Observed Characteristics:
Color:
- red
- orange
Morphology:
- bushy
- encrusting
- massive
Consistency:
- soft
- tough
Locations:
- Bahamas
- United States
Species Description and Notes
Notes: Also known as Monanchora barbadensis Hechtel, 1969 and M. unguifera (de Laubenfels, 1953). Bright scarlet encrustations to thick or thin bushes. Encrusting specimens with oscules scattered, marked by a white collar and a star pattern of exhalant canals, although these sometimes are not discernible. Erect specimens with many surface knobs or lamellae and oscules on top of tube-like elevations; a lightly colored vein pattern can or cannot be evident. It stains the fingers when handled. Often specimens lack one or more categories of microsclere spicules, making identification problematic.
Author Reference: (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)
Link: World Porifera Database
Tissue and Spicule Images
Images
arbuscula
- Location: Sweetings Cay, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Sweetings Cay, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Florida Keys, United States
- Photographer: Joseph Pawlik
- Location: Florida Keys, United States
- Photographer: Joseph Pawlik
- Location: Northern Exuma Cays, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Cat Cays - Bimini, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Florida Keys, United States
- Photographer: Joseph Pawlik