| Demospongiae |
Dictyoceratida |
Thorectidae |
Smenospongia aurea |
17 |
Massive, often forming groups of adjacent oscular mounds or volcanos. It becomes dark and exudes abundant mucus when handled. There are three color morphs of this species: drab to brown skin-yellow oscules-yellow flesh; light greenish skin-yellow green oscules-yellow green flesh; yellow skin and interior. Two different species are readily distinguished in the Caribbean, often co-existing: S. aurea and S. conulosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1986. It is distinguished from S. conulosa by the honeycomb pattern of the dermis resting on fibers while in S. conulosa the primary fibers ends at the surface form blunt projections not connected to each other. A possibly third species, vivid parrot green in color is also included in this catalogue. There is considerable taxonomic confusion regarding S. aurea, with many names still available, which persist owing to the similarity among fixed, type specimens. Older names that may fit into this species are those of Duchassaing & Michelotti (1864, Spongia musicalis, Spongia cerebriformis), and also younger Polyfibrospongia echina de Laubenfels, 1934. |
(Hyatt, 1875) |
gray,yellow,green,cream,cinnamon-tan,branching,tube,massive,lobate,tough,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Dictyoceratida |
Thorectidae |
Smenospongia conulosa |
23 |
Massive, with oscular mounds or volcanoes, Bright to dark green to brown black or gray. It becomes dark and exudes abundant mucus when handled. Distinguished from S. aurea (Hyatt, 1875) by having blunt ends of primary fibers protruding on the surface, while the surface of S. aurea forms a honeycomb pattern of ridges. These primary fibers are also wider apart than in S. aurea. S. aurea fibers are also wider, especially the secondary reticulum, with many characteristic rectangular meshes (longer axis perpendicular to de surface). |
Pulitzer-Finali, 1986 |
green,brown,gray,black,tube,massive,lobate,vase,tough |
| Demospongiae |
Dictyoceratida |
Thorectidae |
Smenospongia sp.-black massive |
1 |
Black, massive, tough, with a strongly warty surface. It releases abundant mucus and darkens in air as other species of the genus. It is close to Smenospongia conulosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1986, which is usually dark green. But the fibers of this species are much thicker than those of S. conulosa, hence its greater toughness. |
|
black,spherical,massive,tough |
| Demospongiae |
Dictyoceratida |
Thorectidae |
Smenospongia sp.-parrot green |
3 |
Massive, parrot green exterior, yellow interior. Color becomes dark purple upon exposure to air. Abundant mucus release. Surface with low, regularly scattered protrusions which correspond to the end of groups of primary skeletal fibers. Skeleton of clear, tough, laminated spongin fibers arrranged in a more or less regular reticulation, which is somewhat condensed in the areas that protrude to the surface.The fibers are of similar thickness to those of Smenospongia conulosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1986, but the reticulation appears more fine. Fibers are not as wide to those of Smenospongia aurea (Hyatt, 1875). We initially placed this parrot green morphotype as part of the variation of S. conulosa, being dominant in some areas. But as we found the two morphotypes growing together with S. aurea and S. conulosa, and clearly distinct in color and shape, we decided to place it as a separate, yet unidentified species. The old literature must be searched for a possible available name before deciding whether it is a new, undescribed species. |
|
green,tube,massive,tough |
