- Notes: Also placed under genera Microciona, Thalysias and Rhaphidophlus. Also known as Microciona microchela Hechtel, 1965, Clathria hechteli Hooper, 1996 and Rhaphidophlus oxeotus van Soest, 1984; erroneously synonymyzed to Clathria schoenus (de Laubenfels, 1936). Encrustations with a transparent to whitish/pinkish dermis and a dull red interior. The dermis outlines a wide star pattern of exhalant canals radiating from the oscules. Spicules are styles with slightly mucronated heads, subtylostyles in two categories, chelae and small toxa. The identification for The Bahamas material is tentative because not all spicule types or C. venosa are present; southern Caribbeaen populations have a small category of chela (microchela); also missing in the Bahamas are intermediate-size toxa, and the long, oxeote toxa. The whitish color of the dermis and its conspicuous vein pattern of the surface plus structural style spicules with mucronated heads (in addition to chelae and toxa) may distinguish it from other Clathria species. But it could also belong to Clathria minuta van Soest, 1984, also pictured in this catalogue. For co-existing specimens, we have assigned to C. ?venosa those with a whitish transparent skin over a red tissue, and to C. ?minuta those with the skin of the same color of the internal tissue (orange in this case).
- Author Reference: (Alcolado, 1984)
- Link: World Porifera Database
| Color: |
| cream |
| pink-lilac |
| red |
| white |
| Morphology: |
| encrusting |
| Consistency: |
| soft |
| Locations: |
| Bahamas - San Salvador |
| Bahamas - Sweetings Cay |
Images of Clathria (Thalysias) ?venosa :