- Notes: Orange, thin and hard encrustation on the underside of laminar corals or on cave walls. Characteristic clavadisc spicules. This species is a sclerosponge but may be devoid of basal massive calcareous skeleton (form previously known as Merlia deficiens Vacelet, 1980, see van Soest, 1984b). Our material apparently does not have a basal skeleton but we did not check for it. Original name from Arch. Madeira, W. Africa, but seems to be a widespread species from the Indian Ocean, The Mediterranean, E. and W. Atlantic.
- Author Reference: Kirkpatrick, 1908
- Link: World Porifera Database
Color: |
orange |
Morphology: |
encrusting |
Consistency: |
soft |
Locations: |
Bahamas - San Salvador |
Images of Merlia normani :