Abyssal ascidians (Chordata, Tunicata) from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, including a new Styela species and stomach content identifications.

Deep-sea benthic communities from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, were sampled in JanuaryApril 2005 in an area located between 61S70S and 0W49W. We found a total of eight ascidian species that belong to five different families, of which one corresponded to a new species. These were: Protoholozoa pedunculata Kott, 1969; Corynascidia suhmi Herdman, 1882; Styela andeepensis Maggioni Tatin sp.