin, 12- episcalaradial , 12- epiodeacetyl-scalaradial , 12,18- di-epi-scalaradial , 12- epi-deoxoscalarin and 12-acetyl-19,20-dimethoxydeoxoscalarin, the new compounds methyl 18-hydroxy-19-norscalar-16-en-20-carboxylate, 12-deacetylhyrtial, scalarolide acetate and 20-hydroxyscalarolide have been isolated from this new sponge, Collospongia auris .