The stalked lollipop sponge Stylocordyla pellita (Topsent, 1904) is an Atlantic-Mediterranean deep-sea species rarely reported from the Azores Archipelago, the Aegean Sea, the northern Ionian Sea, the Strait of Sicily, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Ligurian Sea. Despite its apparently broad geographic range, the bathymetric distribution, habitat preferences, and ecological significance of this species remain poorly understood owing to the scarcity of records at bathyal depths.

This study aims to provide an updated assessment of the distribution of S. pellita in the Italian seas, expanding current knowledge of its occurrence, bathymetric range, species associations and habitat preferences in the Mediterranean Sea.

Data were collected within the framework of the MER Seamounts project through ROV surveys, conducted between March 2025 and April 2026 aboard the vessels Ievoli Cobalt and Ievoli Relume. Occurrences, depth, and associated habitat characteristics of S. pellita were recorded across seven seamounts in the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily, and the number, density, and size of specimens were analysed. Three specimens were collected from different sites for taxonomic identification.

The species was observed in 19% of 112 ROV dives at depths ranging from 239 to 946 m. It was mainly associated with hard substrates, often occurring alongside other sponges (cf. Hamacantha (Vomerula) falcula, cf. Hexadella dedritifera, Phakellia sp., and Pachastrella sp.), and deep-sea corals (Acanthogorgiidae, Callogorgia verticillata, Swiftia sp., Parantipathes sp.). Its abundance varied from isolated individuals and small patches to dense sponge grounds, reaching up to 14.6 col. m⁻².

The present study improves the knowledge of S. pellita distribution in the North-central Mediterranean Sea, highlighting its wide occurrence and association with vulnerable deep-sea habitats.