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Demospongiae > Tetractinellida > Geodiidae > Erylus formosus

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

black
cream

Morphology:

branching
encrusting
massive

Consistency:

crumbly
soft

Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Also known as Erylus bahamensis Pulizter-Finali, 1986 (see revision by Cárdenas et al., 2009). Repent branches or ridged masses or stalked lobes; detachable dermis black, internal color cream. Oscules flush to the surface, scattered and on ridged protuberances. Consistency of the dermis slightly leathery, choanosome crumbly. Within The Bahamas, our material varies slightly with locality in the spicule complement (width and shape of aspidaster spicule, size of tylaster spicule, etc.), but the overall shape and color are quite similar and we are quite certain that there is a single open reef species in the Caribbean. There are other species names available that vary only slightly and subtly in spicule complement and shape, which call for a thorough revision of the genus in the W. Atlantic (see Cárdenas et al., 2009).

Author Reference: Sollas, 1886

Link: World Porifera Database