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Demospongiae > Haplosclerida > Petrosiidae > Petrosia (Strongylophora) davilai

Observed Characteristics:

Color:

brown

Morphology:

branching
encrusting

Consistency:

hard

Sample Locations:

Bahamas

Species Description and Notes

Notes: Dark greenish brown, hard and thick encrustation with sprawling branching extensions. Originally described under genus Strongylophora, which now is considered a subgenus of Petrosia. Hence, the full name is Petrosia (Strongylophora) davilai. The megasclere spicules are small to large strongyles, and microscleres are microxea. There are also thin raphide like spicules which may be developmental stages of strongyles. It can be confused in the field with Petrosia weinbergi van Soest, 1980, also pictured here which forms green to cream hard but more crumbly encrustations.

Author Reference: (Alcolado, 1979)

 

Link: World Porifera Database

 

Images

Petrosia (Strongylophora) davilai


Location: Bahamas, Sweetings Cay
Photographer: Sven Zea