Observed Characteristics:
Color:
- cream
Morphology:
- encrusting
- fan
Consistency:
- soft
Locations:
- Bahamas
Species Description and Notes
Notes: Extremely soft sheets, cream in color, semitransparent, inhabiting deep reef cave walls and overhangs. The sponge is only partly attached to the substratum, so that the edges are free. It is extremely difficult to collect as it virtually disintegrates upon handling. No spicules. It has also been pictured in Colin (1978) Caribbean reef invertebrate guide as Halisarca sp. It was originally described under genus Halisarca (name used in the third edition of this guide), but it was later changed to the genus Plakina following the revision by Ruiz et al. (2017).
Author Reference: (Ereskovsky, Lavrov & Willenz, 2014)
Link: World Porifera Database
Tissue and Spicule Images
Images
nathaliae
- Location: Goulding Cay, New Providence, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Goulding Cay, New Providence, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea
- Location: Goulding Cay, New Providence, Bahamas
- Photographer: Sven Zea