Observed Characteristics:
Color:
- gray
- black
Morphology:
- massive
- tube
Consistency:
- soft
Locations:
- Bahamas
Species Description and Notes
Notes: Black mass with volcano-shaped oscular mounds; surface with a honeycomb pattern of fiber endings. Interior cream. Consistency relatively soft, as it can be easily cut with a knife. This is a tentative designation, pending revision of more material. In other areas of the Caribbean H. proteus tends to be thickly encrusting to massive with oscules aligned ; it does not tend to form volcano-like elevations. It concurs in having a dermis and thick primary spongin fibers filled with sand grains. Secondary interconnecting fibers are not too evident and apparently far apart.
Author Reference: Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864
Link: World Porifera Database
Tissue and Spicule Images
Images
proteus
- Location: Little San Salvador, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Northern Exuma Cays, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Northern Exuma Cays, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea