Study area A1 Tennessee in the southeastern region of the United States A2 location of Cocke County in Tennessee A3 type locality of Heterorotula lucasi sp. nov. is indicated by a black circle in the Pigeon River (35.9396, −83.1786) B riparian habitat of the new sponge species at the type locality C macrophotograph in vivo of holotype (USNM 1662182) with tawny color and encrusting growth form on a rocky substrate D macrophotograph of holotype in alcohol.

 
 
  Part of: Manconi R, Copeland J, Kunigelis S, Pronzato R (2022) Biodiversity of Nearctic inland water: discovery of the genus Heterorotula (Porifera, Spongillida, Spongillidae) in the Appalachian Mountains, with biogeographical implications and description of new species. ZooKeys 1110: 103-120. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1110.79615