| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Chalinula molitba |
7 |
Light purple to pink to bluish branches or tangled tubes. De Weerdt (2000) included within this species a spongin-dominated morphotype and a spicule-dominating one. Here we include only specimens with spongin-dominated skeletons and use Chalinula pseudomolitba (de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991) for the spicule-dominated ones. It differs from Ch. pseudomolitba in having a loose network of spongin fibers (ascending and interconnecting) with a few embedded thin spicules. |
(de Laubenfels, 1949) |
blue,pink-lilac,purple-violet,branching,tube,massive,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Chalinula pseudomolitba |
6 |
Light purple or pinkish cushions, even or with oscular mounds or fistules. We use this name for what de Weerdt (2000) refers to the spicule-dominated morph of Ch. molitba (de Laubenfels, 1949). This species is distinguished from the Ch. molitba in having a reticulation of single spicules, or tracts of few spicules, cemented by spongin. This form seems to be restricted to mangrove stilt roots in The Bahamas. The presence of tubes and fistules may one think that it is Haliclona (Reniera) tubifera (George & Wilson). |
(de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991) |
pink-lilac,purple-violet,massive,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Chalinula zeae |
4 |
Orange encrustation with a whitish, transparent skin; oscules and exhalant canals conform a star pattern in the surface. Could be easily confused with Clathria species (order Poecilosclerida, family Microcionidae) except that it has oxeas as main spicules instead of styles or subtylostyles. |
de Weerdt, 2000 |
orange,cream,encrusting,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Haliclona (Halichoclona) magnifica |
3 |
White crispy and crumbly masses with elevated fistules-oscular tubes. Available photos are from Belize and The Florida Cays (material from the Bahamas was examined but no photo was obtained). |
de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991 |
white,tube,massive,papillated,soft,crumbly |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Haliclona (Reniera) ?ruetzleri |
1 |
Thin, sprawling, brown, soft branches. The ectosome has an unispicular tangential reticulation with additional erect spicules at the nodes. Choanosomal reticulation a bit more paucispicular. Spicules oxea 90-100 by 7.5-10 µm. Bahamas material lacks microscleres (two categories of sigma, toxa), hence the tentative identification pending further comparisons. |
de Weerdt, 2000 |
brown,branching,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Haliclona (Reniera) tubifera |
1 |
Soft, limp tubes arising from a base, often with sprawling branchelets. Can be confused with Chalinula molitba forma pseudomolitba (de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991). |
(George & Wilson, 1919) |
purple-violet,tube,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Haliclona (Soestella) ?melana |
3 |
The only individuals seen were black tangled thin branches partly buried in sand. Only black oscular fistules were visible in the sandy bottom of tidal lagoonal channels. Species originally described from Brazil. Spicules are oxea 150-210 µm. The ectosome is an unispicular tangential reticulation. The present material conforms to some of the variation described. Confirmation of species identity needs further material and comparisons. |
Muricy & Ribeiro, 1999 |
black,encrusting,papillated,soft |
| Demospongiae |
Haplosclerida |
Chalinidae |
Haliclona (Soestella) ?twincayensis |
1 |
Whitish-creamy branches, rather soft and limp. Identification remains tentative until further material can be analyzed and comparisons can be made. It has slightly shorter spicules and it is softer than H. magnifica de Weerdt, Rützler & Smith, 1991 collected in the same area. |
De Weerdt et al., 1991 |
cream,branching,soft |
