Sponge Guide

UNCW National Science Foundation Valdosta State University Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

  • orange
  • cream
  • cinnamon-tan

Morphology:

  • encrusting
  • massive

Consistency:

  • soft
  • tough

Sample Locations:

  • Bahamas

Plakina jamaicensis

Notes: Slightly tough to softer, creamy-orangy encrustations growing on deep reef overhangs, with characteristic brain-like convolutions and scattered oscules on skin lobes. Spicules are diods and triods with a few spines, calthrops and small branched lophocalthrops (lophotriaenes). Softer specimens have less spicules than tougher ones, often just a few. See thorough redescription by Ereskovsky et al. (2013). Should be compared to Plakina versatilis (Schmidt, 1880) (originally described under the genus Corcitium, see Rützler et al., 2009), whose type is missing (Ereskovsky et al., 2013).

Author Reference: Lehnert & van Soest, 1998

 

Link: World Porifera Database