Sponge Guide

UNCW National Science Foundation Valdosta State University Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

  • gray
  • green
  • black
  • brown

Morphology:

  • lobate
  • massive
  • tube
  • vase

Consistency:

  • tough

Sample Locations:

  • Bahamas
  • United States

Smenospongia conulosa

Notes: Massive, with oscular mounds or volcanoes, dark green to brown black or gray. It becomes dark and exudes abundant mucus when handled. Distinguished from S. aurea (Hyatt, 1875), also pictured here, 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. aureaS. aurea fibers are also wider, especially the secondary reticulum, with many characteristic rectangular meshes (longer axis perpendicular to de surface).

Author Reference: Pulitzer-Finali, 1986

 

Link: World Porifera Database